NCIS (TV Series) Sturgeon Season (2020) User Reviews

A very different story arc approach

[bobpetrarca · 7/10 · 19 November 2020]

This episode appears to arc S16 E24 - Daughters to S17 E8 - Musical Chairs and creates a sort of, "Lost episode" taking place either in parallel with or just after S17 E8. The episode does not appear to be a flashback as there are no time/episode references past S17 E8, save for the, "Episode disconnected" opening scene.

The scenes referencing S17 E8 that try to build the story arc are not particularly in depth but, if you squint, you can sort of see where the story is going. Once you make these story arc connections, you should be able to see where the opening scene will fit in via a future episode. (one hopes)

I agree with james_abbey in that the focus is all over the place and that the episode looks like it was a pieced together story using S17 leftovers. With a bit more care this could have been the Gibbs/Fornell episode it was intended to be. For how great the writing and production of this series have always been, this episode disappoints. Haste can make waste.

Too unfocused

[james_abbey · 6/10 · 18 November 2020]

Having watched NCIS since its beginning as a two part JAG episode this seasons premier episode was by far the most disappointing. I can only blame it on the hastily terminated season 17.

I'm sure the episode was partly hashed together from a mish mash of plots and scripts from season 17 and to introduce a new (if not somewhat over used plot) character. Bringing Gibbs and Fornell back together could have been lead to a powerful season 17 to 18 cliff hanger. The introduction of he new NCIS agent seemed rushed.

A lot screen time was wasted and I believe its not exactly what the writers had envisioned

NCIS..I´ve missed you, but this was not great

[connyskribent · 6/10 · 23 November 2020]

I have really missed NCIS, but the return was so-so. The story and dialougue was the main problem with this episode, the best actors in the world can´t save a woeful script. Too many characters are acting in a stupid way. Don´t get me started on Fornell... Are the writers deliberately ruining his character? Maybe they are killing him off. Don´t agree with the other imdb user saying that Joe Spano is awaful, I think he is a good actor, but he is handed a poorly written character at the moment. Mark Harmon almost seems disinterested at the moment, going through the motions. The show needs to step up. I wouldn´t mind a cast shake up and maybe a returning character or two (of course the first once popping up are Tony/Ziva, but I don´t think we will see it happening).

A mixed bag

[harrykivi · 6/10 · 14 September 2023]

I was looking forward to the 18th season, because the previous season was pretty unimpressive. "Sturgeon Season" is not a great premiere to "NCIS", but manages to be fine at best.

Let's start with the good aspects.

. The production values of the episode are great. "Sturgeon Season" is very well-directed, the music fits the scenery and the acting's pretty good.

. There are moments of good tension in the story. Did like the stuff with Fornell and Gibbs for the most part. The mystery regarding a missing body was decent too.

But...

. The humor does not always work and feels off-putting at times. There agreed should have been more focus to Fornell's storyline (even though letting him watch the only suspect tied to his daughter's case was not a clever move indeed). Do agree too that jumping with the timeline does mess things up.

Overall, a fine episode.

6/10 HK.

Not as bad as people are saying

[spazmail1 · 9/10 · 21 November 2020]

Others are disappointed with this episode because it has some unresolved story lines, but IMHO, that adds to the suspense. I don't want to spoil it so you'll have to see it in the first part of the episode. If it weren't for the 400th episode next week, it would probably be the first installment of a 2-3 part opening. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the storyline. I especially can't wait to see the next episode that supposedly deals with Gibbs and Ducky! Keep up the good work!

Nice beginning

[koohii · 7/10 · 18 April 2023]

I am a little behind because for some reason NetFlix has refused to acquire new seasons of this show, so I went ahead and bought the disks on the theory that if it was a throw-away season like Bishop's Divorce Year, well, it was only $20, and I could put it in the free library across the street for someone else.

Not sure why so many people are confused by the teasing of a prolonged story arc and then the nice flashback to an episode from the year before (also nice that it was a pretty good episode). Given how horrific the soap operas were getting last year, it was nice to have a good episode with a stronger emphasis on story.

Confusing

[mjpatterson-20085 · 5/10 · 20 November 2020]

It was good to see the NCIS folks again, but this episode was odd. Fornell is acting crazy and what's with pony tail? The lead in didn't match the story.

This show is getting silly

[morganparker2 · 2/10 · 22 November 2020]

Why is the main story about Fornell's daughter and Fornell is a mess, it's just not fun to watch. This show feels like it's dying. With all the cast changes and everything the feeling is not great. Criminal Minds felt like it was past due as well.

