NCIS: Sydney Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Gone Fission

NCIS: Sydney Season 1 Episode 1, “Gone Fission,” uses a high-octane mission to successfully establish the NCIS franchise’s first international edition.

With a charismatic cast of characters and a gorgeous backdrop, this series is bound to draw in franchise aficionados and newcomers alike.

Written by Morgan O’Neill and directed by Shawn Seet, “Gone Fission” hits the ground running with the stark differences between Australia and the United States. Its most successful avenue to do so is the unlikely partnership between Mackey and Dempsey, which carries the series premiere.

NCIS: Sydney knows that it comes up against some iconic NCIS duos.

Still, “Gone Fission” teases something special with Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance’s chemistry. The performers bump against their characters’ archetypes in this heavily expository episode, but the moments that let them breathe are when the future of NCIS: Sydney and their roles on it shine through.

The strongest scenes between Swann’s NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey and Lasance’s AFP Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey are when the case slows down, usually from reasons outside of their control.

Sure, there are essential details tucked into Mackey and Dempsey’s conversation in the car, and their physical approaches to their jobs speak volumes about their characters’ similarities. However, NCIS: Sydney finds more substantial reflection during their quick exchange at the Australian Naval Storehouse.

The potentially dangerous bulletproof vest becomes Chekov’s Gun for NCIS: Sydney and a trust test for Mackey and Dempsey by the end of “Gone Fission.”

While the former builds tension, the latter pulls back Mackey and Dempsey’s facades long enough for different aspects of their characterization to appear. Lasance is excellent at subtly shifting from Dempsey’s lighthearted persona to a more serious side in retaliation to Mackey’s perceived injury.

Meanwhile, Swann showcases Mackey’s sense of humor with the delivery of the line, “That was some shot, cowboy.” Ultimately, the chemistry between Lasance and Swann is undeniable by the final act of “Gone Fission.”

The action sequences in Act 5 are intense and an expression of the show’s impressive budget. They also contain such great insight into the character dynamics that NCIS: Sydney will play with moving forward.

Understandably, “Gone Fission” spends most of its runtime establishing baselines — with Mackey and Dempsey’s being the strongest.

The episode noticeably offers more between Mackey and Special Agent DeShawn Jackson than Dempsey and AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper.

DeShawn spends more time with Evie during NCIS: Sydney‘s first episode. Still, their dialogue reveals enough about his history with Mackey to raise questions and leave plenty to be discovered. Not to mention, DeShawn’s comments come full circle with Richard Rankin and when Mackey defends DeShawn with her life.

However, “Gone Fission” doesn’t find a sticking point for Evie’s dynamic with JD, which also predates “Gone Fission.” It’ll be fascinating to see how NCIS: Sydney details their dynamic if it follows the same trend, at least for a while longer, and frequently pairs Mackey & Dempsey and Jackson & Cooper.

Alternatively, “Gone Fission” finds an expectedly delightful dynamic between Doc Roy and Blue. A man who has done this job for 40 years learning from someone younger than him and vice versa opens both characters up to loads of potential. From fun turns to tense clashes, NCIS: Sydney has options with Doc and Blue.

That dynamic — and the team overall — leans heavily on the archetypes the NCIS franchise has come to strengthen over multiple series since 2003.

Similarly, NCIS: Sydney harnesses that familiarity in allies and adversaries like Susan Quinn, the Australian Foreign Minister, and Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Richard Rankin and sets that feel reminiscent of NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans.

Fans are bound to compare the shows, but NCIS: Sydney stands out in an advantage similar mostly to NCIS: Hawai’i. With its ability to shoot in the most gorgeous locations, the breathtaking setting becomes another character.

So, even when “Gone Fission” leaps into Sydney Harbour with an intense first case that sometimes muddies the waters more than cleans it, NCIS: Sydney anchors itself in the setting and (most of) the characters that outlast it.

After such a big swing (That helicopter pursuit of a boat!), the show has time and space to slow down with smaller-scale cases that showcase more of Australia and the characters throughout it, which includes Mackey and Jackson now. 

Fundamentally, “Gone Fission” suggests that the NCIS franchise’s first international venture will only improve as it learns how to balance its tone and all the interesting characters and dynamics that call for more attention.

NCIS: Sydney is only getting started, and its future looks bright.

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NCIS: Sydney airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

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