NCIS (TV Series) True Believer (2021) User Reviews

True Believer

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 22 December 2021]

A lot of potential with this story, but there was just not the right delivery here.

Sloane is a character who never quite fit in with NCIS and I think this rightfully should be the end.

Really good.

[faithless4734 · 8/10 · 28 March 2021]

Not to bad of a storyline. I think the way they are not harping on but only mentioning covid is great. As for the rest. Sloane leaving is frankly not a big deal maybe they will get away from the touchy feely stuff and back to real who done its in the old NCIS way of solving crime.

The last kiss?

[neverenoughgold · 10/10 · 3 March 2021]

Well, we knew last fall Sloane was leaving the series, and she would be gone sometime during the first eight episodes of season 18. So, it was inevitable, and she did go out with a lot of class. I must confess, I was hoping for more interaction with the bad guy; you know, a solid beating or even worse (he certainly deserved it), but it was not to be seen by viewers. I will confess, I was hoping for some interaction between Gibbs and Sloane before her exit, and it was provided with a very (for CBS anyway) intimate kiss between the two actors. Good show, and a lot of entertainment for loyal fans.

Jack should have retired to Costa Rica ...

[JosephFabeetz · 1/10 · 3 March 2021]

I've watched the show for years but writers are out of ideas. This was an awful episode made even worse as it was writing a primary character out. We suspend belief in such shows for entertainment. But this was so implausible that even the actors sleepwalked through it. Pity.

So glad Sloan is gone!!

[nautikalhorizon · 3/10 · 29 March 2021]

This episode could not come soon enough. Nothing worse than a psychotherapist that always seem to be emotionally unstable, meddling in other people's lives, and seems to know everything. Her entire story arc seemed to be one emotional roller coaster ride after another. So glad Sloan is gone!!

Oh no! Somebody killed a guy by spiking his ketchup with ... vinegar!

[grimm-29 · 1/10 · 3 March 2021]

Generally I like this show, but this episode was a clanger. Somebody should tell its science-challenged writers that acetic acid is vinegar -- which (i) isn't poisonous (except perhaps in massive quantities) & (ii) has a very strong flavor.

Jack Stays, Jimmy Blows

[Johnny_West · 1/10 · 3 March 2021]

Well Jack Sloane (played by Maria Bello) finally leaves the show. If an NCIS unit of five people needs its own psychologist then maybe they should all be put on disability and retired. Bello rarely does anything except for meddling in the lives of the various characters.

Bello's last adventure with Gibbs reminds me of "Lost in Translation" which was season 12, episode 21, and dealt with issues of betrayal by a trusted Arab in Afghanistan. That story got re-vamped into this.

Not much here except the build-up to the big decision that Bello makes. Bello had so many issues related to her service in the Middle East, that her decision was very predictable! She wants to save the Middle East, and atone for the innocent people she killed or got killed.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Scooby Doo Crew are investigating the sale of children by an internet hacker. Moronic McGee tries to do some of his lame computer work, and downloads a virus into the NCIS computers. Even an idiot should know to isolate an unknown (evidence) computer from the NCIS computer network? Yet McGee has done this at least ten times before, so how bad is he as a computer whiz?

Eventually, Torres, McGee, Bishop, etc. Decide to use Jimmy the geek coroner as their undercover operative for some hackers to contact. This has to be the worst acting in the history of NCIS? Jimmy (Brian Dietzen) is sitting as the decoy, non-stop motor-mouth, as Torres, McGee, Bishop all stand about ten feet away from him, in a semi-circle. All of them are wearing white ear-buds and white wires down their necks, as they all stand around talking to each other, non-stop. Even a blind hacker would have heard all the yapping.

Finally! I've been waiting for this episode for 3 seasons!

[koohii · 5/10 · 18 April 2023]

Ever since she was introduced, Sloane has been frickin' annoying and obnoxious with her touchy-feely crap and her own inability to deal with her life while telling everyone else what do to with theirs. Basically, she isn't a psychiatrist or psychologist--she's a daytime TV shrink.

And Finally, She is GONE! (Insert cheers, fireworks, and confetti) As for the depiction of Afghanistan, it is laughably childish and simplistic, without any attempt to explore the problems there with any depth. I suppose that's oddly appropriate with how superficial the character of Sloane is.

All I feel the need to really say here is "Good Riddance to bad rubbish!"

Once again the characters are sleep-walking

[ak2020 · 2/10 · 14 March 2021]

I get the idea that the regulars are aware that the stories are without any real meat, no tension and are spun to fill the 43 minutes allocated. The actors are just sleepwalking through the scripts and just going through the motions of acting.

Pathetic. Producers, it's time for the end of NCIS.

As Much As I Like This Show, Could It Be Time To Go Out With Dignity?

[jsmith98-1 · 2/10 · 11 March 2021]

I think this show has officially "jumped the shark" with this episode. I just don't think it's the same show that it was in its earlier years. Too many of the fan favorites are now gone or have quit. Mark Harmon looked 40yrs old when this show started and now he looks 75yrs old. I don't have an issue with that but if he leaves the show, I don't think it will survive.

This series has been on for 18 seasons. That's a very long time for a show that has lost some of it's best characters along the way and still can hold the top spot for viewership. I grew up in Norfolk, VA. The worlds largest Navy Base is there which is often referenced in the show, so it has always held a special place in my heart as I was surrounded by everything Navy while I was growing up there. It might be because this Pandemic has limited the number of writers and filming locations which has hurt several really great shows. I hope that's the case. Now that I live in Texas, this show is like a small slice of my past life in Norfolk and I would definitely miss it if it was to be canceled. I never served, but I have and always will be grateful to the Veterans that have risked their lives for our Freedom!

While in pandemic lockdown, we've binged watched the entire series of "Criminal Minds" and we have noticed that when you watch a show like this without commercials and a week between episodes, you start to see a repeat in patterns and ideas that are very similar but just altered enough that you would not normally notice it unless you watch 10 or 12 episodes a day. I read here on IMDB that Criminal Minds is going to have another season where the case is spread out over a whole season of 10 episodes. So we're looking forward to that happening.

What happens now with faith? Sloane's daughter?

[salmashaikho · 4 March 2021]

So in season 16 or 17. We learnt that sloane had a daughter whom she gave up for adoption immediately after birth... we met her daughter, faith. Faith didnt want anything to do with jack... then they started to have a relationship... then the whole medical condition thing (fertility or whatever). What was the point of it? To confuse us? Someone explain please... I want sloane to come back... at least just for a couple of episodes for GIBBS and for FAITH!!!! (And Carl... duh)

pathetic rubbish

[p_brooker · 1/10 · 6 March 2022]

Given what has actually happened in that tragic country, this is pathetic rubbish, unworthy of even one star. What this has got to do with the original premise of NCIS? The actors must be ashamed to pick up their huge pay checks.

Rather dull

[harrykivi · 3/10 · 28 September 2023]

The 18th season has been fine so far with only few episodes being disappointing. "True Believer" is probably the worst of the episodes so far. It's not only disappointing, but kind of boring really.

Let's start with the good aspects.

. The production values of the episode are great as usual. The music fits the scenery and the acting's decent for the most part. Mark Harmon and Maria Bello are good with what they have.

But...

. The camerawork is not always spot on and feels disoriented. The mystery is rather dull, feeling like something one has seen dozens of times before. The dialogue is stiff and the story, which at times got stupid, ended in a predictable way. Most of the jokes sadly do not hit as well.

Overall, kind of terrible.

3/10 HK.