Although NCIS has remained one of the most popular shows worldwide, its longevity is only matched by each episode’s convoluted plot and outlandish twists. Some fans of the CBS serial have taken it upon themselves to dissect some of the more nonsensical plots.
Enthusiastic viewers were disheartened earlier this month when the current 17th season of NCIS suffered a major blow in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
It was confirmed that production of the final four episodes of the season, including the show’s 400th episode overall, would be postponed and roll over into season 18.
The penultimate episode of this season will air on Tuesday 31st, after which will follow a two week break and, finally, the broadcast of episode 20, now standing in for the season finale.
With a two week hiatus on the horizon for NCIS fans, now is the perfect time to get stuck into some old favourites.
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In the season 12 episode, Semper Fortis, Leroy Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and his team must legally protect a former Navy medical corpsman who given unauthorized medical help to victims of a wreck.
During such traumatic circumstances as a shipwreck, it would surely be expected for fellow passengers to step up and offer medical aid where possible.
However, Anna Dillon (Laura Seay) faces time in prison when one of the victims dies under her care after she practices without a licence.
Comparatively, Semper Fortis stands as one of NCIS’s more complex episodes, as the team navigates legal jargon and loopholes in order to protect Anna from unjust prosecution.
Unfortunately, a little additional research has revealed that the episode’s entire premise falls apart after even the most cursory Google search.
One fan has taken to the forums to reveal just how misguided this episode’s plot actually is.
They said: “The entire episode is contrived, as the Navy corpsman who is in legal trouble for rendering aid in an accident would not be in trouble due to the ‘Good Samaritan law’ in force in Virginia at the time.”
Fans of the series will know that, amidst all the high-octane plots demanding viewers to suspend their levels of disbelief on a weekly basis, NCIS doesn’t exactly take place in the real world.
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However, were the episode attempting to be entirely legally accurate, this fan is right to point out that guest character Anna Dillon wouldn’t be facing this issue in the first place.
The ‘Good Samaritan law’, as this fan rightly points out, protects anyone in scenarios of crisis and peril who attempt to give reasonable medical assistance, whether they escape serious injury or not.
This clause would therefore protect Anna, despite the fact she was giving aid without a medical licence and one of her patients tragically didn’t make it.
The state of Virginia is singled out, but all 50 states in the US have some form of this law protecting those who act selflessly in emergencies such as this.
Hopefully the upcoming episodes won’t suffer from oversights quite as egregious as this, though it’s always hard to tell when it comes to NCIS.
With potential romances blossoming and old faces returning, NCIS devotees have remained gripped by season 17, and each episode still manages to attract millions of viewers.
The coronavirus pandemic putting episodes on hold will undoubtedly lead to major cliffhangers and unanswered questions, meaning season 18 will be one of the series’ most anticipated instalments so far.
NCIS continues every Tuesday on CBS.
