Heartland

It was interesting when they went back to Gibbs old home town

As I'm writing this, NCIS is currently in its 16th season and still going strong. However, as with any series, there is always an episode that stands out and becomes unforgettable. This episode is it. R.I.P., Ralph Waite.

Mystery, intrigue and the softer side of Gibbs. Skillful use of flashbacks as a story-telling device.

There is no reason to pad this review into 150 characters. Less is more.

So nice to see a softer side of Gibbs as he reconciles with his father. Perfectly cast and played by Ralph Waite, Jackson Gibbs is a talker, unlike his son, and neither father or son "get" each other. But they learn, along with some great one liners as their strained relationship heals. The ending in which Gibbs pulls his father into a bear hug, after Jack tells him "I know you hate it when I use a thousand words but give us a call" or something similar you can really feel the love. And the total ending, with Gibbs back in time at the train station where he met his Shannon, and "I'm just going to call you Gibbs". And we learn she is the reason for the Rules...the softness on Gibbs face, the man did love, and it gets me every time.

And then throw in a case which takes a couple of turns, a really well done episode.

Watching this episode many years later as I'm going through all of the NCIS episodes, put it all together for me in many ways. I plan to save this one and see it again from time to time. This episode has so many explanations for so many other things that come up in other episodes with respect to Leroy Jethro Gibbs: how he grew up, how he was formed, the early bullies in his life as well as the influence his two parents had on him, when he met Shannon, where the rules begin, and more. The episode also showed a depth to his father that I'd forgotten (like him climbing Kilimanjaro) and gave a hint of what comes up in the final episode featuring Jackson Gibbs "Honor thy Father", i think it was, in season 13(?). The quality of acting from both Ralph Waite and Mark Harmon made this a truly very special episode. They both have such wonderful smiles when they use them.