NCIS - Choke Hold - Review + POLL: "The Cold War and the new Tiva"

It was quite a Cold War on this week's NCIS as a Russian Counselor seemed to be giving NCIS misinformation. We also met Tony's supposed new love interest in the form of FBI agent Leia Pendergast.

The episode starts with two men finding a supposedly dead Navy research scientist in a park. However, the woman appears to be still alive when she opens her eyes. The next day NCIS is called to the crime scene but Ducky is there too. The team learns that the scientist has died as her head was cut off when she was moved into the ambulance. The murder weapon appears to be some sort of garotte. The scientist's boss later explains that she was recruited from Russia, and that her former co-worker Nelly Benin is still there. While the two are professional rivals, they are also best friends.

The Russians come back into play when Gibbs and Tony are called to a secret meeting by Vance. While Tony has to guard the door, Gibbs, Vance and SecNav discuss the scientist's murder and SecNav tells them she has information from a foreign embassy. That information comes from Russian Counselor Anton Pavlenko, whom we see in the season premiere trying to help Gibbs and McGee when their helicopter was shot down. Pavlenko tells them Benin killed someone in Russia and now works for Sergei Mishnev, the terrorist responsible for said helicopter shooting. To find her, NCIS has to work with FBI Special Agent Leia Pendergast. They track down Benin but she says Sergei is responsible for the Russian's death and that Sergei offered her to work for him. The fact that she's in danger shows when a hit woman almost gets to her in the restroom. Benin asks for asylum in the United States. However, Pavlenko learns that NCIS is holding Benin and asks for her to be transferred back to Russia.

Meanwhile, the hit woman is identified as Renata Atal, who uses strange murder weapons to carry out her hit killings. When Pendergast takes Benin to the airport, she notices she's being followed. They are indeed followed by Atal, but Tony calls Leia to tell her they have been following her follower. When Atal is surrendered, she uses a garrote to kill herself. That might have been one of the most gruesome moments the series has ever done.

Benin is still handed over to Pavlenko as NCIS can't find any evidence connecting Pavlenko to either Atal or Sergei. As the team is ready to give Benin to Pavlenko in the NCIS garage, Benin takes Pendergast's gun and threatens to shoot the Russian Counselor. However, Pendergast pulls another gun and kills her. Pavlenko is shocked but at least he doesn't have a problem anymore. After he leaves, a furious SecNav asks for an explanation, and it is shown Benin is still alive and well. Pendergast had blanks in her gun.

This was a good episode. I didn't expect them to come back to the Sergei arc so soon. I was definitely surprised that the episode started with a 'Previously on NCIS' so early into the season. Sure, I had read in the press release that Pavlenko would return, but I thought that the case would be unrelated to Sergei. It will be interesting to see how the story continues throughout the season. Maybe we will see Benin again? Honestly, I thought she really died when Pendergast shot her. The show has done this 'fake killing' multiple times before and yet it still manages to surprise me in this episode. Maybe I was just naïve, but I have to compliment the writers for catching at least one NCIS viewer by surprise in that final twist. Also kudos for coming up with a new murder weapon twelve seasons in, and for having one of the most gruesome scenes of the show.

Of course, in this episode we were also introduced to Leia Pendergast, Tony's supposed new love interest. Honestly, I don't know what to think of her just yet. From what we have seen so far, I don't dislike her but I'm not all in for 'Teia' (Tony + Leia) just yet. She doesn't appear to be much of an original character, with the usual daddy issues being all too familiar. I believe I need more time to form an opinion on Pendergast.

However, I am curious to see what you all think about her and 'the new Tiva'. That's why I have a poll below where you can share your vote. Please tell us what you voted in the comments below, and while you're at it, also tell us what you thought of the episode overall. You can also watch the promo for Tuesday's all-new episode, "The San Dominick", below.

About the Author - Daniel

Daniel is a Dutch university student studying Psychology. On SpoilerTV he is a reviewer of NCIS, The 100 and the upcoming shows Madam Secretary, Battle Creek and Odyssey. He also enjoys Arrow, NCIS: LA, Nikita and The Blacklist. Recently gotten into LOST which he really loves. He is excited for the new shows Stalker, Scorpion, NCIS: New Orleans and a bunch of others.

Recent Reviews by Daniel (All Reviews)