Alert: This Article Contains SPOILERS for NCIS: Sydney Season 2
NCIS: Sydney Season 2 Misses Key Character Connection
The latest season of NCIS: Sydney presents an intriguing take in the ever-expanding NCIS franchise, which includes series like NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawai’i that have faced cancellation in recent years. Despite these challenges, new offerings such as NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney continue to enrich the overarching story universe. This franchise thrives on its interconnected narratives, which offer limitless opportunities for character development and world-building. However, the second season of NCIS: Sydney misses a chance to deepen its ties to the beloved franchise.
Connections to the NCIS Universe
As the inaugural international installment of the NCIS series, NCIS: Sydney strives to maintain a bond with its American predecessor. Notably, the series acknowledges NCIS Director Leon Vance (played by Rocky Carroll) in its inaugural episode. The dynamic between the characters, particularly led by Special Agent Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) and AFP Sergeant Jack Dempsey (Todd Lasance), marks this offshoot as a pioneering task force of the Australian Federal Police and NCIS. However, despite referencing Vance again in the season 2 premiere, the show overlooks the opportunity to mention another significant character.
FBI Deputy Director Wayne Sweeney: A Name Unspoken
The latest season hints at FBI Deputy Director Wayne Sweeney’s involvement, portrayed by Eric Passoja. His character first appeared in NCIS Season 19, eventually becoming linked to Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) after the exit of the franchise stalwart, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon. In a pivotal moment, Sweeney was featured during an intense storyline revolving around Gibbs. Yet, while the character’s influence is felt in NCIS: Sydney, he is referenced only by title in three instances without formal identification.
Carter: I just flew in from Singapore after I got a call from our friends at Quantico. Deputy Director of the FBI wants to know why his grab team flew all the way to Sydney to render an international assassin who is no longer in your custody.
Mackey: Right. Yep. That was unfortunate.
Carter: Deputy Director used a different adjective.
Mackey: Sir, we had Niemus isolated in the interview room while we worked the abduction of Sergeant Dempsey’s boy, but by the time the grab team got here, she’d picked her cuffs and fled the scene.
Carter: That’s what I’m supposed to tell the Deputy Director?
Missed Opportunities for Deeper Connections
While the NCIS: Sydney series effectively acknowledges its connection to the franchise, it does so in a somewhat timid manner. The consistent reference to the FBI Deputy Director, without explicitly naming Sweeney, misses a chance to create a more substantial link to the audience’s familiarity with the NCIS characters. A more deliberate mention could have sparked greater interest among viewers, enhancing the connection to the flagship series.
Interestingly, Agent Carter does mention Leon Vance by name later in the episode, mentioning an email of congratulations from him. This acknowledgment highlights an inconsistency, as fortifying the connection between the two shows through Sweeney’s full introduction would have made narrative sense, especially given his existing role within the storyline of the franchise.
Future Connections with the NCIS Franchise
There remains potential for NCIS: Sydney to bridge gaps more effectively, enhancing its connections to the established NCIS universe. The subtle nods to Leon Vance serve as a solid foundation, but the series could risk alienating fans by not utilizing its links to establish a deeper narrative. Audience engagement can be amplified by acknowledging the richness of the shared universe. Showrunner Morgan O’Neill expressed interest in enhancing crossover opportunities in an interview with TV Insider, noting that while geographical challenges complicate logistics, they are eager to explore meaningful interactions.
Morgan O’Neill: It’s a challenge for us. We’re not just in the studio next door. We can’t just pull Rocky Carroll out and drag him on our set. It’s not quite that easy. But I would say the great thrill of a franchise like NCIS is that it’s an interconnected world. Fans love that it is, and we’re certainly trying to work out ways where we can satisfy the desire for a kind of crossover or an interaction of sorts. So that may be happening in our future, I suppose, is the best way to put it.
O’Neill’s remarks highlight the complexities of incorporating familiar characters into the plot due to the production’s location in Australia. However, a bolder approach to referencing these significant figures, such as Wayne Sweeney, could greatly enhance viewer engagement without necessitating extensive logistical challenges. Ultimately, introducing fan-favorites like Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) or Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) could create a buzz and foster excitement for NCIS: Sydney within the broader franchise landscape.
Source: TV Insider
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