NCIS: New York Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Time Is of the Essence

NCIS: New York Season 1 Episode 3, “Carousel,” delivers a gripping, well-balanced episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

“Carousel” begins with a couple on an outing when suddenly their children disappear at a park carousel. The case intensifies when we learn the mother is a Judge Advocate General prosecutor, which further complicates the situation. As the case unfolds, the mother faces brutal consequences and works with the team to find her children.

Meanwhile, Wyatt and Addy’s undercover operation exposes their complex dynamic as the team races to rescue the children. The focus on the various team dynamics and character-driven storylines makes “Carousel” the best episode so far.

Wyatt and Addy are a magnetic duo that audiences are growing to love. The hotel check-in scene where Wyatt and Addy pose as a married couple is hilarious and perfectly mirrors their complicated partnership.

“Carousel” marks a turning point in their partnership, with Addy pushing Wyatt out of his comfort zone as an agent.

Although NCIS: New York emphasizes Wyatt’s Alaskan upbringing, he is more than capable as an NCIS agent and shows just how far he’ll go when the stakes are high. Wyatt appears clean-cut and temperate at first, but we soon realize he needs an assertive, formidable presence to earn respect.

This noticeable shift is shown when he interrogates the kidnapper. Wyatt may not be as intimidating as Sam, Nick, and Addy, but he’s different because he wears his heart on his sleeve and strives to do what’s right.

While Wyatt is practically an open book, it takes more prying to get Addy to open up. “Carousel” features Addy on an intense phone call in Bengali that piques Wyatt’s interest, but she reluctantly reveals the details to him.

We learn she’s speaking to her friend in New Delhi, offering a closer look at her life before joining the team and how she dedicates herself to her job, helping people in difficult situations.

The dynamic between the two keeps audiences guessing whether their relationship will turn romantic, but before that, they need to see how they are as friends.

Addy often stays guarded and meddles in other people’s lives, but now she’s in the hot seat, with Wyatt wanting to know more about her. She cares deeply about people, but doesn’t really show it. So, when she eventually confides in Wyatt, she becomes more comfortable with him and trusts him; their strong partnership carries over into their growing friendship.

Wyatt and Addy have been partners for roughly 10 months, and over time Wyatt has helped her become less guarded, showing a softer side of Addy that audiences haven’t seen much since she uses the tough persona as a defense mechanism to take the attention off herself.

The scene between Wyatt and Addy where he asks questions to get to know her better reveals Wyatt’s goal of prioritizing their personal relationship as much as their professional one. It will be interesting to see how their relationship unfolds as we peel back more layers of Addy and reveal a more delicate side of her. 

Overall, NCIS: New York is heading in the right direction. “Carousel” effectively shows the team dynamics and the beautiful cinematography.

The series being shot directly in the city was the right move. Scenic scenes across New York City add realism to the episodes. They allow viewers to immerse themselves in the NYC atmosphere.

Robyn and Sean prove how vital they are to the team, solving these cases with quick thinking and sharp eyesight. They search for clues, and the work couldn’t be done without them.

Robyn’s assistance will reach beyond these cases. Nick’s subpoena introduction signals a character-driven plot ahead. This storyline will be interesting because we will learn more about his former partner and his past. 

What might come from this? Will it impact Nick’s future on the team?

The characters have the potential to be captivating and worth rooting for. NCIS: New York has a powerful team when they work as a unit. The more they invest in the team, the stronger it becomes.  

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NCIS: New York airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS and streams the next day on Paramount+.

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