Keensler
Y’know, thinking about Keensler makes me think about Tiva and the huge difference in how I feel about the two.
I loved the thought of Tiva throughout the NCIS seasons that had Cote de Pablo. From the moment Ziva first came to NCIS in the third season I was waiting and ready for Tiva. I could say that there were so many things to make me think that it would happen, but it never really, truly did, and I was okay with that?
Well, maybe I wasn’t okay with it, but I wasn’t dying because of it. They were such a good match and yet a romantic relationship was not something that seemed needed in the show. It was fine that they were close partners, it was fine that nothing ever really came about because you knew that they really cared about each other but had enough respect for their job that they would never actually get together in light of Gibbs’s rule. It was all fine.
THEN, in the last episode for de Pablo, THEY KISS and everything was amazing. I sat there saying to myself, “I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE SEASON 3.” But it was okay! It was great and I was happy with it. Granted, it wasn’t exactly what I had wanted, but it was closed off in the best way possible and I am satisfied with it.
Keensler, on the other hand, is like this beast that I can’t contend with. But it’s the same situation! They’re partners who care about each other. Ressler and DiNozzo are both smart and do their best to uphold the law. Sure, Tony is a bit more of the comic relief, but they are essentially the same kind of character, both in that same could-be-the-boss-but-is-better-in-the-field kind of person. Elizabeth and Ziva in my opinion are not the same, but sort of have the same role (really Ziva and Navabi are the same, but Ziva’s role matches more of Liz).
Now, I am not the biggest fan of Liz. I don’t not like her, but she is definitely not my favorite character, and quite frankly, I think her character could have been developed better. Even after everything she went through in the first two seasons, she still makes bad choices and gets into unnecessary trouble (though who knows, maybe that’s for the benefit of Ressler having to save her, leading this whole Keensler thing on).
But anyway, Liz and Ziva play the same role: they both offer something unique to the team (criminal profiling vs. Mossad training and connections, foreign viewpoint) and they are both partners of the almost-boss guys of the team.
So whyyy is Keensler so much more painful than Tiva? Is it the character development and/or lack thereof? Is it the kind of people the characters inherently are? Is it the way the writers carry on the relationship? Honestly, I’m not sure, but there is a stark difference in how I feel about the two. Really, Liz and Ressler don’t have to get together. They can keep going on as strictly partners, but we all know that something is there. So many OBVIOUS things point to that (seriously, there are lists out there).
Perhaps it’s this obviousness that makes it so painful. Either way, someone needs to confess their feelings, and I believe it should be Ressler. Liz could brush it off with “I’m married to and have a child with Tom”, but Ressler is alone and he cares deeply about Liz. But then, he is too wrapped up in his tough guy façade to say anything/knows he has no chance.
I’m definitely not asking for another love interest for Ressler, no, no, no! I was actually pretty okay with Audrey, but I feel like anyone else would be wrong. Navabi is a prime example. Totally wrong. It was a heat of the moment and we’re-both-in-terrible-places-so-let’s-do-it kind of thing. Which is terrible. I hated that.
In the end, all I want is for Ressler to admit his feelings. I don’t even think I’d need Keensler to actually happen (though that would be awesome). I just want there to be a blatant display of feelings from the tough-guy-who’s-actually-a-softie character, because who wouldn’t want that?
