JAG TV episode summaries - spoilers

A NEW HOME FOR JAG-EPISODE-SUMMARIES has been found! The full site is now at: http://JAG.djmed.net

These blog pages contain the Episode Summaries only - still the most complete JAG TV episode summaries (spoilers) found anywhere! I began writing them in Season Three when all the back-seasons were in syndication and I was getting confused with all the interwoven plots, recurring actors, back references, and subtle sub-plots. It turned into something people began seeking out on the web so grew into a full fledged Web Site.

The title of the last episode "Fair Winds and Following Seas" will be instantly recognized by anyone who has served in the US NAVY. Close shipmates are bid farewell with this naval "blessing" representing the ideal underway conditions for which Sailors yearn.

The scrapbooks for character life stories are now on the new web site including Harm, Mac, Bud Roberts, Brumby, JAG Friends and Fiances, JAG Families, JAG Bad Guys, JAG Kids, JAG youTUBE and the complete JAG Character Ribbon Racks.

[In wisdom known only to them CBS cancelled JAG, the longest running military drama on television with 10 seasons and 227 episodes to its credit, even though it continually won its night in the overall ratings - they say it was because it didn't have the "young demographic." Just a note: There were 734,085 unique, individual visitors before ATT went out of web business and closed the original site.]
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What Happened To The Original Web Site?

After close to 15 years with ATT as my ISP - I recieved notice that they intended to quit doing business as a web provider! [So have now moved them to: http://JAG.djmed.net - where you will find the entire site, scrapbooks and all.]

While looking for alternate web hosting, I moved all the summaries to this blog so they wouldn't be lost. Obviously they are not in a "web page" format, but so far everything but the scrapbook photo pages are here.

Some things are even a bit better. The index is a bit easier to use - just look at the labels in the sidebar and click on the year or the writer and you will see a full page of filtered summaries. You can also use the "search" bar to look up an episode title.

In addition, each of the summaries has an opportunity for comments. Now you can let me know about any ommissions or errors or what you think. Of course the comments are moderated so may take a few hours to appear.

Enjoy!

Fair Winds and Following Seas - 227

Everyone (nearly) vies for selection by either H or M who are supposed to choose their own staff - and all JAG employees are fair game! M "psychically" said they will be 5489 miles and 10.5 hrs flying time apart. Co wanted to "stay the same" until coaxed by V to be "adventuresome." T congratulated H on making captain & his appointment. Surprised, H said "It sounds like you mean it"; then "you were qualified too." T replied "the captains board didn't think so. But perhaps I'll be JAG after you." M sublet her apt to Vereese, who was moving to DC to see how it worked out with T. B commented that the Hs new position is a "straight shot into JAG" then fumbled when Cr advised he "didn't plan on retiring anytime soon." H told Mattie he "wouldn't go anywhere without her" & Tom isn't contesting custody.

H asked B to go to London with him as "Assistant Force Judge Advocate!" (wow). He excitedly accepted saying Ht would be fine w/ it. Then M asked B to come w/ her as a "Blue Suit XO" & he said that he had already accepted Hs offer. BUT- Ht was NOT happy at all! She jumped on B then wangled him to back down! Then B told H that it was HIS decision to "stay put." Ht had lunch w/ M & explained ("Bs not to know") that he "still needs monitoring" (just like her controlling mother!) H observed "once Ht makes up Bs mind for him then that's pretty much it!" Cr asked Mikey what the "set to" was that he had with his daughter Cammie. Mk said he was in the right but they worked out their differences & she would make a great lawyer - "She has a way of interpreting the rules to her advantage, bending the facts." Cr told him that when it came to his daughter he had "rules of engagement, do you get my meaning?" Mk tried to talk to B about loving Cammie but he said "you can't!" "You crazy?" - "fall OUT of love!" - then refused to talk to him about it. Mk then asked H who said "are you crazy?" then: "talk to Cammie, & explain your feelings openly and honestly" (interesting coming from H).

V asked M for San Diego as well but was turned down flatly. "You are not the kind of lawyer that I want on my staff - period." He argued with her throwing up her mistake w/ Farrow so M threw him out of her office. Then Cr assigned V to marine corps recruiting depot at Paris Island to handle a recruit twice found muddy outside barracks having been in swamp to "kill the enemy." V questioned why he had to go & Cr bristled "The general asked me and I agreed!" Recruit Walter Evans, 16 y/o, falsified a birth certificate, HS diploma & mothers signature to join Marines. His mother told V that "she was loosing him." After his father was killed in Afghanistan Walter withdrew, became obsessed & ran away. She put out an amber alert. He refused to go home w/ her. V called Cr for advice who said "think out of the box, that's your specialty" & hung up on him! The Gen held an award ceremony (not Vs idea) for Walter stating he "knew his father Sgt Maj Silers Evans, how proud he was, etc." then made Walter an "honorary marine" & ordered him to go home w/ mother & "come back when ready." V didn't know that Gen knew Siler; "didn't want it known, that's why I asked for JAG." V counseled mrs Evans to seek "stress help" & told of his childhood: Father died when 15 y/o. tried church, street gangs, booze, girls. Too much for mom so sent to live w/ uncle. "He told me things I didn't know about my dad - things mom didn't want to talk about him. That got me better."

