NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 7 — titled “Breathless” — delivered a rare spotlight on forensic scientist Bluebird Gleeson, giving fans a deeper glimpse into her complex character. However, while the episode succeeds in showing a more emotional side of Blue, the overall case left many viewers underwhelmed.
The episode begins with Blue attending a concert by pop star Nova Sykes, only for the singer to collapse on stage and die moments later. What follows is a fairly straightforward investigation that reveals the murder was committed by Nova’s father using peanut oil in the onstage smoke machine — a method designed to exploit her severe allergy.
While this creative murder method initially hooks the audience, the plot quickly loses steam. Suspects are introduced in a predictable fashion, and the twist — that Nova’s overbearing father is the killer — becomes obvious long before the characters catch on. Despite the unique setup, many fans felt the mystery lacked depth and suspense, making it one of the season’s weaker storylines.
What did resonate, however, was Blue’s emotional arc. Played by Mavournee Hazel, Blue is front and center from the start. She instantly suspects Nova’s father, and her obsession with the case hints at a personal connection. When she later delivers a passionate speech about controlling and abusive parents, it’s clear she’s projecting her own trauma. This moment should have been a powerful revelation, but the show never explores her past further — leaving fans both intrigued and frustrated.
“They dropped this huge hint about Blue being ‘kept in a cage’ and then… nothing. It’s like opening a door but refusing to let us walk through,” one fan commented online.
The emotional potential is there, but the writing pulls back just as it gets interesting.
The final scenes — including a tense confrontation and an oddly cheerful karaoke gathering — reflect the episode’s identity crisis. It wants to be emotionally heavy, suspenseful, and lighthearted all at once, but ends up diluting all three.
As NCIS: Sydney inches closer to its season finale, fans are eager to see bolder storytelling and more cohesive character development. “Breathless” proves that focusing on secondary characters like Blue can add richness to the show — but only if the narrative dares to go all in.
