JAG

1995 – 2004

Think back to the days before NCIS. NCIS began as a backdoor pilot from a season 8 episode of JAG. How crazy is it to think that all the NCIS spin-offs originally began with JAG? And yet JAG gets so little love.

As for JAG itself, it introduces Harmon Rabb, or Harm to his friends. Once a Naval Aviator, he suffered from night blindness and crashed a Tomcat at sea in the dark. After that, he went to Navy Law school to become a lawyer in the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG). He still loves flying though, which causes some conflict over the course of the series. Complete with tragic backstory, Harm’s Father was also a Naval Aviator and was shot down on Christmas Eve 1969. The early seasons touch on whether or not his Father may actually still be alive.

JAG actually has a bit of a patchy backstory. The first season is completely different from seasons 2-10, but still worth the watch for later context (and, let’s face it: a young David James Elliot). You can start at Season 2 as long as you know why Harm is a lawyer and was a Naval Aviator at one point. The show goes to great lengths to remind you.

After season one the show faced low ratings, facing cancellation and was retooled and purchased by another network. Only then did it start to become a hit and remained a mainstay of the mid-90’s and early 2000’s.

From season 2, enter Marine Corps Commander Sarah “Mac” McKenzie. There’s the ship. It starts from the very first episode of Season Two and drags on interminably (both fun and cheesy at times and plays on the “idiots in love” trope) until season 10.

Why should JAG be a comfort watch? Well, most if it was set in the 90’s. It can be so very cheesy at times, especially in the earlier seasons but I have always enjoyed watching it.

It is more character-based than NCIS – though I do admit to not having watched all of NCIS or its various spin-offs. The supporting JAG actors have huge arcs of their own – Bud, Harriet, Admiral Chegwidden, the Gunny, even Tyner. Over the course of 10 seasons it is at times both tragic and funny.

Take it for what it is, a 90’s Bellisario production with some good stories, enjoy the eye-candy that is David James Elliot and let me know what you think.

It is not on any streaming service that is accessible in Australia, but search for it if you can. It really should be on Paramount Plus with the rest of NCIS but this is not the case in Australia – maybe it is in other countries, or maybe the rights to the first season make it difficult. There’s always a way!