AND M & H FINALLY, ACTUALLY TALKED! Through many 'flashbacks' they gave insight to their unusual emotional dillema.
H- "I forgot how beautiful you are." M- "You resigned your commission, came 5,000 miles to find me and were nearly killed. Why?
H- "I think you know why."
H- "Five years from this moment, if neither are in a relationship we'll go halves on a kid." Then it showed them kissing @ M & Brum's engagement party!
M- "Eternity, is that how long we're going to wait? You still can't let go can you? H- "not yet" M- "you're just this way with me aren't you?" H- "Yes, just you"
H- "If you want to have a baby in the future, the offer still holds. We could do it together like we planned."
M- "Cmdr Rabb is the kind of man I would want for my child."
M- "So much more to talk about than just W" H- "then when you're ready let me know."

FINALLY M came to Hs apartment the very night before their departure!
M- "Lets talk about you and me, neither of us wants to be the first to say goodbye."
H- "I don't think that I'll ever feel about anyone else the way I feel about you."
M- "That's flattering, but don't tell that to your future wife, whoever she may be, she won't understand."
H- "Do YOU understand?" M- "No, I don't understand why we can't make it work, why we've let FATE decide our futures."
H- asked Mac what it was of all men that attracted her?
M- "They wanted me & they let me know it."
H- "I wanted you & you knew it."
M- "No woman wants to be a mind reader. With you there are always complications, another woman, work, searching for your father."
H- "That's all past. We've got 12 hours."
M- "Is it, we've had 9 years."
H- "I guess maybe I've just needed a deadline."
M- "Well you've got one now sailor boy!" After kissing, M- "Are you proposing?"
H- "Yes, I’m proposing. Let's get married."
M- "This has always been the 500# gorilla in the room. If we get married, one of us has to give up our navy career."
H- "I love you. I don't want to give up my navy career & you don't want to give up the Marine Corps.
H- "Do you believe in fate?"
M- "Fate put us together, sort of."
H- "Fate could keep us together forever."

They invited T, Co, Ht, B, & Cr to McMurphy's Tavern (where all important events have taken place) to announce their engagement. Co felt she needed to lie to Cr to get him there. They explained their impending marriage and their dilemma about neither wanting to give up their career. Then H said "We've decided to let fate decide." B showed the "JAG coin" that Adm Chegwidden gave him when he retired. The "future bride" called - "tails" (the same as she always has in the past & lost). B flipped the coin into the air and it turned into slow motion. The scene froze w/ everyone looking up at the coin which showed "JAG - Judge Advocate General 1995 - 2005" (on the "tails" side.)

Dream Team - 226

PO Ferro caught PO Sanhuinius stealing candy bar from ships store then suffered continual harassment after that as Sanhuinius was twice his size. After shore leave from USS Carl Vincent in Japan Sanhuinius picked a fight; Ferro knocked him out and he later died. V told Cr he didn't need any help defending but Cr said "I think you do" and assigned H as 2nd. V played the same arrogance w/ H that he had w/ M and H set him in his place; but V "spit back." Barnes, original prosecutor, went to Iraq & B took his place. V kept showing his arrogance & inexperience; H kept bringing him back on track; B seemed annoyed about them being "buddies" - the "dream team." Cr, the boxer, advised V that there must have been some pre-existing problem; V found steroids & ETOH & visit to Medical officer w/ neurological symptoms after leave. Hs pathologist Gasden found Puffer fish toxin. H advised V to check out source (he didn't) thinking B would drop charges. M very suspicious about Vs "evidence" advises B to investigate further. B changed to murder charges after he found that Gasden convinced of the toxin but shipmates say Sanhuinius hated fish. M advised him that he had his case, he needed to find out why. B found that Ferro had charged puffer fish toxin (used for pain relief) on credit card; shop keeper photo id; Sanhuinius had power bar & toxin in stomach; power bar wrapper in pocket with Ferro's fingerprints INSIDE the wrapper & evidence of being re-glued. M told B they were 2 alpha males & deep down every dream team is a nightmare waiting to happen.

