The Vidocq Society, named after Eugène François Vidocq, the father of modern detective work, is a network of real-life crime-specialists from around the world who meet for lunch each month in Philadelphia to work on cold case murders.
Vidocq was a former criminal who became the founder of the Sûreté Nationale (the French National Police) and head of the first known private detective agency.
Tonight, the NCIS version of The Vidocq Society, “The Sherlock Consortium,” becomes involved in the death of Lt. Commander Runyan Hayes (Ret.).
When a bullet is found lodged in a pine tree in the woods and a car connected to the case is identified as Hayes’s, Medical Examiner, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) tries to recuse himself from the case, as he knows more about Commander Hayes than what NCIS has discovered.
Dr. Mallard’s knowledge links back to his membership in The Sherlock Consortium, a group of crime-specialists whose secret society tries to solve cold cases.
During the course of the investigation, Abby (Pauley Perrette) realizes that a test that she conducted may have sent innocent people to jail.
Like the Vidocq Society, which gets requests from law enforcement to assist on some cases, The Sherlock Consortium is asked to assist with information gathered on Commander Hayes. The beautiful set used for consortium headquarters also is similar to paneled banquet hall where Vidocq members meet.
If all of this sounds a bit MURDER, SHE WROTE, that might be the intent. In a stroke of casting elegance, Jessica Walter (as Judith McKnight) and Richard Riehle (as Walt Osorio), both had multiple turns as guest stars on that series. And Walter does her best PLAY MISTY FOR ME reprise when she gets a look at Gibbs (Mark Harmon).
NCIS also stars Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen and Emily Wickersham. Other guest stars on tonight’s episode, “16 Years,” include Chris Gartin, Todd Louiso, Matthew John Armstrong, Nick Toren, Paul Mabon, Nate Scholz, Joe Pistone, Lauren Bray, Iris Almario, Mataeo Mingo, Zeb Sanders and Jonathan Salisbury.
Written by Brendan Fehily, “16 Years” was directed by Mark Horowitz.
NCIS airs on November 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
