The best episodes of NCIS: Sydney delve deeper into the characters and their backgrounds, providing insight into their motivations and personal struggles. Here are some of the most memorable episodes:
Season 1, Episode 4: “Ghosted”
Season 1, Episode 6: “Extraction”
Despite season 1 comprising only eight episodes, NCIS: Sydney has produced many enthralling moments. The latest location-based spinoff from the massive NCIS franchise launched in 2023. It filled a vital need for programming amid the 2023 Writer’s Guild of America strike, which essentially halted American television and film production during ongoing negotiations. Filming in Australia, against the beautiful backdrop of Sydney, the NCIS: Sydney production crew was able to get the spinoff started at a crucial time. Of all the NCIS spinoffs, NCIS: Sydney has distinctive qualities that make it stand out.
Key Characters Introduced in Season 1
Viewers were introduced to Olivia Swann as Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Todd Lasance as Jim “JD” Dempsey, Sean Sagar as DeShawn Jackson, Tuuli Narkle as Constable Evie Cooper, Mavournee Hazel as Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson, the team’s forensic scientist, and William McInnes as Roy Penrose, the team’s forensic pathologist. Moreover, as part of the shared NCIS universe, the Sydney characters now exist in all the shows connected to the franchise. NCIS: Sydney has been renewed for season 2, making the episodes in its first season all the more vital.
Memorable Episodes
Episode Highlight: Venomous Snake Investigation
In one episode, the team investigates a dead Navy officer killed by a venomous snake bite, leading them to an animal smuggling ring. This is the first episode where the Australian Federal Police and the NCIS agents work as a team, highlighting their cultural differences. The team also taps into themes of Australian wildlife, investigating military personnel for their involvement in skimming valuable animals off the top of imports and exports from a customs operation. The episode begins to establish the team’s dynamic, with chemistry developing between Evie Cooper and DeShawn Jackson, and a playful but competitive relationship forming between JD and Mackey.
Season 1, Episode 4: “Ghosted”
In “Ghosted,” the team investigates a Vietnam War veteran in connection to a murder, diving deep into the character of Mackey and her motivations. By the fourth episode, there is a growing sense of unity and trust among the task force members. Mackey’s judgment is compromised when she finds out the veteran, presumed dead, is alive. A pivotal conversation between the veteran, Frank, and Mackey underscores the complexities of war and the differences between Vietnam-era conflicts and modern warfare. The episode concludes with Frank being cleared and marrying his wartime sweetheart to avoid extradition.
Season 1, Episode 6: “Extraction”
“Extraction” focuses on Constable Evie Cooper’s background before joining the AFP/NCIS Sydney Task Force. After the team investigates a death involving a Navy jacket, Evie begins acting strangely and is abducted by an old colleague from her days in undercover drug busts. Local law enforcement reveals Evie isn’t authorized for the job due to her previous involvement with another undercover operative. The episode provides a deep look into Evie’s life and the ethical dilemmas she faces, with her actions compromising DeShawn’s trust.
Episode Highlight: “Gone Fission”
“Gone Fission” is one of the best episodes because it’s the first, establishing the series’ foundation. Viewers meet Special Agent Michelle Mackey, assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan. After a mysterious death of a Navy sailor, a task force is formed between the Australian Federal Police and the NCIS agents. Mackey is promoted to the task force’s supervisory agent, becoming the NCIS franchise’s second official female team lead after Jane Tennant of NCIS: Hawai’i. The episode mirrors the flagship series’ debut episode, “Yankee White,” with agents initially clashing but ultimately collaborating on the investigation.
Episode Highlight: “Brothers in Arms”
In “Brothers in Arms,” the team investigates a Navy SEAL’s death, which leads them to a local commercial diving operation. The episode explores the team’s dynamic as they settle into their warehouse office. Roy gets a fancy Italian coffee maker on the NCIS budget, and his relationship with Blue begins to take root. The team’s arc centers on the forensic scientist Blue, who is sad about leaving her temporary lab post at NCIS. Eventually, it’s revealed that Mackey has requested Blue to permanently join the team, and she tearfully accepts.
NCIS: Sydney stands out with its unique setting and character-driven storytelling, making it a distinctive addition to the NCIS franchise.
