"Second Sight" is an episode of JAG that first aired on April 27, 1999. Directed by Terrence O'Hara. Written by Dana Coen.
Major Sarah MacKenzie receives a visitor — Father Gennaro (Michael Tucci), a Catholic priest who informs her that her father is on his deathbed in a Catholic hospice out west and that he had asked for her. Mac reluctantly goes, but then unexpectedly meets her long-estranged mother (Conchata Ferrell). The two of them confront their past — although not quite together.
Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. goes to a civilian ophthalmologist, Dr. Margady (Matthew Faison), for a routine checkup — and is told that what he thought was night blindness is actually retinal scarring. And a surgical outpatient procedure can easily remove that scarring and let Rabb regain full use of his eyes — and maybe even return to flying full time.
Tropes
- Alliterative Title: This episode's title alliterates the letter S.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Mac goes to the hospice to lay into her alcoholic abusive father, but finds him comatose. She ends up letting her mom have it for running out on them, stating that for all his faults, her dad kept her fed, paid the bills and helped her with homework.
- Formula-Breaking Episode: This is a completely different episode of JAG that has both lead characters deal with something deeply personal. There's really no court case for either of them to deal with.
- Missing Mom: Mac's mother abandoned her when she was fifteen. Mac lets her have it for that.