Huh?

[j_cary88 · 4/10 · 28 May 2021]

I can not make sense of this episode whatsoever. You have Gibbs shooting McGee one minute, time jumping back a year and staying there, then they show a part of an old episode and have Fornell and Gibbs have probably the worst interaction they've ever had in the series, then right in the middle of whatever they're doing, it fast forwards again in time to saving a new characters daughter from... something? Who is this person? Why is Vance helping the team on a mission? What happened with McGee and Gibbs from the beginning?

I even watched this a second time, and read along to a description of the episode while I was watching and it still made absolutely no sense. Did they just patch together a bunch of episodes they lost from season 17 cuz of COVID? I've never seen an NCIS episode like this, especially a season premiere. Let's hope starting with episode 2, the show regains some control. I mean what in the world is this?

Phoning It In

[norockets · 5/10 · 19 November 2020]

Terrible writing and acting. It is time to pack it in, NCIS. The show and the characters are two-dimensional and ininteresting.

What was that?

[junglejuice-80021 · 3/10 · 9 January 2021]

As a long time fan, since the Jag days I have to say that this was simply the worst episode of NCIS that I've ever seen. I had to watch it a second time to see what I'd missed as the story made no sense, turns out I hadn't missed anything... Very disappointing....

what is going on?

[thprice-93201 · 5/10 · 19 November 2020]

Starts with McGee being shot by Gibbs in Mar 2020; then goes to Nov 2019 and the drug issue and then ?? the present time with the new agent and her daughter. VERY hard to follow and we had to go back to the beginning to see what might have happened. This better get cleared up next week or bye bye

Sturgeon Season

[bobcobb301 · 5/10 · 28 August 2021]

Some of the Gibbs and Fornell stuff wasn't bad, but this show just felt like kind of there. We need a lot more effort in this season or the ratings will continue to fall.

Awful Season Premiere

[Johnny_West · 3/10 · 22 November 2020]

It felt like the episode with the Navy Band musician that was murdered was being re-purposed. There were parts that did not fit with the rest of the episode. The beginning has Gibbs shooting McGee, then it jumps into something else.

Joe Spano as Fornell is really annoying. He is a horrible actor. When Spano and Harmon are together it seems like they are just goofing off, like buddies. Where is the director? I am really tired of Spano and the character of Fornell. I hope he gets killed off or put into a nursing home.

Worst premiere ever

[moov_e_c_er · 2/10 · 12 December 2021]

Yes the pandemic was happening. But it was more like the editor(s) collected all the stuff that was "left on the floor" and then threw this junk together. It was like the director and actors were like "let's made random filler episodes so we don't work the full hours". I've went back and started from episode one of season one and this was truly the worst episode. Best chemistry is with Gibbs and Fornell. No reason for this Episode.

Terrible episode

[joelphinnemore · 1/10 · 15 December 2020]

This is the worst acting I have ever seen on NCIS. If this was the first ever episode, the show would have been dead to me.

Worst Episode of the Show

[yebba-44413 · 1/10 · 17 January 2021]

I have no idea who wrote this but it felt like a cheap high school play. The angles of the shots, the script, the acting, the reactions - EVERYTHING about this episode was bad. I can't believe it actually aired. I'm not normally critical of shows and I can let a lot of things slide but this was terrible.

Oh dear!

[ak2020 · 3/10 · 22 January 2021]

Disjointed, poor story Poor acting A waste of an hour I will never get back. I hope the series gets better, or it's bye bye from me.

Not sure what happened

[jdonalds-5 · 4/10 · 8 December 2020]

If this presentation was the norm for NCIS it wouldn't have lasted all these seasons.

I'm not exactly sure what happened here but the dialog was way out of character for NCIS. Too juvenile. Gibbs, who is notorious for being super brief in his dialog, was wordy.

The storyline was choppy. It didn't seem to hold together and flow. Even during the time we were watching this episode I kept thinking the director thought the storyboard looked good. They were wrong.

I have to look to direction as the reason for the failure of this episode.

Strange episode...and not in a good way

[writeon-87275 · 5/10 · 28 December 2021]

I agree with most of the other reviewers....even worse than the cowboy singing episode...too disjointed ...nuff said...oh and Mcgee got shot ...really.!!!...why didnt gibbs shoot the pilot....