Jag Ending
 

I stupidly recorded CSI!!

How did JAC end?:confused:

Last night on JAG:

Harm and Mac choose who they want to take to London and San Diego out of the JAG staff. Harm approaches Bud and Bud is estatic. He really wants to go, and tells Harm that "Harriet has always wanted to see London." However, Harriet isn't pleased, but Bud still kind of wants to go.

Mac also courts Bud for San Diego, and he tells her that he's already decided on London. Mac and Harriet meet for lunch, and Harriet tells her how she really feels about London...and San Diego. Bud is still in therapy for his leg, and Harriet feels that it's better for him to continue with a therapist in the DC area.

Lots of Harm/Mac flashbacks that "shippers" like

Meanwhile, Vukovic is sent to Parris Island to investigate a recruit who turns out to be underage. He forged his way into the Marines by presenting a fake high school diploma, fake dates and forged his mom's signature.

The last few minutes of the show were pure shipper. Mac goes to Harm's apartment 12 hours before they were both set to leave. THEY KISS.

Flash to McMurphy's pub. Harm is in formal dress uniform and Mac enters in a slinky red dress. They announce to their friends present (Bud and Harriet; the General, Coates...) that they're ENGAGED!!! But now, one has to resign to follow the other to their new assignment. The couple wanted "fate" to decide which way they were heading, so Bud tosses a coin. We don't find out where they end up as the coin turns into a CGI graphic that says "Judge Advocate General/JAG 1995-2005" or something to that extent.

Oh, and there was a mini-plot with Mikey trying to get relationship advice from Bud and Harm. Bud, of course, isn't happy about the Mikey/Cammie situation

A decent ending. I'm going to miss seeing Catherine Bell on the small screen every tuesday/friday night...

BTW - Yes, I've been through Boot Camp. Yes, I'm stationed at the AF Base that is home to AF Basic Military Training. Yes, I was still scared shitless when I saw those Marine Drill Instructor's in perfect uniform wearing the smokey the bear hats at Parris Island.............

Okay...thanks, I was pretty sure they would get married, or at least engaged...hope she doesn't run away;)

Maybe there will be followup tv show down the road.

Not to mention the distinctive sound of steel heel taps on shoes, a privilege extended only to TIs and permanent party at Lackland. One guy in my BMT flight could mimic it so well it about scared the living sh*t outta us!

Anyone wanna guess who gives up their career? My money's on Lt. Col. Mac, unless she's getting near retirement age. She was the only one wearing civvies in the JAG group that final scene, though it's not unusual for female officers to wear evening dress instead of mess dress.

Unless I'm going through a memory loss right now, wasn't the general in civvies?

I just looked at the last minutes of the finale, and it looks like he's wearing a jacket with a type of "bars" on his shoulders (like one would see on their uniform) with a plain white t-shirt underneath.

I'm so sad that the show's over, and hope they do a tv followup show down the road (and release the show on DVD! :p)

The General was wearing the short sleeve uniform with a poplin jacket. The short sleeve shirt is designed to be worn with the collar open; the white t-shirt shows.

But then it's not unusual for generals (of any service) to bend the uniform regulations.

And those were stars, not bars. :D

Thanks - I couldn't differentiate very well (then again, I really only have limited experience from many years ago! :D)

I want this to come out on DVD so I can watch it ALL DAY this summer. :)

As a series ending it was pretty damned lame. Senior officers in responsible positions do not make decisions based on coin flips. Also, since Harm was wearing Captain's stripes he had accepted the promotion and therefore incurred a two year committment for continuation on active duty. Reality of military practice was wholly lacking with that sillyness. The General would have had both of them for breakfast over that and probably had their assignments vacated. In reality both would take the assignments, Mac would serve a command tour of 18 to 24 months and then as a married couple they would apply for colocation which would be easy for a JAG since Harm would be in a three to four year posting (three years basic tour and one year extension is not unusual) and there are a number of 05 positions in the NAVEUR General Counsel's office, The Fleet JAG's Office, the Legal Assistance Office and the NAVACTS UK legal department.
Sturgis being passed over for 06 pretty much ices his cake. Very few get picked up on re-look boards. Second pass over and you are out.
Mikey gets blown off by Bud in seeking advice. This fits Buds re-emergence as a whimp. Harriet has effectively killed his career by insisting on staying in DC. As usual, her reasons are purely selfish and any attempt to pretend her motives are based on Bud's medical needs flies in the face of the fact that London is on the cutting edge of medical capability and the Brits are pioneers in amputee therapy. Bud's career would have been made by accepting the job offer, but he dooms himself by homesteading which is the kiss of death for further promotion.
Unclear whether the general's daughter is still a plebe or is now a thirdclassman. If she is still a plebe Mikey is fraternizing and will probably be dismissed. Due to recent adverse publicity the Academies are very sensitive about such matters.
Too much time was spent on Vucovic who was not really an established member of the cast family. Several other loose threads needed to be addressed.
As an OBTW, for the sake of reality, it should be mentioned that NAVEUR is no longer located in London. It moved late last year to Naples and only a small trail detachment remains in London until August 05 when the HQ will be fully moved and the HQ building at 7 North Audley Street, Mayfair, London is turned over to the US Embassy. So really Harm will be in Naples and Bud could have been monitored by the Medical Center at Landsthul, a short hop by C12 away, which is US military amputee central these days.
In an ideal world, at least according to me, Harm would report to NAVEUR to find that RADM Chegwidden, being SEAL and Surface Ops qualified in addition to JAG would have been recalled (not so unusual these days), promoted to VADM (three stars) and assigned as Deputy NAVEUR and Commander Sixth Fleet which is one of the prime pathways to CNO. Remember ADM C's ambition to be the first JAG to go on to CNO.
Anyway, with so many loose ends to tie up I suspect that a TV movie or two might be coming later on.

