This show has a great opportunity, given the delays resulting from the SAG and writers strikes, but something is just off at this point. First, why do we need an NCIS in Sydney? It's not a political hotspot, the 80's era fascination with all things Australia are behind us, and within the script a case was never made very strongly.
The cast is mostly very good and the locations are beautiful to look at, but the writing is uneven at best. For example, Mavournee Hazel Is a talented actress but her lines are terrible and the social anxiety afflicting her character is so poorly constructed that it's eye rolling far more often than it's convincing. Olivia Swann needed better direction from the get go, but seems to be settling into her role without trying to be the female Steve McGarrett ("I always drive the car, even in foreign countries I'm not licensed in!'). As she's allowed to utilize her charm and competence I suspect her character will work better.
I'm giving it another episode or two to get better, but currently I don't see any shame in punching out. Why are we doing NCIS in Sydney again???
The cast is mostly very good and the locations are beautiful to look at, but the writing is uneven at best. For example, Mavournee Hazel Is a talented actress but her lines are terrible and the social anxiety afflicting her character is so poorly constructed that it's eye rolling far more often than it's convincing. Olivia Swann needed better direction from the get go, but seems to be settling into her role without trying to be the female Steve McGarrett ("I always drive the car, even in foreign countries I'm not licensed in!'). As she's allowed to utilize her charm and competence I suspect her character will work better.
I'm giving it another episode or two to get better, but currently I don't see any shame in punching out. Why are we doing NCIS in Sydney again???