M kept trying to "be there" for H but he pushed her away - she said "you tried to be there for me but I pushed you away so I guess this is only fair." Co came uninvited to hospital on a Wed (her & Mattie's normal night out) & relieved H. Mattie opened her eyes. Later removed from respirator; began speaking; remembered Hs first words to her. M said "things will never be the same;" H said "trust me, it'll be awhile but you'll get back!" H lied when she asked where her father was; "That's the first time you've ever lied to me!" H said "he'll get back" - referring to Tom (her father) & "I'm not leaving."

M assigned to defend Seaman Apprentice Charles Bander who was caught releasing navy's trained dolphins. Everyone, B especially was making fish jokes: "on porpoise," "Squid pro Quo," "It's a red herring," "for the Halibut." T prosecuting under wrongful misappropriation (10yrs penalty). Bander testified under mitigation that he had been surfing and was targeted by Great White shark moving closer in circles. Dolphins came and circled between him and the shark for an hour and escorted him back to shore. He just couldn't see them penned - he owed them. Uncharacteristically T rec'd that he be "sentenced" to sea service w/ the dolphins. {Everyone's dialog in this whole episode was uncharacteristically relaxed & intimate)

Cr announced creation of Joint Legal Service Center Southwest & M commandant of the unit. H appointed Force Judge Advocate Naval Forces Europe, headquarted in London England, a Captain Billet and immediate frocking. 2 Days travel and 4 days proceed time. H & M looked at each other stunned… !

Unknown Soldier - 225

Cr's brother Wallace (former Vietnam SEAL traumatized & disaffected from Vietnam service) asked Cr to investigate the found remains of soldier he believed was Marine helicopter pilot Lt Joe Johnson. Cr gave V 5 days to interview and "see the jazz festival." Gr also assigned and had to "coerce" V into "doing his job" as he wanted to slack off all the time. Drove to Joe's hometown Vicksburg while V was asleep in car; newspaperman said Joe's bro Elroy (DNA for ID) was blues guitarist & knew Loretta McKeely in Tutwiler; Loretta said he divorced her for some "Jezebel" (her sister April-Dawn); who said he divorced her for "Candy Graham" another singer & gave them a home made record. V forced himself on Gr in same motel room; sleeping in same bed though Gr said it was against regs. She guessed that he had been "left at alter by only woman he had ever loved" which upset V. Gr recognized "Candy's" Voice as Indira Diamond. Drove back to Natchez where she was appearing. Indira said Elroy left; got wedding invite from PO box in Memphis, might find him on Beal St. Tried all clubs on Beal St, found Etta (Gladys Knight) & guitarist told them Elroy had died. After leaving, V realized that guitarist had same guitar as in photo of Elroy. Went back & guitarist was Elroy. Wallace disclosed details that helicopter had gone down after chasing Vietcong away from their POW rescue black-ops mission. Co-Pilot & gunner thrown clear, Joe trapped inside. Wallace couldn't budge aircraft. Joe begged him to "not let him burn" asking him to shoot him until he finally did before flames got him. Wallace got peace; Elroy gave DNA but said he didn't want to know results so he can "keep thinking that he might run into him some day.

Mattie still in coma; H prosecuting reservist doctor Lt Chang for using "Vecuronium," muscle paralytic, to intubate a severely burned Iraqi girl against orders from Capt Smith. When H was speaking disparagingly about Chang, Co told him that she was an excellent doctor who didn't give up, "the kind that he wanted for Mattie." H seemed distant toward M who told Co that H wouldn't talk to her so maybe he would w/ Co. Smith said that they "ran out of drug" and helicopter had to risk enemy fire to bring more. Chang described that she couldn't "not use the drug" cause she was "a doctor first" and she knew that it would work. Got the child intubated; left to take blood to lab and 10 min later girl dead. H very distressed during her description of valiant attempts to save girl but in cross exam played attorney very well and pointed that she "had never considered herself in military despite joining to have her medical school paid for." B discovered that Smith had made the mistake and only ordered 1/10th of needed drug which made them in short supply and required military shuttle replenishment. H agreed for administrative separation & prorated payback but Chang turned it down. She said she had been successful at everything because she had worked at it but had never really applied herself to being an officer. Military needs doctors more than ever now; wanted to accept consequences and remain in service to finish her commitment.

