"Shell Game" is a prime example of why a long-running series like "NCIS" continues to rule the roost and retain its fan base: skillful writing, engaging cast of regulars and an honestly old-fashioned approach.
The iconic & trendy hits like "Homeland" and "Breaking Bad" come and go, with cable TV's ability to avoid censorship (a loophole in the broadcast code) and stress sensationalism giving it a head start compared to network series. But that old saw about the Silent Majority holds true for Mark Harmon, Pauley Perette & Co., as the warhorse lives on to entertain mightily another day.
This tricky story kept me guessing right to the end, with clever red herrings, solid jeopardy for the young femme guest star, strong yet tasteful violence in the opening escape from her kidnapper, and deft integration of a modicum of character development for the newbies on the team. No pretentious breakthroughs in television history, just meat and potatoes action and drama.
I have been a fan since the beginning, and "JAG" before that. I grew up watching TV series in the '50s and '60s and remember well the delights of thinking-man's shows like "The Defenders", "East Side West Side", "Route 66" and hundreds more. The hip shows back then were "Burke's Law" with its constellation of big-name guest stars, and "Man from UNCLE" and "Wild Wild West". British imports like "The Avengers" and "Secret Agent"/"The Prisoner" were the cream of the crop. And none of these received the unfortunately overrated status of so many recent cable hits like "The Sopranos".
So for detractors who find "NCIS" square and generationally challenged, get a grip. When the dust settles on TV history, I predict the mainstream quality shows will emerge with staying power, while the shooting stars will feel as alien and empty to future generations as the hyped Tarantino feature films of the past two decades most certainly will when compared to Hollywood's far more sincere Golden Age classics.
