“Witch Hunt” is the NCIS Halloween show aired conveniently enough on Halloween. The festivities open with Dr. Leslie Burke (Susan Diol) carving a pumpkin in the kitchen of Marine Sgt. Erik Niles (David Earnest). Sgt. Niles enters the kitchen in costume (Gen. George Custer) with a fake arrow protruding from his shoulder beneath the left collarbone, a fake hatchet buried in his right shoulder, and a real bullet wound. He collapses and the plot, clear as blood, is on its way to a simmer.
Meanwhile, at headquarters, the NCIS team is variously preparing for the All Hallows celebration. Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) is dapper in coat and tie ignoring the holiday due to its magnetism for strange criminal happenings. Mossad Agent on loan Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) flirts with DiNozzo as he educates her Middle Eastern sensibilities on the finer points of the Western pagan tradition.
Special Agent Tim McGee (Sean Murray) is threatening to attend a role-playing soiree as a magic elf with a Redskins cheerleader he met at an Armani store and discovered she played role-playing games on the same server as he did. DiNozzo and David’s discovery of McGee’s costume and the ensuing heckling were just getting started when Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) rounds up the crew for an investigation at the Niles’ residence where “Gen. Custer has been shot and has a dead skeleton in his living room.” Previously discussing Halloween with David, DiNozzo finds himself vindicated in his fear that “strange things always happen on Halloween.”
The team arrives at the residence and find Gen. Custer dispatched to the hospital and the dead skeleton on the living room floor. Back at the morgue, Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum) declares the dead skeleton’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the neck, but needs Forensics Specialist Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) to aid with identification, though the gothic princess is nowhere to be found. Agent Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) enters the room to announce Abby is indeed in-house and in-costume.
Article comments
1 - Heidur
hello.
Could you tell me what Mary Matilyn Mouser's part in this episode was?
She plays Jethros daughter and I would love to know what the flashback was this time.
2 - C. Michael Bailey
Dear Heidur:
Mary Matilyn Mouser appeared very briefly at the end of the episode when Sarah Niles was being taken trick or treating in the NCIS office by Abby. Gibbs was not visible and Lauren Niles was asking Tony to thank him.
Gibbs was on the walk way to the Director's office watching Sarah interact with the staff and Mary Matilyn Mouser;s image was juxtaposed over Sarah Niles. The effect was compelling as we can expect more regarding Gibbs' family.
3 - Katie McNeill
Abby's costume was great.I just loved how McGee was drooling over her. I really enjoyed this episode, has to be one of my favorites.
I enjoyed the review!
4 - Joan Hunt
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