sambadeorly replied to your post: Truth be told, I’d be hap...
I actually wonder if MW will unwittingly coast a bit during this season without Cote to keep his acting honest. He is so charming that he could probably be fine, but I think Cote made him better. IMO.
Here's the thing. I do think Cote made Michael better, but I also think he made her better. As performers, he was the yin to her yang. He forced her to be more spontaneous and she grounded him. Both of them elevated each other to a place that made Tony and Ziva memorable. Yes, there has been great writing but in essence, it worked because they worked. These two are extremely talented on their own but something about them together was magic.
I don't know if I'd say he might coast, but his character and his performance will probably be tinkered with a bit. You don't lose an acting partner like Cote (or vice versa) and come out the other end unchanged.