Overview: NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama. With liberal doses of humor, it's a show that focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a former Marine gunnery sergeant, whose skills as an investigator are unmatched, formerly led this troupe of colorful personalities. Gibbs, a man of few words, only needs a look to explain it all.

DVD Verdict: I will tell you this now (**SPOILER!**), killing a main character in the second season cliffhanger is a pretty shocking way to set up a third season. Ending with a bang, literally, NCIS returns with a excellent third season with the right combination of wit, drama, and cast. This is good television. And you dont let good television sit on the shelf too long, so hot on the heels of the release of the Second Season on DVD is the April release of the complete Season Three of NCIS.

NCIS is the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, responsible for crimes by and against members of the United States Navy and US Marine Corps. The team of NCIS agents introduced in Season 1 is led by former Marine Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a tough no-nonsense leader and interrogator. The team also includes ex-homicide detective Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Mossad agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), goth forensics expert Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), computer specialist and rookie Agent Tim McGee (Sean Murray), and quirky coroner Doctor Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum). Season Three witnesses the aftermath of Kate Todd's murder by Ari, the introduction of Mossad agent Ziva David, and increased screen time for McGee and Abby. Harmon again does a knockout job as the lead, with his best work coming in the season premiere, as he grieves over the loss of Kate. Micheal Weatherley and Sean Murray continue to develop their competitive older-younger brother relationship, Perrette lights up the screen as Abby, and David McCallum delivers a refined and dignified performance.

Season three began with the two part episode Kill Ari 1 and 2, which examined the aftermath of Kate's death and the hunt for Ari. The introduction of Ziva and Director Jenny Shephard (Lauren Holly) seemed out of place and awkward considering the emotional tone, and it took five or six episodes for Ziva to be less of a cardboard character and more a part of the team. Her first really impressive episode came with Tony in the solid "Under Covers". Some of the better episodes include "Probie", when McGee shoots a man who turns out to be an undercover cop, "Mind Games", where Gibbs goes head-to-head with a serial killer, "Bait" which showcases a great performance by Weatherley. The season-ending Hiatus Parts 1 and 2 are decent episodes up to the last five minutes, which are incredibly rushed in order to get to the cliffhanger of Gibbs quitting NCIS.

The Season Three DVD box set contains all 24 episodes in widescreen for a total running time of almost 17 hours. Because of its quick turn-around time on the release, the extras are not as good as Season One, with only a few commentaries and featurettes anticipated. That is the unfortunate trade-off, but given that we get another full season of NCIS on DVD so quickly, its not a bad deal. Fans of the show will quickly snap this up, for those who have never watched before, if you liked JAG, CSI, or Bones, you will like this show. NCIS Season Three demonstrates exactly why this show is such a big hit. Highly Recommended. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

The Real N.C.I.S. Declassified
Hit The Head Montage
the Women of N.C.I.S.
N.C.I.S. Season of Change
The Round Table
Audio Commentaries on Select Episodes