NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service--The Complete First Season

I was introduced to NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service last spring watching several episodes of the third season with my wife and mother-in-law. I've enjoyed the program immensely, and with the DVD releases of Seasons One and Two, I have been able to do some catching up watching the show's earlier episodes.

The series follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which handles crimes connected to personnel of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, ranging from murder and kidnapping to espionage and terrorism. Created by Donald Bellasario (Quantum Leap, JAG), NCIS originally began as a two-part episode of JAG in the spring of 2003. The program then debuted on CBS as a stand-alone series in September of that same year.

Mark Harmon stars as special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, an ex-marine turned investigator, who is the no-nonsense leader of this team of investigators. Gibbs' teammates include former Secret Service agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander), special agent and former homicide detective Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), forensics expert/goth chick Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum, best remembered as The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s Ilya Kuryakin), a quirky medical examiner. Sean Murray debuts about six episodes into the season as rookie agent Tim McGee, and has a recurring role throughout the season. McGee becomes a regular character during the second season.

The writers and producers consult with agents from the real-life Naval Criminal Investigative Service to maintain realistic storylines. The show's mix of clever writing and great acting makes for consistently entertaining TV. NCIS has often been described as a mix of CSI and JAG, but the show has developed its own identity to separate it from other "forensic TV" programs. I'm a CSI fan, and of all the forensic shows that have followed the original, I'd have to say NCIS has become my favorite.

The first season DVD set includes all twenty-three episodes of Season One, plus three 20-minute featurettes--"NCIS: Creating Season 1," "NCIS: Building the Team" and "NCIS: Defining the Look"-which offer an exciting look behind the creation of the series and how it came together. Also included is a commentary track for the episode "Yankee White" with creator/producer/writer Donald Bellisario.

NCIS has quickly become one of my favorite television programs over the last year, and this DVD set has been great in getting me caught up on the show's past. I am now watching the DVD set of Season Two, (but I'll get to that in another review), and I look forward to the Season Three set, due for release on April 24^th. NCIS: The Complete First Season is an absolute must-have for fans for the program, and a great introduction for newcomers to the show.