Two Towns - 224

[This episode was skillfully written to compare incidents in two towns: Kresge OK and Talasura Iraq; and two people undergoing trials. It is actually the same plot in two different settings with differently named characters; and, is quite good considering H and M are in "parallel play," again.] Lance Cpl Scott Van Arsdale and two of his buddies saw Ma'Mun Al-Reza hurry distractedly out of the platoon mess tent just before a bomb exploded. Scott stopped to tie his shoe so was the only one of 17 reservists from Kresge not killed. Harm and Bud were sent to Kresge to help process survivor benefits, so happened to be in the story line to investigate the fire bombing of the Reserve Center. The whole town turned out to see Scott's homecoming. Mayor Hazlet, an attorney turned real estate agent, said that all of the boys had worked on their parents farms and had joined the reserves together in support of their country and families. They were combat engineers and none complained when they were called up. Within minutes of the center burning the sheriff caught Scott nearby, smelling like gas, and guiltily, preemptively saying you've got the wrong man. H heard that Scott had a "strong moral center" but had refused to talk to his pastor. Cliff Pardee, the military rejected brother of Scott's dead friend said that Scott was a "goody, goody" who "even picked up litter on the way to school." They heard nothing that exonerated Scott so they recommended article 32. The town, however, blockaded his removal to Washington saying "we've given up enough of our boys, you're going to have to fight for this one." They decided to hold the hearing in Kresge with H & B prosecuting. Hazlet decided to defend for free over Hs advice. Hazlet threw suspicion on Cliff who had an anger issue, punched a wall, siphoned gas from sisters car, had no witness for where he was during fire and had lied to H about why he was rejected from the service. After being rebuffed by Cliff H befriended his son, Donovan, who was carrying a cat that had lived in the recruiting station as a mascot. He said that he had been given the cat for safe keeping by Scott just before the fire set. With the new evidence he confessed, waived his article 32 rights and accepted punishment. He said that he was just so angry he didn't know what else he could do but that he was sorry he had deceived them. One by one, all of the town stood in his support.

Meanwhile Ma'Mun was being held under duress by Colonel Mazzone, trying to extract a confession. Cresswell sent Mac to the area because Mazzone wanted someone "who could relate" with the mother of Ma'Mun who was making a huge fuss. Ma'Mun had actually been working as spy FOR the US, against the village Sheikh who was a town tyrant, known terrorist and had been killed resisting apprehension. Ma'Mun's backpack was the explosive device but he claimed he had nothing in it except a few personal items including a Koran. He had left the tent realizing he had left his pass in the bathroom and going back to get it. You could tell M was not happy with Ma' Mun being tied to a chair for hours but participated in Mazzone's "plan." She visited his mother and said that as a prisoner of war and would continue to be regardless of her attempts to shout down elected officials, enlist al Jazeera or write threatening letters to US congressmen. "It must be working, you're here," she said. M replied that she had no authorization to change his status but if she would lower her tone "we could have a reasonable discussion." She then told M a very convincing story about being trained as an interpreter in Baghdad but fleeing with her son after the Shiite rebellion where all males between 18 and 60 were killed by SadDAM. Ma'Mun had convinced her to return last month, as safer and an opportunity to free the community. He had a vision where "boys like these could be educated." M said she couldn't see her son but asked for a letter. Then she told Ma'Mun she had seen his mother- but refused further information; and had a letter- that he couldn't see. Finally he signed a confession. M had to demand to tell the mother herself over Mazzone's objections. When she was told, Mrs. Al Reza asked "under what conditions," to which M didn't answer. She showed M Nabil, an orphan, delinquent boy, who she had chastised for throwing rocks. He had accused her of just being mad because the Sheik killed her son. He said he had been on a balcony and overheard the sheik talking to another man about putting a bomb in Ma'Mun's backpack. M found wire, semtex and defaced Koran pages in a boarded up shop. Mazzone bad-mouthed Ms evidence and request for stake out. She finally convinced him with simple investigative logic, confession extracted under duress, and why did you ask for someone who could relate unless you wanted me to "relate." They eventually did catch Mohammed Sadar, on the "hot list," coming back for his stuff, and got a confession from him.

The people in Kresge voted to donate 25% of son's life insurance policies for a war memorial to their son's. Ma'Mun was released and M had Mazzone go to a town meeting where a school was announced with Ma'Mun as the teacher. Mazzone would answer questions "about the occupation and how it will affect our lives." When everyone clamored to ask a question he murmured to M "What is this?" She told him, "Democracy, sir."

