NCIS - The Artful Dodger - Review: "Will DiNozzo Senior ever change?"

The latest NCIS episode featured the sixth appearance of Robert Wagner as Anthony DiNozzo Senior. Senior returned with bad news but also helped the team out in a case.

The case involved the death of Navy Lieutenant Dominic Pine, who was found in the office of his Commanding Officer. It turns out whoever killed him was after the painting in the office. The culprit changed the painting for a fake one, but the team finds out soon enough that the painting is fake. The case gets weirder when a second blood pattern is found, which belongs to deceased CIA official Brian Khosa. Apparently a bug was planted on the painting and since it hang in the office of the Secretary of Defense for a while, it could mean a leak of confidential information. The terrorist group who had planted the bug, Al-Zalim, wanted the painting, because the bug did not have a far reach. The Lieutenant was killed by his girlfriend Gloria so she could seel the painting to Al-Zalim. Fortunately, DiNozzo Senior has connections in the art world so he went undercover as a potential buyer. The meeting threatened to go south, but the team adequately arrested the suspects in time.

Meanwhile, Senior was in town to tell his son that his fiancée Linda left him. Junior of course thinks that was his dad's fault and Tony thinks his father has never been anything but a con artist. When McGee accidentally spills this to Senior, Tony's father is shocked and tells the truth: Linda left him for someone else. After Gibbs makes the DiNozzos realize how much they love each other during the undercover stint, Senior tells Tony that he is an entrepreneur. And yes, there is a different between an entrepreneur and a con artist. The two once again leave on good terms.

Is it me or do these episodes with Senior all look the same? Senior comes to visit Tony (announced or unannounced), does something stupid (like sleep with Tony's next-door neighbor), Tony gets tired of his father and sometimes nearly threatens to cut him out of his life, and in the end the two men always make up. And then in the next episode we start at the beginning again. Oh, and in five out of six episodes Senior was involved in the case one way or another. At this point it all just becomes pretty repetitive. It also looks as if Senior doesn't ever change, or if Tony's impression of him doesn't. These two need to have a long and heart-to-heart conversation. They also need to realize that, basically, they only have each other. I think there should be an event that brings the two of them closer together, like either of them getting a serious accident or either of them losing someone close. Senior's break-up was a perfect opportunity and yet it didn't have the emotional resonance I believe it could have had. It's a pity they wasted the storyline with Linda by having them separate so soon. By the way, the case was average though a bit far-fetched with the terrorist group.

Also, I'm sorry this review is so late and a bit shorter than usual. Busy times, busy times!

What did you think of this episode? How do you feel about the case of the week? What are your thoughts on Senior's return? Do you think he will ever change? Or is it up to Tony to repair their relationship? And lastly, is Senior a con artist or an entrepreneur? Sound off with your opinions in the comment section below.

The next NCIS episode airs this Tuesday at 8/7c. Here is the promo for the episode:

About the Author - Daniel van der Veer

Daniel van der Veer is a Dutch university student studying Psychology. On SpoilerTV he is a reviewer of NCIS, The 100, Stalker, Madam Secretary and the upcoming shows Battle Creek and Odyssey. He also enjoys LOST, Arrow, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Nikita, The Blacklist, Scorpion and How To Get Away With Murder.

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