NCIS (TV Series) Two Steps Back (2018) User Reviews

Two Steps Back

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 13 May 2018]

Was it as good as it could have been? Probably not, but it was a somewhat fitting departure to someone who truly is an iconic television character.

Abby meant a lot to NCIS from the bizarre rock music that played any time an agent entered her lab wanting answers to being the heart and soul of a profession that is often taxing on the body and mind.

I think anyone who has watched TV could have guessed the "twist" in the beginning with Reeves, not Sciutto, being in the bodybag in the opening scene, but having Abby go out by solving one more crime was the fitting goodbye we needed.

A memorable episode, but probably not a classic.

Bye bye Abby

[Saving21 · 7/10 · 4 September 2020]

To me this episode was bad. I don't know if you can blame the writers here bc of issues back stage (Pauley not wanting to be in a scene with Mark ) but it effected the story in a bad way . I think the episode were Tony left was much better and much more honouring his character and the actor than this.

NCIS that was the best with Gibs Abby Tony Ziva Tim Ducky Palmer . This NCIS is gone.

Arrrrgh!!!!

[PowergirlsMom · 8/10 · 9 May 2018]

Spoilers follow: This is the second time they have pulled this "you think you know who died, but you don't," switcheroo. Before it was when Caitlin died. They had us worried about McGee in the ground, then shot Caitlin, had her vest save her, and then killed her with a shot to the head. This time, we are led to believe Abby is dead. And she's not. We know she's leaving the show, so did they have to cut us off at the knees with the additional loss? I loved that guy. Why????

ABBY 💜

[cratesico · 10/10 · 12 December 2020]

Thank you, Pauley, for the 15 years playing Abby! We will miss her! No one could have done it better than you! I cried a bucket!!! Oh, NCIS! Semper Fi.

Wonderful

[bonitawatergirl · 10/10 · 9 May 2018]

Usually when Donald Bellisario ends a show or a character, I have a fit i.e. Quantum Leap finale, Magnum P. I. ending and JAG finale. This was very enjoyable to watch and include all of our favorites. What a special way to send off Abby.

script check

[anparadise-98278 · 8/10 · 9 May 2018]

Good episode, I am glad you didn't kill off Abby. But check your script better next time. I don't think you can dishonorably discharged somebody in 2008 and then again in 2010.

Cyanide Poisoning

[capable-38840 · 14 June 2022]

Abby is correct that having "allegedly" poisoned Robert King with cyanide in his coffee the "antidote" she offers of hydroxocobamalin (Vitamin B12) would "save him" is quite true.

I have been having B12 injections for over 50 years because I have Pernicious Anaemia.

It was the end.

[aopek · 8/10 · 12 December 2020]

The first strike was Ziva's departure. The second was Tony. That was the third and final one.

The show we all knew for 15 years is clinical dead after this episode.

8/10

Not sure why Reeves was killed but Abby survived

[CrimeDrama1 · 9/10 · 18 March 2022]

My rating is based on my appreciation of Pauley Perrette. Kasie replacing Abby was OK but going back to earlier episodes reminds me how special Abby was to this team.

Not a fan of this episode, especially after seeing Abby reflect back on the attack that killed Reeves and left her injured. I must say it was a remarkably speedy recovery. Was Reeves not armed? Either way, he should have had the training and skills to defend against an armed attacker. He doesn't use all five D's that are key to stopping an armed attacker. He appears to deflect the gun at first but then goes all out to disable the shooter but doesn't control the gun hand for long and is shot and killed. He didn't really distract, dominate, or disarm. He should have put both hands on the shooters gun/hand and control them. A shooter is going to intensify their grip on the gun and you can use that to your advantage. Sure, maybe this was it for the Reeves character but I don't buy the way they killed him off even if the shooter was a trained assassin. However, I don't believe an assassin would role-play as a mugger. I think this was a mistake. Though Reeves is built like a linebacker, to stop an armed attacker you need to hit most, if not all, of the five D's. It's not the first time it appeared that the show didn't have a law enforcement or tactical consultant on set. If Abby had died with Reeves, Gibbs would have avenged their deaths and it would have been great to watch. Having Abby survive and be the one to exact revenge was too theatrical. Pauley and Abby are missed.

Taking a step forward and then several steps backwards!

