(346-word review) My initial impulse was to say this episode was written by another new writer, only to find out that he (Jack Bernstein) wrote four prior episodes, all in the first season. The reason I felt that way was because of some aspects of the writing; yeah, obviously, I know.
Those aspects were the doppelgänger thing and more personality regarding Gibbs' character shown than ever before instead of the hard-ass boss persona, even to the extent of having a bit of a romantic experience with a bit more, which was particularly "new" and something surprising. When this aired, I bet most people were excited to see a different side of Gibbs: to that extent, I mean, as there have already been glimpses throughout the show.
I hope it doesn't take too long for another writer to pick up where Jack Bernstein left off regarding that and that it continues to develop because I like that "version" of Gibbs. Maybe even more than the persona he presents 99% of the time; it makes him more likable and relatable than the hard-ass, over-it/everything Gibbs.
And while the plot side of things was alright, those two things, ironically enough, were also what kept this episode afloat. Those things added most of the flavor and carried it while the plot was so-so: the doppelgänger aspect was as appealing as it was entertaining, and I found the writing of Gibbs' character in this episode intriguing/refreshing to see, leading me to desire more of that Gibbs.
So, even though that's a half-good, half-bad sort of thing on Jack Bernstein's part, he deserves credit for the half-good, as it was pretty good and undoubtedly outweighed the half-bad. The interrogation scene falls into the 'half-good/pretty good' territory; it was entertaining. Same with the ending, which, while abrupt, just like the tenth episode's ending, came across as intensely impactful; you know, the undertones and saying a lot without saying anything. I would've liked it if it didn't end there, ending after an official reveal instead; at the same time, the implication route was a nice touch.
