Ep 8. Once a Hero

Once a Hero is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the crime procedural television series NCIS. The series follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service who conduct criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

In this episode, the team is called to investigate the murder of a Lieutenant who was part of the original crew of a submarine that disappeared twenty years ago. The case takes a personal turn for Agent Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon), who was the lead investigator of the original case and has been haunted by it ever since.

Gibbs and the team must navigate through a labyrinth of secrets and lies that have been buried for two decades, while also dealing with the emotional baggage that the case brings back for Gibbs. They discover that the murder may be connected to the submarine's disappearance, and that the crew was involved in a top-secret mission during the Cold War.

Meanwhile, Agent DiNozzo (played by Michael Weatherly) is sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital to escort a petty officer who is the only survivor from the submarine's original crew. As he tries to get information from the survivor, he realizes that the memories of the past may have taken a toll on his mental health.

The team also deals with the tension between Agents David and McGee (played by Cote de Pablo and Sean Murray, respectively), who are competing for a promotion. Despite their personal differences, they must work together to solve the case and prove their worth.

The episode is a thrilling installment in the series, as the team races against time to solve the murder and uncover the truth about the lost submarine. The emotional depth of Gibbs' character also adds a poignant layer to the story, as viewers get a glimpse of his past and the trauma that he has carried with him. Overall, Once a Hero is a must-watch episode for fans of NCIS who enjoy a good mystery with a strong emotional resonance.