6x01 rewatch NCIS Last Man Standing
This was the first episode I watched when it originally aired. I distinctly remember the singing.
Why is poor Ziva always being injured on ZNN.
Love the first ever scene with Eli. Perfect how he's in the center of the shot, standing between her and her real family. It's heartbreaking how she's clearly feeling something on the phone with Gibbs but can't say. And then "A kiss for your father" and that's the first time in the scene we know this is her dad, because he certainly doesn't act like it. (I remember this moment from the original airing because of this reveal and what it says about their relationship.) This is love to him. Obedience and loyalty above all else, including her own wellbeing/feelings. It shows how she's a much better person: she was always uncomfortable with the way that means justified ends for him, much kinder, more willing to see the good in people, more searching for something good in life. That said you can see that Eli really did believe the means justified the ends, which makes him more complicated.
"I miss you, too. All of you. Even, uh, Tony." Ziva, my love. The subtlety of this, that he's the only one she mentions by name, but in the guise of critique.
Fond critique.
Somebody wanna tell her?
Love that Langer is supposed to be the Tony-equivalent but you gotta admit Tony is way more charming, even via video conference. The whole Pa, Timmy riff. ("He's insane." "Oh, yeah.")
This whole arc was really well done. Forgot they had Rivkin in episode 1. They really had a plan.
Forgot this conversation with Eli about what he wanted for his grandchildren. "Use her well." Say Tony and Ziva never ever about Tali in any context. Eli. My man. That is your literal daughter.
This is such a good Ziva and Tiva season. Gibbs being a much better dad (that long hug at the end of this ep; my heart). Insisting on tracking her down and bringing her back all episode. Then Tony basically standing between her and Eli later on in S6 and saying: you deserve better. I think maybe before NCIS it had literally never occurred to her that she did.