[harrykivi · 6/10 · 18 March 2020]

After "One step forward" ended on a cheap cliffhanger, I was looking forward what "Two steps back"- Pauley Perette's last entry- was going to be like. Fortunately the episode gets many things right.

Let's focus on the good first

. The directing, action, music, acting are all great. Pauley Perette is terrific as usual and I am really going to miss Abby-though I'm still giving Kasie a chance. The emotional punches of the episode are mostly well done. Really appreciated how team reacts seeing Abby leave. Nice homages to Kate, Ziva, Alejandro Rivera are also made here.

But..

. At the same time how the show gets rid of Clayton Reeves by getting him shot and killed felt out of the blue for me. I was very sad to see him go, because Clayton became an interest ally to NCIS over the past few episodes. Reeves's character was just growing and to end that with THIS. I don't know, it didn't feel right.

. The mystery itself, while sometimes quite engaging, does rely too much on viewers memory of knowing a bad guy- Robert King- from the 6th season. Even though he has been one of the most forgettable villains of the show.

. Also, how Gibbs and Abby say goodbye to each other felt like there WAS a feud between those actors, because they don't even want to be in the same scene with one another. Their last words are put into a letter, which seemed so cliched and not a proper ending to Abby whatsoever.

Overall, quite a mixed bag.

6/10 HK

The final straw

[kris-gray · 7/10 · 15 June 2018]

I didn't take the departure of Ziva very well, especially as they replaced her with the intensely irritating Torres. Then DiNozzo jumped ship for the tacky 'Bull' to be replaced by Reeves who has now gone as well. Didn't mind him, nice to have a Brit in there for a while.

Now the final straw, Abby is off to start a charity in the memory of Reeves somewhere in the UK. I probably wouldn't miss McGee, definitely wouldn't miss Torres but if Gibbs went that would be the end of NCIS. (although Mark Hammon is getting a bit long in the tooth for this kind of part).

This episode wasn't bad but it was sad, not sure if I can watch a series without Abby, haven't seen an episode with the replacement so maybe I'll give it a go first.

NCIS is not what it was.

Really highlighted the discord and animosity

[mercychaplet · 3/10 · 25 June 2019]

I wish I could say that I was "sad" about Abby leaving, but all I can think is, "it's about time ." The fact that all of a sudden Abby stopped being in scenes with Gibbs was excruciating to watch. Her grand goodbye scene at the office, explaining her "reasoning" was terrible. All I could think was "where the hell is Gibbs???" And then that crazy thing at his house? No hug, no nothing? Standing across the street and signing through a closed door? Could you heighten and underline the tension between these two actors any clearer! Please! It was just miserable to watch.

Wrong Character Focus

[andreaevans-06509 · 4/10 · 10 May 2018]

I understand that Abby has been a part of NCIS for a long time, but I was disappointed on how the show barely focused on Reeves specifically with notifying MI6. Though the previous episode focused on Reeves' personal life, the producers could've focused on him a little more. I liked Reeves and will miss him on the show, I wish I could say that about Abby as well.

Pretentious syrupy rubbish

[ak2020 · 4/10 · 2 June 2018]

I usually am able to give NCIS a 7 or 8 rating, but this episode was rubbish with a plot line that was barely able to fill half an episode, and major holes which others have mentioned.

And then, writing out a major player with load of old syrup, finished by a morose, stupid song.

That the writers could not find a better way to allow Pauline to leave the series reflects on them, not the actors. There was little thought given to the plot. Ugh !

Why do all the best ones leave?

[smhostvet1 · 3/10 · 22 March 2022]

All of my favorite characters leave: Ziva, Tony, now Reeves. Annoying. Not super sad about Abby leaving, as her character had kind of run out of steam.

No tears or sniffles over this departure

[LittleStorpingInTheSwuff · 4/10 · 9 May 2018]

Pauley Perrette is a talented actress, but the Abby character started getting old in season 3. Far too often Abby the character rambled off on a tangent having nothing to do with the case at hand. As proof, think of all the times Gibbs had to give her a sour look and get her back on track with a disgusted sounding 'Abs' or 'Abby'. The rambling just got too old after a while. Perrette the actress will be missed, but not Abby the character.

Abby's way out

[xx_driver · 30 September 2018]

Seeing this episode(last 6 episodes of season 15 in the Netherlands are being shown just before the start of season 16) I didn't know what to expect about Abby leaving. At the end I can only say: this is Abby's way out.