razzlephrat

So I started reading this book about the history of the Mossad and a few things in NCIS made sense to me, that hadn't before. I'd like to think I'm well versed in politics and general goings-on in the world but there are a lot of things I'm too young to remember or just don't know. So I figured this might also help some other people! It's a cliffnotes version of NCIS, only it's about the political, world and historical references, rather than movie and entertainment references which are covered elsewhere. I am not a huge fan of seasons 1 and 2 so if anyone wants to contribute those, feel free and I or a mod will add them

And I'm still working on them but I figured it'd be fun to start this off and get some more than what I have!

SEASON 1

SEASON 2

SEASON 3

Season 3, Episode 01 - "Kill Ari Pt. 1"

Ziva: That’s all we ask. Don’t kill the wrong man.
Gibbs: Like Mossad did in Norway?
Ziva: That stink cost us dearly.
Gibbs: Not as dearly as the Palestinian waiter you killed.

Refers to: Lillehammer affair
Maybe I'm just lacking in my knowledge, maybe it's my age but I assumed this referred to a previous mission of Ziva's that would never play out on screen. However this was an actual historical reference to the Lillehammer affair. This actually has nothing to do with Ziva or any fictional reference. It was however, one of the biggest blows to the Mossad in Europe, in which they murdered a Moroccan waiter, Ahmed Bouchiki mistakenly, rather than their intended target who actually was a Palestinian, Alli Hassan Salameh, leader of the group responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre.

The writers/Gibbs were wrong about the nationality of the waiter, but the situation was the same.

Season 3, Episode 09 "Frame-Up"


DUCKY: Yes, after Theodore Bundy was identified and caught by his crooked lower teeth, sadistic biters have been forced to excise their evidence.

Ted Bundy was not actually caught because of his teeth, he was apprehended during a routine traffic stop when plate-check came back as stolen. He was then identified by fingerprinting. Teeth marks were a key part in his conviction, however.

SEASON 4

SEASON 5

Season 5 Episode 11 "Tribes"

JIMMY: And I certainly wasn't on the Crusades. But 9/11. The Intifada. Hamas.

Jimmy was referring largely to the never-ending conflict in the middle east. The Crusades , much like all wars of the time were religiously-sanctioned military campaigns to regain control the Holy Land and restore Christianity. (I'm not sure if this was a joke about Ducky's age or just a general point-made about Muslim conflict.)

9/11 refers to the September 11 attack(s) in 2001 in which 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger airliners and attacked the North and South World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and one intended for the White House was sent to the ground in Pennsylvania by passengers, rather than it's target.

The Intifada may refer to a few events, but most likely the three recent Palestinian uprisings against Israel, which have only become increasingly more deadly.

Hamas, a group often mentioned in NCIS is a very real, very zealous Palestianian Nationalist group or a very radical religious group, literally meaning Islamic Resistance Movement. Hamas has been responsible for many IED attacks in Israel.
Hamas are defined as a terrorist group by at least countries, including the United States.

SEASON 6

Season 6 Episode 13 "Broken Bird"
Palmer: The reason there is no J street--- because it looked to much like an I at those times. So they omitted it because they didn't want to create confusion.

Palmer actually explained this one very clearly. In Colonial times the letters I and J were written alike, thus no J street was named to avoid confusion. For more information about why streets in DC are named, check out this.

SEASON 7

SEASON 8

SEASON 9

SEASON 10

Season 10 Episode 10 "You Better Watch Out"
Stewart: Everyone remembers where they were that day...May 2, 2011.

On May 2, 2011, United States Navy Seals killed Al-Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden, nearly ten years after the attacks of September 11th. The group of specialized SEALS, DEVGRU, better known as Seal team six, carried out a plan along side other agencies, most notably the CIA, called Operation Neptune Spear. In which they raided Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan from Afghanistan. Within 24 hours of his death, the body was flown to Afghanistan and buried at sea.

WyldIce

So are we just going to help update this thread whenever there's a reference? Kinda a first come first serve sorta thing?

razzlephrat

I'm going through episodes and writing down the references and just researching random bits and pieces but it'd be a lot easier for everyone to contribute, especially for the first two seasons since I don't plan on really scouring through them.

WyldIce

Well I plan to start buying the DVD's when I go back to work next year so when I re-watch them all I contribute what I can

maplezbear

Nice Maddie! Thanks for starting this.

landlfan01

God, Maddie can articulate so well.

razzlephrat

Thank you! Now if only this would carry over to my professors and history paper.

Miss Kenton

Oh wow, Maddie. The thread looks great! You put a lot of work into it so thank you so much. I'll definitely try to contribue by looking up some stuff that was mentioned when I have the time. For now though, I think it looks fab. I can't wait to fill it up.

BoneLady

I must admit I haven't seen this thread before, but I think it's great idea.
Though it looks like the thread got kinda lost.

greengirlisgood

I like the idea of this.. Ill be on the lookout as I rewatch for those kind of tidbits

razzlephrat

Well I had a lot to add but forgot it all. Convenient how my mind works.


Anyone have any questions or stuff?

maplezbear

I forgot about this thread too. Love the idea though.

And love your icon Maddie.

razzlephrat

Thank you, it'll be in my next icon post hopefully! I got some funny ones for the next one.

And just wait til August when the DVD comes out and I'll be all over this thread!

maplezbear

Yay to both.

BoneLady

No. And I've never paid that close attention to remember it afterwards.