Death at the Mosque - 223

[Except for Vukovic's arrogant, know-it-all character, this was an episode reminiscent of the "real" JAG we all know and love] Coates spruced up Vukovic before he went in to see Cresswell, and was told to call him "vic." Co later told Mac that V "was kinda cute" and M said "he clearly shares your opinion of himself." Cr sent V, alone, to defend PFC Hoke Smith, charged by Gen Hugh Cardworthy with the unpremeditated murder of a civilian, which just happened to be caught on ZNN videotape. Col Bootney presided (he was judge last week in San Diego) and Marine Maj Atkins prosecuted. Atkins was a tank commander in Desert Storm and went into JAG after "he lost some body parts." Cardworthy told V that he would need to "be there" in order to understand, even a little, what a marine is and does and why. Smith said that their six men went through a raging gun battle to neutralize the sniper in the minaret of the mosque. They shot some terrorists on the ground floor, then Brad Holliman's cameraman wanted to get a shot from the tower so ran on ahead. He was blown back, dead. Smith and PFC Quick went up the stairs, threw a grenade, then shot a terrorist who was raising his gun. Holliman brought the camera up as another man was raising his arm and was shot by Smith. Later he wasn't found to be armed or booby trapped. Holliman threw the video all over the airwaves, "just doing his job." Capt Ellis said that he considered any building with snipers and weapons a target and that Smith was justified in the shooting. V was loosing in court and began bargaining for confinement and dishonorable discharge, but Atkins told him that "in the blink of an eye" they had to make a decision and those decisions were frequently correct. V finally decided to go back and look at the mosque, and found a loose floorboard with explosives and a hidden suicide vest and detonator chord. The following day he had Ellis testify that the man Smith killed could have been the commonly used "spotter" and then played the videotape of the weapons storage. Smith was found not guilty.

Cardworthy handed V his new TAD orders, compliments of Cr, to accompany the 1st Marine division back to Karbala as "JAG on the spot." Holliman was in Vs face and Ellis ordered him to cooperate. V told him "I'm not in your Chain of Command," to which he was told that his TAD, in fact, made him Ellis's soldier. V replied that he was no soldier, I'm in the navy! They encountered another fire fight and had to blow entry. Smith saved V from another booby trapped terrorist but was injured. As V was helping him out, Holliman blinded them with his camera light. V had to kill a terrorist, who saw them in the light, then shot Holliman's light and camera. Ellis then expelled Holliman from combat areas for endangering his men.

Mattie was still in a coma but here was some small improvement. Cr told H to "take all the time he needs." H found Tom outside a bar, drunk but was told that "I've made his choice. Leave me alone." M went, uninvited, to the hospital to ask why her calls hadn't been returned. "Cause you would ask questions I couldn't answer and say things I didn't want to hear." When she tried to touch his shoulder, he told her "No," so she said "let me know" and left. Cr asked M to talk to Cammie who (this week) claimed issues of "gender holding her back" in the military. She did, and Cammie told her that her mom met Cr at age 18 and knew in 3 seconds they would marry. She asked if M had ever loved like that and was told "no." After the talk, Cammie apologized to her mother, saying: "I love having you as my mother" and that she would "try the Navy" but hot to tell her dad.

San Diego - 222

[apparently this was supposed to be an important episode on several levels] Cresswell (Cr) held his annual JAG conference in San Diego instead of Washington and relied on Cathy Graves (Gr) as his "advance person" and Lt. Tali Mayfield (Mf) as a keynote speaker on "the JAG involvement in combat operations." Turner and Bud were left behind "for trials" but then not seen again. Harm was made "acting" JAG and stayed behind. He was shown exibiting much more trust for Ts opinion than T ever showed for his. Mac prosecuted Corporal Caden Duran who was accused of manslaughter when a civilian in a mob he was trying to control died. Vukovic defended and Mf was assigned as 2nd chair. Cr told them "you have a history" but "consider this a test that neither of you wants to fail." V was his usual arrogant, smug and pontifical self throughout, demanding his client not to accept a settlement M had offered. Mf had to back V down just to be able to even hear the client get a chance to talk! Disagreements and condescending attitudes got to point where Mf told V "I don’t' know which drives you more your ego or libido," "It's one thing to be cocky with your own life but quite another to showboat with someone else's," and "You don't just use people, you use people UP."

V couldn't even see that M was "wiping" him in court. V, in his arrogant way, even tried to seduce M into accepting a plea bargain! Gr, smitten with V, had to point out that M was beating him and then spoon fed him forensic clues. It was actually Gr who defended Duran, not V or Mf who acted like she was just along for the ride. The victim was hit on crown of head (marines use gun butts on the side) and no one had even checked the blood type to match the victim and gun butt! V flew off to Nicaragua grandstanding instead of testing the blood. He brought back Fonseca Godoy who saw the man, Carlos Trjerino, killed when he had slipped and a crate fell on top of his head. Everyone,he said, knew that he had a "soft head." Godoy said that Duran couldn't have hit Trjerino because he was the man who Duran hit. Ashamedly, he said he had stepped on a child trying to get the food being distributed. M believed that V was using another actor like he had done before and asked for time to check credibility. Mf said "I know better than anyone the deception V is capable of" but she vouched for the truth of the witness. M got the blood analysis that V should have gotten at the beginning of the episode, and then cut off the trial reccomended to the convening authority that charges be dropped because of lack of evidence. Mf screwed up her face and told V, "now, that's integrity."

