After a great Format Breaker like "Cloak", a 9/10 episode, can "Dagger" deliver? Too often in the case of two-parters, if the first part is great, the second is a big letdown (many two-parters of The X Files come to mind). The opening credits raise bad omens: there are two writers, neither of which wrote "Cloak", and the director has changed. If there's one rule that should always be followed when making a two-parter (or a double-length episode such as a season ender), it is to have *one* team execute it from script to screen.
Fortunately, the episode begins promisingly. Unlike in the previous one, which had a magnificently labyrinthine script, this one *has* no option but to be straightforward because of the way things were set up at the end of the first part. And when it comes to the characters, there is, for example, a wonderful scene between Lee and McGee. We see a new side to Abby, which deepens her character - but there is also a typically hilarious Abby scene, this time between her and Vance. Ziva is consistently portrayed as the team's Sherlock Holmes, as well as the pragmatic spy. It's nice to see some friction between Gibbs and Ducky.
The plot? There's some surprises which make you go, "Of course! Why was I surprised? I should have expected this!" Which is lot better than writers pulling some illogical twist that sure does pull the rug from under the viewer, but requires the Man Behind It All to be omniscient (see Saw), therefore falling completely flat. Not so here. Also, the Man Behind It All has logical and realistic motivation for his actions, which may not be at all what the viewer expects. There's also a wonderful trick twist, which also makes perfect sense. However, in the climax, the writers fall into the cliché pit where everything is tied up nicely a bit too neatly and the American flag is waved patriotically a bit too forcedly and predictably. Sadly, this robs the episode one star, making it "only" a 8/10.
