NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 16 Review: A Fathers Love Places DeShawn in the Crosshairs

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Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0

4

That’s twice in a row where DeShawn had the chance to shine. I love that for me!

NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 16 didn’t give a scenario we haven’t seen a dozen or so times before.

But ultimately, it’s not about whether or not an hour like this reinvents the wheel so much as it gives us an interesting story and strikes the right notes. And this hour was solid.

As a DeShawn fan, I find the recurring theme of his innate ability to connect with kids and teens an enjoyable trait.

He so often leads with empathy and compassion, and it’s reassuring to those around him during times of crisis, but when he spoke to Violet and told her that his job was to ensure that she was okay, it was something you could believe in.

It makes you wonder about little tidbits about him, his own past, and how things were for him around this age, and how he’s able to know with such certainty that one of the best things you can do for a young person is give them a sense of agency — or better yet, respect theirs.

The DeShawn and Violet connection was endearing and heartfelt, tinged with sadness, as her fate is unmistakable. There’s a heaviness in knowing what awaits her, and it’s what makes the stakes of the case overall hit so hard.

You don’t want to see Violet die, but you also don’t want an innocent father to miss out on his second chance at life because another dad was fighting for the life of his child.

What was interesting on the outside of this case was that we had just watched Macke fighting so hard for Trey and was willing to do anything to protect him during NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 15.

But when it came to Gary, she was already locked and loaded, prepared to go to extreme measures to take him down for the safety of the rest of those in the hospital, OR, DeShawn, and with the kids he was holding hostage in mind.

It’s JD who had to level with her a bit. Truthfully, I was right there with Mackey.

What’s such a distinction from how these specific scenarios play out with American healthcare factored in is that it’s usually finances, injustice, and disparity that often lead to terrible decisions, prompting extreme action.

But here, it wasn’t some great injustice. Violet was simply too sick to get a heart transplant. If she got it, it would’ve killed her, robbing Gary of the last bit of time he had with his daughter in the first place.

The hour touches on — without really diving deep into — the complexities of the situation. With a bit more depth, Gary’s conflict and pain would’ve been heavier and more visceral for the viewer.

But that falls squarely on the writing and pacing, and even then, it’s only a minor criticism.

It certainly doesn’t reflect on Callan Mulvey, whose performance was great throughout the hour, especially in those tenser moments.

While on the outside, there was barely any exploration of whether they were treating Gary as a father in pain or as a threat worth eliminating for the greater good, inside, DeShawn was navigating, posing as a doctor, connecting with Violet, and trying to get Gary under control.

But his real wild card wasn’t so much Gary as it was the cardiothoracic surgeon who couldn’t think beyond the simple fact that Gary had his kids somewhere.

It was fascinating to watch this man refuse to concede in any way, even after her learned that DeShawn was a cop. He wouldn’t give them an inch nor make any attempts to “play hero” because his kids’ lives were on the line.

And the nurse was amusing because, even though she covered for DeShawn, she was not trying to help him figure out a possible transplant surgery.

The situation they were in was just impossible all around.

And credit where it’s due, Violet, once she realized what her father did and that there was a worthy person whose heart her father stole, she made every effort to derail things as best she could.

I loved her efforts to break down a full meal she claimed to have eaten, in hopes of calling things off. But it’s a lot to place on a young girl to somehow make peace with the fact that she’s dying more and better than her own father, so that she can help him make peace with the notion too.

Fortunately, Nia was coming in clutch, and it’s a good thing Rosy and her are casually dating, even if Rosy doesn’t want to call it that.

With her medical knowledge and experience, and access to DeShawn through commms, they were able to succeed with getting through to Gary, especially when he realized that the heart wouldn’t save Violet, but kill her.

Ultimately, I’m glad things played out as it did. Gary finally came around, and they avoided blood shed or a sad situation becoming worse.

He got some compassionate consideration with his sentencing, and Violet doesn’t have to live out her final days with her father behind bars and the guilt that he only has been there because of her.

I loved that a month and a half later, she showed up to visit DeShawn. It’s like she needed the energy he gave off for one last time.

They didn’t even have to talk much, and she was thrilled to give him a signed ball, and it served as a lovely memento that he’ll be able to remember her by.

It was a sentimental moment that unexpectedly made me more emotional than I anticipated.

The hour didn’t give me the classic John Q vibes that I often enjoy abotu subject matter like this, but it made up for it with the high emotions, yes, but the heart.

Bits and Bobs:

• I still cannot figure out Evie and Trigger for the life of me.
• Rosy and Nia are the cutest. Doc trying to figure out if Nia was really talkinga bout dessert or using it as a euphemism for sex and getting nervous was amusing.
• The way Gary called DeShawn a “Yankee” made me giggle. Haters gonna hate sometimes.
• This episode felt like it could’ve fallen into any point of the season, but it was entertaining enough.
• I still really miss having some Blue content.
• This episode happening not that long after Will Trent Season 4 Episode 14… It’s like writers are always on the same wavelength!

Over to you, NCIS: Sydney Fanatics.

Are you enjoying more DeShawn content? Have you also noticed his ability to connect with kids and teens? Let’s discuss below!

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