Can’t anything ever be simple for Leroy Jethro Gibbs?
We guess not, huh? That would make for some pretty boring television.
On NCIS Season 12 Episode 1, our hero and McGee traveled to Russia to take in a contact with valuable computer intel. No problem, right? Until there were lots of problems.
To kick things off, we caught up with a Russian mercenary named Sergei Michnev, who Deputy Ambassador Anton Pavlenko believes has been stalking an NCIS technology whiz named Kevin.
However, Michnev shrugs off the implication of bad behavior and states that his interest in NCIS Special Agent Gibbs will “remain personal. Deeply personal.” We call that foreshadowing.
Vance then relays to Gibbs that Kevin thinks he’s been followed, which prompts Gibbs and McGee to hop a plane and escort him to America for his uncle’s funeral.
Gibbs and McGee successfully grab Kevin, only to have their helicopter ride to an awaiting ship shot down by a missile.
Gibbs, McGee, Kevin and a female pilot all survive, yet find themselves in a battle with Sergei and his goons.
So it’s off to the Finland border (20 klicks away, hence the episode title), where Kevin gets hit during a shootout and Gibbs offers to stay behind in order to slow down their pursuers.
Just as Sergei himself steps into the crosshairs and Gibbs prepares to shoot his nemesis, DiNozzo arrives with a vehicle to spirit everyone to safety.
We later learn that Sergei has a connection to Ari Haswari, the Mossad officer/half-brother of Ziva’s who many years ago killed Special Agent Kate Todd and, ultimately, was taken out by Ziva (though not according to the official record).
So Sergei is out there, alive and he’ll be “gunning for us,” Vance warns. However, as Gibbs notes to close the premiere, “Not if we find him first.”
GREAT opener, huh? Go watch NCIS online if you missed it and sound off in the Comments section with your take.