NCIS Season 22, Episode 16 Review: “Ladies’ Night” Misses the Mark on the Battle of the Sexes
NCIS Season 22, Episode 16, titled “Ladies’ Night,” has a fun premise that works well in theory. TV shows like Coupling and Leverage have successfully explored the “boys vs. girls” dynamic, and NCIS seemed poised to do the same. However, despite some solid comedic efforts and the cast leaning into the humor, the episode ultimately doesn’t live up to the potential of its concept.
The episode kicks off with the murder of a Naval officer at an antique store, but quickly shifts focus to the antics of the team. Jessica Knight and Kasie Hines are set for a night out with Knight’s sister, while Nick Torres and Timothy McGee spend some downtime in Kasie’s lab. Eventually, the two groups cross paths, but the resulting interactions fail to generate the comedic sparks that the premise seems to promise.
A Familiar Concept, But Not Fully Effective
While the episode’s concept—pitting the men and women of NCIS against each other in a lighthearted competition—isn’t new, it’s a concept that can work well with the right balance of humor and contrast between the teams. Shows like Leverage stretched this idea across two episodes, offering a clear distinction in how the different groups operated, which made the competition engaging. Unfortunately, NCIS doesn’t explore the differences between the teams in any meaningful way, leading to an experience that feels a bit flat.
There’s some credit due to writer Amy Rutberg, who brings in a fun and breezy tone to the episode. The story doesn’t attempt to make any grand statements about gender or wh
o’s better at investigating, which keeps things lighthearted. However, it falters by relying on some easy, predictable jokes that fail to land.
For example, the playful teasing between the groups—such as questioning how the women manage to break in wearing “those shoes”—feels tired, lacking in originality. The humor doesn’t evolve beyond surface-level differences, and that makes the episode feel a little one-note.
A Missed Opportunity for Humor
One major comedic moment revolves around Kasie using a kiln at the women’s pottery class for an impromptu forensic test. Predictably, the kiln isn’t up to the task, and when the group finds out they’ve ruined the kiln and its contents, their response is to simply run away. While this is intended as humor, it feels immature, especially coming from a team that usually takes their work seriously. The lack of accountability in their reaction to the damage doesn’t align with the characters we know, making the scene less funny and more uncomfortable.
In the end, “Ladies’ Night” is a concept with great potential, but the execution falls short. While the characters’ interactions and the tone were right, the lack of meaningful contrast between the teams and reliance on tired humor made it less enjoyable than it could have been. Ultimately, the episode feels like a missed opportunity to explore something more engaging, and while it has its moments, it doesn’t quite live up to the promise of the premise.