When V condescendingly complimented M, she began to believe that he had set her up, knowing she would do the blood test and drop charges; and then wondered if V had tampered with the blood samples too. She told him, "hope I never find out there was tampering" and he replied, "you won't" (he never denied it).

Meanwhile Mattie was on a respirator in intensive care after she hit a taxiing plane during a flight lesson which killed her instructor. The specialist doctor was portrayed as uncaring and delayed coming to the hospital. Tom began drinking again and when H tried to rally him, he completely broke down - "she's all I have, the only reason I stopped drinking." Dr Michael Rosenbaum said Mattie had a SUSPICIOUS "a white spot" AROUND C4 - a POSSIBLE spinal cord transection - and COULD be paralyzed from neck down - and that they MAY need to think of discontinuing life support - IF she doesn't wake up. Hs emotional involvement was suprising to the doctor (and frankly hadn't been developed in previous episodes to that extend.) H was upset and projected Mattie's future: "we're going to fly Mt McKinley, sail Mediterranean, ski Aspen. You've got college, love and babies."

Cr seemingly had a personality transplant, (reversing what the writers have inflicted on us to date). He was acting grateful, and amiable - even complimented Gr stating he "would like her to join JAG." Gr wouldn't listen to M & Mf warning her about becoming involved with V. [The "tone" of the episode is glaringly different. Vertiginous camera movement even on an increased number of tight shots, barely understandable rapid fire dialog, and more intrusive (loud), boinky, space-ship type background music. The scene of the L-CAC flying up on the beach was impressive however.]

Straits of Malacca - 221

[Another episode with poorly defined new characters made worse by writers untrue to existing characters and insulting to viewers by telling us, directly, we should overlook what they've done so far instead of giving us a storyline that would develop our change of mind.] A ship, the Palau, became disabled and asked for the assistance of Captain Manning Donovan of the USS Condon. When they arrived assistance was refused making Donovan suspect pirates. Cresswell sent Mac to negotiate the release of the crew and capture Akay Anwar who had a reputation of killing the entire crew of a ship if any person resisted. Cr made her take Vukovic with her, explaining: 1- he is a surface officer, and 2- to "make a man out of him. He just needs direction and discipline." She said he was "too much a man and not enough lawyer." Cr said that V and Harm were "too much alike" (?) to be assigned together. Cr told M to "consider it a vote of confidence." She said it was "more like a plaque of locusts." Anwar couldn't get away with anything with M, so he turned the retoric into being an issue with a "woman." V just took the microphone, countermanded M, and said "just send the hostages and you can go." They set up a trap to capture Anwar when the pirates feigned being hostages and tried to take over the Condon. Anwar had killed the Palau's crew, except four which had escaped in a lifeboat.

Commander Sandakan, of the Indonesian KRI Mataram, shot across the bow of the Condon and demanded custody of Anwar. Donovan was ordered to "cease resisting" while an un-named white house lackey [instead of SECNAV] told Cr "my boss can beat up your boss." Then Indonesian Admiral Lutarno boarded the Condon to hold a "custody hearing." V arrogantly tried to force M into "clearing the air," saying he didn't feel comfortable in proceeding until they had done so. M said she wasn't concerned with his "comfort level" and he said he wanted to be "on the same page." She said we're not in the same book or even library!" She told him to just "listen" but instead he insulted Lutarno, then refusing to inform M (or anyone), walked out of the hearing, commandeered a boat and boarded the Pulau (without a sidearm). From out of nowhere, Donovan had a heart-to-heart about V being a "train wreck" and M should "cut him some slack." (probably directed to the viewers) M & V had deduced that the Pulau had made explosives from their fertilizer cargo and ships fuel. Capt Donovan, still suspecting treachery, found the Pulau had been repaired and was now heading for Singapore- and that V was on it. Indonesia finally wised up and accepted US help and M was "inserted," with SEALs onto the Pulau. She found and saved V, who then, with 15 min left, defied logic and grandstanded disarming a small cell phone detonator risking early explosion, (instead of simply moving it away from the room with the explosives.) M said "it's a good thing you were as good as you think you are."

