In the exhilarating second episode of NCIS: Sydney, titled "Snakes in the Grass," the team delves into a case that is as twisted as the slithering creatures at its core. The episode begins with a tranquil scene on Cowan Creek, where two fishermen's dispute turns into a deadly discovery: the body of Staff Sergeant Lee Mitchell floating nearby. This sets off a chain of events that will test the mettle of NCIS agents and the AFP as they navigate a treacherous web of crime and corruption.
The NCIS team, led by the tenacious Michelle Mackey and the level-headed Jim "JD" Dempsey, along with DeShawn Jackson, Evie Cooper, and the insightful Dr. Roy Penrose, quickly descends upon the scene. Penrose's initial examination suggests that Mitchell had been dead for a day or two, but his attire and the presence of a calculator in his pocket hint at a more complex story. Cooper's experimentation with a gait recognition device adds a modern twist to the investigation, showcasing the team's commitment to leveraging technology in their pursuit of justice.
Back at headquarters, Penrose's autopsy reveals that Mitchell died around 2 am, a peculiar hour for a swim, and the absence of water in his lungs confirms he was dead before being placed in the water. The discovery of multiple snakebites points to a venomous encounter as the cause of death. Bluebird "Blue" Gleeson's analysis identifies the venom as that of an inland taipan, a snake more at home in the desert than near a creek, leading the team to a recently robbed animal clinic missing its prized inland taipan.
The investigation takes a turn when Jackson and Cooper uncover a theft at the Natureland Animal Clinic, where not only snakes but also expensive birds were taken. Meanwhile, Mackey and Dempsey learn more about Mitchell's role as a compliance officer at the US Naval Supply Depot, a job that typically makes him unpopular, yet everyone seems to sing his praises, raising Mackey's suspicions.
Gleeson's further investigation places Mitchell's death at the community hall in Terrey Hills, over an hour from where his body was found. Jackson and Cooper's search of the hall uncovers tracks and blood outside a small door, leading to Mitchell's cellphone and a snake. Inside, they find a bird and several dead ones, hinting at a possible connection to the clinic theft.
The team's unwavering perseverance bore fruit when they uncovered the harrowing truth: Mitchell had been ensnared beneath the ruins with the snake, his fingernails clutching fragments of wood identical to those from the crawl space door, unmistakably implicating a premeditated act of murder rather than a mere accident. As the investigation deepened, Mackey and Dempsey stumbled upon a concealed blackboard at Mitchell's abode, cluttered with numbers and equations, hinting that he had been surreptitiously tracking someone's phone—leading them straight to Tommy, whom they suspected to be entangled in Mitchell's untimely demise. However, just as Tommy was on the brink of spilling the beans, a gunshot rang out, silencing him and suggesting a far-reaching conspiracy lurking beneath the surface.
Cooper's groundbreaking utilization of gait recognition technology proved to be a turning point in the case, matching the suspect's stride captured on Natureland's security footage to an individual at the US Naval Supply Depot. This revelation uncovered a startling case of insider sabotage, with the floor manager implicated in the theft of an astonishing 28 firearms.
In a harrowing climax, Mackey and Dempsey rushed to Natureland, where Jackson and Cooper had been seized as hostages by the perpetrators. A heart-stopping standoff ensued, with Jackson ingenuity freeing himself and firing at Frank, the leader of the robbers, missing him but shattering the glass enclosure housing venomous snakes. This fortunate distraction afforded Mackey and Dempsey the window they needed to intervene, rescuing their comrades and apprehending the culprits.
"Snakes in the Grass" weaves a captivating narrative of deceit and betrayal, challenging the NCIS: Sydney team's expertise and tenacity to their very limits. The episode's fusion of high-stakes action, intricate plotting, and character development elevates it to a pinnacle within the series. The team's seamless collaboration amidst cultural differences, and their unwavering resolve in the face of adversity, underscores their professionalism and the might of international cooperation. As the episode draws to a close, the team's victory is tinged with bittersweetness, acknowledging that while this case may be resolved, the complexities of their mission remain vast and unyielding.
