Attention! The following contains spoilers for the NCIS extension episode “Big Rigs”. Read at your own risk!
It seems that NCIS extension fans are always excited to see former stars like Michael Weatherley return or Leroy Gibbs show up for another assignment, so it’s nice to see a recurring guest star get a lot of love for a change. Actor Zan Holtz returned to the CBS series to reprise his role as Special Agent Dale Sawyerand i’m one of the fans suggesting he stay longer to flesh out this potential friendship with Nick Torres.
Dale Sawyer had a shocking first scene in ‘Big Rig’, as his encounter with Nick in a dark alley suggested he was in serious trouble and possibly even the prime suspect in a murder case. Although Sawyer was missing, Nick was able to find him with the help of the NCIS team as part of an FBI undercover operation. Nick also attempted to infiltrate the criminal organization to protect the agent, but his involvement only raised alarm bells and blew his and Sawyer’s cover with the criminals.
In the end, the situation worked out well and both men emerged from the crash unscathed. Since Nick and Sawyer lived to fight another day, we delve into their moments in this episode and why CBS should definitely consider giving actor Zane Holtz more future appearances as Dale Sawyer.
Torres and Sawyer have a compelling dynamic
It seems that “Big Rig” was written for NCIS extension audiences wouldn’t really know if Nick could actually trust Dale Sawyer when they last met. The good thing about this ambiguity is that it has led to a wonderful dynamic between the two of them. The two clashed when Nick finally found Sawyer and had to trust him as he needed more time to open the case. Likewise, Sawyer had to accept that Nick wouldn’t let him be alone in the shelter and had to put up with Nick’s continued involvement in the operation unless he wanted to call off the whole thing.
While Nick’s power play nearly killed them both in the end, there’s no denying their back-and-forth dynamic in the episode was endearing. The two are alike in that they believe they know the best way to move forward in a situation and also are unwilling to give in completely to each other’s plan.
This created problems, of course, but when things got really hot, the pair worked together to catch the runaway criminals like a well-oiled machine. It was almost reminiscent of the top teams of Torres and Bishop, but without the romantic tension. They were just two law enforcement officers, which is the premise of many classic Hollywood projects.
Sawyer seems like a natural addition to the NCIS team.
Actor Zane Holtz made his debut as Dale Sawyer in the Season 18 episode “Gut Punch” and appeared again in Season 19’s “Fight or Flight.” NCIS extension he seems to like to bring the character back, and Sawyer seemed like a perfect candidate for that mundane night with the team at the end of the episode. He even brought pizza to the party, which absolutely earned bonus points with the task force.
Of course, I don’t know how an agent who now ostensibly specializes in covert missions could naturally fit into NCIS extension episodes week after week. However, this latest adventure could convince Sawyer that it was the wrong career choice, and later in his life he will land a job as an agent. NCIS extension squad. There could be growing struggles to have another character like Torres in the mix if that happens, but I think it would be worth it in the long run.
Torres needs another team member
I mentioned Ellie Bishop at the beginning of this article, and while it was mostly a joke, I haven’t seen Torres really connect with a character in NCIS extension on the same level as Sawyer in “Big Rig”. Torres definitely has that “lone wolf” kind of personality and a lot of sad stories about his life, and I think even though NCIS extension she may not need another love interest to take away from the adorable one Jimmy Yup Gentleman romance, a better brother like Sawyer can help fill that void in her life. We won’t know unless Zane Holtz returns for more episodes, so let’s hope the writers feel the same way.
NCIS extension aired on CBS (opens in a new tab) Monday at 9:00 PM ET. Those streaming can also follow the series with their Paramount+ membership and check out some of the other great shows available to stream on the platform.
Source: Cinemablend