Bud & Harriett held an open house so that people could meet their new twins (only the girls name was revealed - Nicky). H appeared at the party, "passing through" on his way to Florida, ostensibly to help with hurricane aftermath assessment. Mattie, he said, is taking flying lessons, coming to visit over spring break and is going to the prom with Kevin. Cr's wife Dora was introduced as a real "people person," counterbalance to Cr. Their daughter Cammie (18) is in her first year at Annapolis and flirted with Mikey until Cr introduced her as his daughter telling them to chaperone themselves appropriately. She told Mk, "don't even think about asking me out" as she was a plebe; and, he said he was third year so "don't think about it either." She dropped her books on the sidewalk at school and he, not at first knowing it was her, braced her up. As others were looking, she told him that he was supposed to be asking her questions so he asked her "what color underwear are you wearing(?!!)" She said "what part of sexual harassment DO you understand?" Uncharacteristically, Cr talked to Bud about having a daughter, raising her midst boys, and teaching them to "hold their own." Unbelievably, he told B that he thought he had "taught Cammie not to back down from anything and had probably gone too far." Dora appeared and told B that "only good parents have doubts. It's the one's who think they know it all that never learn a thing." Cammie was "killed" in paintball at the academy by Mk. She cheated by taking off her spattered shirt then, when Mk called her on it, she bargained for each of them to give fair passage and stay in the game. When he agreed, she shot him anyway and said "sometimes you've got to play dirty to win." Then, out of the blue, Cammie took a "day off" from the academy and told Cr she "was pretty much a social washout because you've raised me to see everyone as a rival." She didn't make friends "because I'm too busy trying to win all the time." She wants out of Annapolis because "you don't know how hard it is being a woman there!" She hadn't thought it through to make other plans. Dora told Cr "blaming yourself for the way our kids (also Cade-15) turned out won't change anything."

[The most incredible part of the script] M asked V if he was "always going to be this insubordinate?" He responded: "When I give MY respect it's because they've earned it … like you did." [oh, good grief!!]

Bridging the Gulf - 220

[Yet another episode with barely believable dialog and contrived conflict. New cast member touted as "the new Harm" (DJE leaving the show after this season) shown to be unethical, inconsiderate, full of himself- the complete antithesis of Harm; neither he or Cresswell are believable characters] Lt Vukovick (V) arrived at JAG, knocked into Mac flinging her papers, ogled he while he helped pick them up and announced that "I'm the new guy." Cresswell assigned him to second M in the case of Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi charged with illegally commandeering a civilian vehicle in Iraq. He came in late, brusquely acknowledged Tali Mayfield (Mf), prosecutor, then led and directed Genuzzi in telling his story. Genuzzi said that his Lt Revere's vehicle had broken down and they had time sensitive intel so when a local, Azzam, came down the road after curfew in a SUV they commandeered it. Azzam became belligerent and drew a crowd so they drew weapons. Revere was killed in the vehicle by a land mine. V tried to push him to say Lt Revere had ordered him to take the vehicle, but Genuzzi refused. M asked Cr if V had "any experience with litigation" at all (he certainly was unbelievable to the audience) and Cr said "he's got something better, he's got fire in the belly, and we need that around here." Then Cr played his tiresome manipulation game of "can't you handle it M." Mf whined to Bud about being on the "wrong side" of yet another case because she believed Genuzzi wasn't being honest. B advised her to proceed with "zeal," which she did. V tried to elicit a bargain with Mf without even discussing it with M and was found out. She read him the riot act, commenting that he'd graduated "6th in class at Dickenson and still didn't learn anything about the chain of command." He patronizingly started to apologize but M called him on how "practiced" his apologies were. He had to repeat that he would "do nothing without Ms complete consent."

Cr shown "thinking" in empty court room when a "friend(?)"/acquaintance, sheik Suhaib al-Hassan came to demand that he "punish the man who took my son's car." Cr asked him if that was a threat and was told that if he wasn't "there would be consequences." M spoke to the Sheik in his language and asked him to request clemency. He argued so she said "forgiveness is the noblest revenge." He said "that's a woman's argument," and she replied "yet simple enough that even a man can understand." On the stand Azzam acted the expected spoiled-brat son of a Sheik. His father admitted son not harmed, and compensated financially- but "how can you compensate for loss of dignity." M said in court the real reason this was being pressed was to appease his politically powerful father. Cr got on her case about that. Even Genuzzi was admitting to M & V that he was ordered to take the vehicle but wouldn't "bad mouth" Revere, when in came a man announcing he was "Paul Revere" the father. He read a letter stating Revere had ordered Genuzzi and said either you tell the truth or I will. Mf reduced charge to wrongful appropriation and Cr asked the Sheik if he was satisfied. The sheik said yes and asked to have the sentence commuted. Cr went out of his way to commend V- and M happened to be there as well. When M got V alone she confronted him with using an actor- "do I look that stupid to you, that I wouldn't check?" Completely oblivious to his dishonesty he told her "whatever works." She landed on him for "fraud, unethical and despicable" and said "do it again and I'll have you before the rules council! I might anyway." He arrogantly said "you won't do it because you like what I did," and she told him "don't bet your career on it."

