TL;DR – Conceptionally, it was one of their stronger episodes, even if it was a bit silly.

Disclosure – I paid for the Paramount+ service that viewed this series.

Historically, this series does its best when it makes the most of its dual nature of being designed for both Australian and American audiences. It creates friction and conflict where good stories lie. Today’s episode might be one of the better examples of this.  

So, to set the scene, two significant moments are happening for the crew of NCIS: Sydney. On the harbour, Jackson (Sean Sagar), Doc (William McInnes), and Evie (Tuuli Narkle) are exploring why a former navy officer has washed up on the shoreline in old-timey naval garb. Meanwhile, JD (Todd Lasance) and Mack (Olivia Swann) are organising the Force Protection Detail for the USS Perez. It should be a typical day, bar from the fact that the dead navy officer just showed up for work. We will be looking at the episode as a whole from here, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead. 

I know this episode well featured in the build-up to the series because it was quite fun to see some of the crew dressed up in their silly costumes and look, that is there, and they very much lean into the silliness in places thanks to that wedding party. However, in its central premise, there is a fundamental question about Australia’s almost blind support of American military actions throughout the world. Now, the person pushing that agenda is today’s terrorist of the week. However, they show wisely does not completely undercut that central message.

One thing I do want to shout out is the set dressers in today’s episode. The second they walked into that house, and there was that big Australian Flag on the wall, anyone from Australia already clocked that ‘Oh, these are going to be some version of sovereign citizen, conspiracy theory, white supremacist fool’. We then hit the motherload with a book collection that screams danger, even before we saw the Eureka Flag, though I think maybe it would be good if more people read up about The White Australia Policy.   

The central threat was also an interesting one: cause a diplomatic incident by making an American fire and kill a bunch of innocent civilians, but they would have to fire because the ship is laden with explosives. There is no easy answer to that conundrum, and I love it when there is not an easy answer. That being said, there was also a lot of silliness around the edges about how they were able to beat the bad guys, including a very obvious set-up with a challenge coin. Also, Mack jumps around Sydney Harbour like she is in the final season of Game of Thrones.

In the end, do we recommend NCIS: Sydney – Fire in the Hole? Yes, we would. This is one of the stronger episodes of the series from a narrative perspective, and it works without the support of the growing mythology of the series. Have you seen NCIS: Sydney yet? Let us know what you thought in the comments below.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

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Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of NCIS: Sydney
Directed by – Jennifer Leacey
Written by – Andrew Anastasios
Created by – Morgan O’Neill
Based On – JAG created by Donald P. Bellisario & NCIS by Donald P. Bellisario & Don McGill
Production/Distribution Companies – EndemolShine Australia, CBS Studios & Paramount+
Starring – Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel & William McInnes with Berynn Schwerdt & Michael Sheasby and Chloe Delle-Vedove, Aaron Scully, Brayden Rodrigues, Marvin Rowland, Serena Tan, Andrea Demetriades, Jackson Gallacher & Jack Sacks