Phoenix (NCIS)

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"Phoenix"
NCIS episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 3
Directed byTerrence O'Hara
Written bySteven D. Binder
Original air dateOctober 9, 2012 (2012-10-09)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Lost at Sea"
NCIS season 10
List of episodes

"Phoenix" is the third episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 213th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on October 9, 2012. The episode is written by Steven D. Binder and directed by Terrence O'Hara, and was seen by 18.51 million viewers.[1][2]

Plot

Still on enforced leave from NCIS after his

alcohol poisoning as he had thought. Meanwhile, the team investigates the death of Marine Sergeant Raymond Hill, who was about to flee the country. A copy of Ducky's exhumation order is found in his papers, meaning the cases are related. Gibbs
, in keeping with his Rule #38 ("Your case, your lead") puts Ducky in charge of the investigation, since Roberts's murder occurred first.

JSC-1 (a synthetic replica of lunar soil) on Roberts' clothing. NASA scientist Dr. Felix Blackwell, when questioned, says ordinary JSC-1 is harmless, but the radioactive material could be used in making a dirty bomb. The team begins to suspect that Commander Roberts and Sergeant Hill were involved in smuggling materials to make WMDs
.

Hill's email records eventually lead them to Del Finney, a former rock star who admits, while being interrogated by Ducky, that Hill sold him what he thought was a

Palmer
's relief.

Production

"Phoenix" is written by Steven D. Binder and directed by Terrence O'Hara. Binder compared Ducky's last months to a Phoenix, who after some time eventually returns. "The phoenix has become a universal symbol of rebirth and renewal - which made it the perfect title for this Ducky-centric episode. The heart attack was Act I. Act II was Ducky struggling to get his footing. And this episode is Act III… Ducky gets his mojo back."[3] About the crime in the episode, Binder based it on the real life theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. "I had read years ago that the Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911. But not because someone wanted the painting itself. It was stolen so the bad guys could sell knock-offs to millionaires and pass them off as the real thing. I thought that was clever."[3]

Michael Des Barres guest stars as ex-rock star Del Finney. "I have worked on over 100 hours of television, and I have never been on a set where everyone involved made me feel that I could fly with the material, and feel safe enough, respected enough to do good work", Des Barres says.[4] Some of the music used in the episode is from Des Barres' new album "Carnaby Street".[4]

Gibbs' rules

Rule number 38 is mentioned in this episode; "Your case, your lead", told by Gibbs to Ducky.[5] It was previously introduced in the Season Six episode "Bounce", when Gibbs willingly takes a subordinate role to Tony, while the team is re-investigating a case that first arose during Tony's brief tenure as team leader, in Gibbs's absence.

Reception

"Phoenix" was seen by 18.51 million live viewers following its broadcast on October 9, 2012, with an 11.5/18 share among all households, and 3.4/10 share among adults aged 18 to 49.[1][6] A rating point represents one percent of the total number of television sets in American households, and a share means the percentage of television sets in use tuned to the program. In total viewers, "Phoenix" easily won NCIS and CBS the night. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles drew second and was seen by 15.18 million viewers.[1] Compared to last week's episode "Recovery", "Phoenix" was down in both viewers and adults 18-49.[7]

Steve Marsi from TV Fanatic gave the episode 4 (out of 5) and stated that "NCIS was a rocking good time tonight, and not just because of an eccentric '80s one-hit wonder or a faux lunar sample. "Phoenix" featured an unorthodox case with an unexpected team member running point. None other than Dr. Mallard got to run the show this week after Gibbs evoked Rule #38: Your case, your lead."[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kondolojy, Amanda (October 10, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS', 'The Voice', 'Hart of Dixie', 'NCIS:LA' & 'DWTS' Adjusted Up; 'Go On' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  2. ^ "(#1003) "Phoenix"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Binder, Steven D. (October 9, 2012). "Insider's Blog: "Phoenix"". CBS. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Michael on NCIS, October 9th". desbarres.com. October 3, 2012. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Marsi, Steve (October 9, 2012). "NCIS Review: Are You Ready to Rock!?". TV Fanatic. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  6. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 10, 2012). "CBS Wins Tuesday in Viewers and Adults 25-54 for the Third Consecutive Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  7. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 3, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS', 'The Voice', & 'Dancing With the Stars' Special Adjusted Up; 'Go On', 'Vegas' & 'Parenthood' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
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