Season 8, Episode 22
Baltimore
When Tony's former partner is found dead and linked to the Port-to-Port Killer, he must revisit his time in the Baltimore Police Department, and recounts the first time he and Gibbs met.
- The Alcoholic: Danny Price became one after Tony left for NCIS.
- The Alibi: A person at the crime scene, who had paraphernalia of the Port-to-Port killer, was working part time as a clown when Danny was killed. Likewise, the fortune cookie robbers were in Dayton.
- The Atoner: Tony realizes that Danny discovered greater corruption in the police department and wanted to expose it to make up for his past misdeeds.
- Call-Forward:Pacci: I'm gonna head to the infirmary. This stomach ulcer is gonna be the death of me.noteTony: Be a navy cop? I'd rather have the plague.noteTony: [after receiving his first head-slap from Gibbs] Don't make a habit of that.
- Casting Gag: Ed O'Ross portrayed the Big Bad of Red Heat, a Georgian (Soviet) drug dealer. In this episode, he plays a Soviet adopted by Chinese immigrants who subsequently moved to the U.S.
- Copycat Killer: The Port-to-Port Killer didn't kill Price, Tony's former partner. Subverted with Peter Sears, the computer programmer hoping to copycat the Port-to-Port Killer, only NCIS catches him before he actually kills anyone.
- Determinator: Tony. Lampshaded by Gibbs when they confront the real killer.Gibbs: Major, you knew that DiNozzo wasn't going to let it go.
Tony: So you threw it in my face... Did you think I would assume it was a serial killer? - Dirty Cop: In the flashback, after the arrests have been made, Tony uncovers damning evidence that his partner was dirty. He can't bring himself to report him or work with him, so he quits the police force until Gibbs recruits him to join NCIS. In the present, Tony missed a call from Price, who was seeking redemption. Their old boss killed him to cover his corruption.
- Dope Slap: Chronologically the first, Gibbs slaps Tony when the latter doubts his abilities after leaving Baltimore.
- Evil-Detecting Dog: A dog can be heard barking in the Cold Open as the man reaches for his gun.
- Eyes Never Lie: Talked about when Tony discusses Lieutenant Floyd's arrest with Price. Tony says he saw betrayal in Floyd's eyes, leading him to suspect his partner as being dirty. Confirmed with phone records between Price and Floyd over the last several months.
- Foreshadowing:McGee: Could you imagine having to arrest Gibbs?
Ziva: Ha! I would rather arrest my father. And I might still have to someday, for that matter. - I Know You're Watching Me: The Port-to-Port killer deliberately put out a report with a typo.
- Manipulative Bastard: When Tony comes to NCIS to say what he thinks is goodbye to Gibbs, the latter tells him not to waste his potential and Tony realizes that he's been maneuvered to the door of the office in charge of recruiting new agents.Tony: Did I mention you're a devious man, Gibbs?
Gibbs: "Boy, I got vision and the rest of the world is wearing bifocals."
Tony: Butch Cassidy. Nice! - Misfortune Cookie: It said "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer", only this was a copycat and not one of the sayings used by the fortune cookie company.
- Never Heard That One Before: McGee and Ziva look for Dao Huang, who turns out to be a Caucasian guy with a Russian accent. When McGee expresses surprise at this, Dao explains he was adopted and raised by Chinese immigrants in Ukraine before they all moved to the United States. His exasperated tone (as well as pointing out that it’s not any stranger that an American-born like McGee has an Irish name despite having never been to Ireland) indicates he’s had to repeat the explanation several times.
- Police Are Useless: After Dao Huang's fortune cookie store is robbed, the Baltimore Police duly investigate, but he tells McGee and Ziva that he's not expecting much:Dao Huang: They took a report, some evidence, and they ate a half a case of cookies.
- Rank Up: When Tony was with Baltimore Police, his supervisor held the rank of Captain. Ten years later, when Gibbs and Tony confront him, he has the rank of Major.
- Rule #1: Two more of Gibbs's rules:
- #5: You don't waste good.
- #35: Always watch the watchers.
- Serious Business: Dao Huang tells McGee and Ziva that the fortune cookie business "can be quite cutthroat. Most people don't know that."
- Shout-Out: To Minority Report, when Tony jokes that NCIS should have a "Precrime" unit for dealing with a wannabe Copycat Killer who hasn't actually killed anyone yet.
- Tampering with Food and Drink: In the Cold Open, Danny Price takes a sip of beer, which had been drugged, rendering him helpless when the killer enters his apartment. To make sure, the killer pours the remainder of the bottle down his throat before killing him.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Gibbs gives Tony a Dope Slap (the first of many) when the latter muses aloud that "maybe being a cop isn't for me...":Gibbs: My fifth rule is, "don't waste good." You're good.