Harm completed his field quals in the F18 and told Cr he only needed 16 carrier traps until he was F18 qualified. Cr offered an investigation on the carrier JFK to Turner who deferred to H. A Huey pilot Lt Gutierrez shot the stern of the fishing boat of Jalal Sharif who was heading for an oil platform and refusing to stop when orders were broadcast in his language. The CAG authorized him to shoot warning shots across his bow which caused him to run and still not stop. The government was complaining. Iraqi commando battalion leader Colonel Fadil Najijar, Masters of engineering from MIT, was Hs counterpart. The CAG clearly held "seeing it my way" over Hs head to get on the schedule for his quals. H found he had acted within ROE because Sharif could speak English and didn't stop. The CAG gave him the flights, with bullets but no missiles, where he was diverted to intercept a small aircraft that was heading directly at the oil platform. The two occupants appeared unconscious & Hs getting in front of them then lifting their wing was still ineffective. At 5 seconds before impact H saw the pilot's lips moving before deciding to shoot. It was reportedly Hakim Ma'mun, an Iraqi minister, on a fact finding tour. T was sent to investigate and after perfunctory greetings H said "I guess were exchanging lies" and T agreed. T railroaded through a perfunctory "investigation" and charged H with negligent homicide because he didn't ask for permission to fire- despite 5 seconds to impact. H & T had it out. T accused H of jealousy & undermining his authority during his temporary JAG appointment. H said he was a "tight ass, pompous, sanctimonious prig or he would have had everyone's support." Najjar overhead them arguing and told H "best friends make the worst of enemies." H asked, "from the Koran?" He said, "no, John Wayne." Najijar discovered that two men speaking Arabic with Jordanian accents had spoken to Sharif on his boat and afterward Sharif had thrown up over the side. He admitted that he was forced by "Zarqawi's men" to head to platform to test security. They got him to wear a wire into the terrorists. Troops then entered the house killing all but one including Sharif. They also found the bodies of the minister and his pilot who were killed before their flight which exonerated H. T flew back with Sharif, who's death was staged to avoid retaliation, and said "it turned out well. I'm glad." H said "yea, I believe you." T said, "we're still swapping lies."

Fit For Duty - 218

PFC Jeff Kilpatrick was killed when his unit was ambushed and taking fire from all sides and he stood up in a daze walking toward insurgents firing. His COC blamed navy psychiatrist Cdr Lucy Maron for "incompetence." M was antagonistic from the beginning, even Cr told her she looked like she was "on a mission" against psychiatrists. H got Dr Elgin (Jordan's friend) to review the case. When H asked her to be a witness she told him that M had already asked her. On cross examination H had to discredit her. Then Maron's private diary was found on a navy computer she used and forgot to erase which revealed SHE was under "secondary stress" as well. Kilpatrick had "combat addiction" with adrenalin rush and wanted to go back to the fighting & "it was so easy to let him" Maron told H.

Maron in her own stress "felt" responsible and cried in front of cpl Dominick who then blamed Maron as well. Maron was following the "3 hot's and a cot" protocol that she was under orders to follow. Elgin described that there was an Omni-present threat, no front line, supporting roles to independent contractors, and a greater % of troops now see action than in years past. She described Marons caseload as completely unrealistic. H showed that Kilpatricks CO, Capt Damon White, had disregarded ALL of Maron's many prior suggestions for prevention. He called them "touchy feely" but he was overwrought in his condemnation of Maron. Maron was found guilty of Dereliction but judge Blakeley thanked her for her courage and delayed sentencing 60 days for stress counseling and assessment w/ "possible return to full duty." Elgin told H that Maron was in a daze & didn't even hear judges "no confinement." They make arrangements for dinner in Ms hearing & H, uncomfortable, asked M to join them although she declined.

B defended Cdr Stefanopoulis who refused to vacate his command of the USS LeGrande when relieved of command after a pilot hit a pier. He had to keep encouraging B as he wanted his "day in court" even though he "knew he was done." Lt Tali Mayfield, an arrogant new JAG prosecuting attny, was introduced and "psyched out" B. Stefanopoulis had been summarily dismissed w/o ANYONE, including his arrogant strike group commander Admiral Renfield. He had just been summarily dismissed for "lack of confidence" and had absolutely no recourse so he chose to refuse to stand down to get his "day in court." During Bs questioning Adm Renfield was cocky until B showed that in the past 3 years Renfield had only taken action on TWO (of TEN) officers who had committed infractions which rose to level of court-martial and they were the ones who were over 40 years old! Then he showed that Stefanopoulis had been ordered to turn over piloting of the ship to a private pilot who had LIED to the navy about his amount of experience because of his companies pressure. Stefanopoulis still relieved of command but was grateful to B that he had his day in court - "I'm not too old to serve my country."