Critic’s Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
4.8
Who doesn’t love watching Jessica Knight kick ass right before Thanksgiving — or anytime, for that matter?
If badassery had a poster child, Jess would be it. And on NCIS Season 22 Episode 6, she proved she’s not just a badass but also the team’s MVP.
Throw in a mob case of the week, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate holiday appetizer.
I’m a sucker for a good mob story, and this one didn’t disappoint. Well, mostly. But let’s dive in.
Jess strikes me as someone who can handle anything — terrorists, thugs, or even a night of heavy drinking.
So when Torres started obsessing over her “mysterious jacket” after accompanying her as a plus-one the night before, it felt like a desperate attempt to stir up drama.
Jess didn’t know where it came from (or maybe she did and just didn’t care to share), but Torres and McGee’s amateur detective act was laughable at best.
At one point, Parker, ever the adult in the room, gave them one unimpressed minute before shutting down their nonsense.
And don’t get me started on Torres recruiting Jimmy into this mess.
What’s with these guys? Are they so bored with their own dating app escapades that they have to interrogate Jess about her love life?
For the record, Jess can date an actuary, a bassist, or whoever the hell she wants. These clowns should focus on their jobs instead of acting like middle-school gossip queens.
Jess deserves better, period. And it’s not Jimmy or Torres.
While the boys were busy with their playground antics, Jess handled the real work — and Melinda Martin.
High-strung, demanding, and a total nightmare, Melinda labeled Jess “Agent Useless” within minutes of meeting her.
But Jess, ever the professional, kept her cool.
Melinda’s unhappy marriage and “arrangement” with her cheating husband, Freddy, didn’t help matters.
Freddy, a defense contractor, found himself in hot water when a fun night with his girlfriend, Sheila, turned deadly.
Sheila shot a supposed intruder, but it quickly became clear this wasn’t a random break-in. It was a botched kidnapping aimed at Melinda, and Jess was tasked with protecting the high-maintenance socialite.
Melinda wasn’t just a handful — she was a tornado of chaos.
Between lectures on preserving her “eggs” and dragging Jess to her tennis club after a “makeover,” Melinda somehow dropped enough breadcrumbs to reveal her true identity.
Turns out, Melinda Martin didn’t exist. Her real name? April Day (sounds like a character from a horror movie). And her past? Tied to the Kansas City mob — as in she was married to the son of a mob boss, who’s now deceased.
I love a good mob story, and this one had all the makings of a classic: a matriarch, a dead husband, and secrets buried deeper than a mobster’s vault.
Carla Marino, the matriarch of the Kansas City mob, was looking for her granddaughter, but April/Melinda had given the girl up for adoption long ago to protect her from the mob’s grasp.
Of course, the mob drama wouldn’t be complete without some twists.
Melinda locked Jess in a panic room, only to end up kidnapped herself. But Jess, being the badass she is, didn’t let a little thing like reinforced steel stop her.
She turned the panic room’s surveillance into a tactical advantage and teamed up with the rest of the team to rescue Melinda.
Naturally, by the time Torres and McGee rolled up, Jess had already taken down the mob thugs.
Melinda even pitched in during the fight, proving that maybe all her sass wasn’t for nothing.
And let’s not forget Parker. Unlike the boys, he was ready to back Jess up without any drama when Carla showed up at the flower shop to kidnap her granddaughter.
Their partnership shone in this episode — Parker and Jess make a great team, and he’s one of the few who doesn’t underestimate her.
The Kansas City mob tie-in was a nice touch, even if TV habitually exaggerates things. But the Kansas City mob? They no longer exist, so I guess it’s a safe story.
Still, it’s interesting that Kansas City has received so much attention; even Tulsa King has a Kansas City storyline.
One thing is for certain, though: the KC mob was a pretty violent bunch in its heyday.
They were connected with the Chicago Outfit, which some historians believe is a “satellite” crew of the Outfit. But actually, the KC mob had its own seat at the Commission (created by Lucky Luciano), so that’s debatable.
And Carla Marino as a female mob boss? Not in America. Even in its dying days, the U.S. mob doesn’t work that way.
Sure, if this were Italy, we’d be talking about a very different story — women in the Camorra have been known to take the reins. But in Kansas City? Nah.
And what’s with Kasie claiming the mob is stealing kidneys? That’s pure cartel nonsense.
The mob’s a lot of things, but organ trafficking? Not their style. Still, it’s fun to see NCIS dip its toes into organized crime, even if the details get a little messy.
The episode wrapped up with a bittersweet twist. Jess reunited Melinda with her daughter, a move that felt more like Thanksgiving than any turkey dinner could.
Melinda’s story of sacrifice and survival added depth to what could’ve been a straightforward case. And Jess, ever the badass, not only saved the day but also gained a friend.
This episode hit all the right notes: action, drama, humor, and a touch of heart. Jess was the star, proving once again why she’s one of the best characters on the show.
Torres and McGee need to stop their shenanigans, but Parker continues to prove he’s the boss we deserve.
And while I could ramble about mob history all day, I’ll just say this: the Kansas City mob may be long gone, but their stories still make for great TV. Let’s just keep the kidney theft to the cartel dramas, okay?
Jess Knight? Total badass. This episode? A solid win.
Final Notes:
I think it’s interesting that Parker had dealings with the mob when he was in the FBI, especially considering that Gary Cole is from Chicago. Nice tie-in, no?
“We should totally do it in the panic room.” That’ll live in my head forever. Why? Because “it’s like a James Bond movie.” I just can’t.
Jimmy and Kasie taking a selfie with the dead guy? How lame. They both need a life. NPCs, anyone?
Over to you, TV Fanatics! What did you think about “Knight and Day”? Has Torres crossed the line with his fixation on Jess’s love life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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