I learned a long time ago to stop trying to take "fact" from TV. I just enjoy the show.

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In most cases I do not look for fact and simply go for enjoyment, but in a show like JAG I don't think it should get so far from reality that it sends a confusing message. There is a fair amount of accuracy in the show along with a fair amount of creative licence. I just feel that a little more attention to detail would serve well.

Since the show was cancelled last minute, it would have been difficult to do make the relationship more "realistic." Maybe if they ended with the proposal and then brought in a movie next season, then the issues could be addressed. We don't know if there'll ever be a movie, and I think the producers know that viewers want Harm and Mac a couple. When they were filming the finale, they weren't sure if the show was being cancelled or not. They filmed four endings, I heard.

While not impossible, I don't know if a TV movie is in the cards.

The reason for the cancellation is that David James Elliot signed an "exclusive" deal to create new shows for NBC as I understand it.

You're probably right, however, going back to the episode of the week before, the General said that Harm's new job was a Captain's billet, and that the "06 Board" (06 for Full Colonels in most services, Captains in the Navy) had authorized "frocking" in this case.

As I understand Navy "frocking," it allows the officer who is frocked to don the insignia of the new rank and use its authority, but the official promotion is not yet in effect, nor is the officer paid in the new grade until the promotion is "official."

I've heard it described as being like kissing your sister.

Maybe in that case Harm would not have had to commit to the additional two years until he was "officially" promoted?

Does that make any sense?

Minor note: Colonel/Naval Captain is the grade of O-6, not O-8.

Your definition of Frocking is correct. It allows an officer who has an upcoming promotion wear the rank before his official date of rank, however he still gets paid the lower rank.

Yeah, thanks. Still a little jet lagged. It occurred to me and I changed it -- probably while your were responding.

Actually, that's why they brought in that new guy. They were going to continue the show without David James Elliot next year, and focus on Mac and Vukovic in San Diego.

I think that was pretty obvious. I guess the guy didn't make a quick enough impact.

Since I was out of the country, I just watched the show tonight.

Here's my suspicion. When they cut to the high shot of the coin toss at the very end -- it froze on "heads." Since Mac had called "tails," and since she wasn't in uniform, it clearly means that she gives up her career.

See, you've gotta find those hidden meanings.

By the way, did you hear that "Paul is Dead?"

(Sorry, most of you are probably too young to relate to that last line.)

I asked a Navy Captain about frocking and his take was that one was not frocked unless the officer in question had officially accepted the assignment and committed to executing his orders. While not legally binding until he gets paid for the rank, any officer accepting frocking was EXPECTED to pay his dues in return. Harm is committed, so its off to NAVEUR.

Another side thought: Since NAVEUR has moved to Naples and that is where RADM Chegwidden's daughter lives...
I miss Admiral C and keep grasping at straws looking for a way for him to return as a guest star in any future shows/movies.

Makes sense to me -- but that Harm guy is a lawyer. Give him a loophole and he'll sail an aircraft carrier through it.

Others might drive a tank...well, never mind.

Maybe Harm and Mac will show up where ever it is in Europe and all of Harm's former "partners" and "RIOs" -- at least one of whom mentioned having sex with him against a hotel room wall in one of the episodes -- and the Admirals daughter, who was obviously interested will end up there as well.

That could be more dangerous than a low level photo recon flight.

The motto of low-level reconnaissance pilots: "alone, unarmed, unafraid." The REAL motto, not for public consumption: "alone, unarmed, scared sh*tless!" :D

OK, I gave this a lot of thought last night.

Well, would you believe a little thought?

A passing whim?

Anyway...

Even though David James Elliot has a deal with NBC, that doesn't mean that whatever NBC develops won't be sold or produced for another network. NBC Productions does a lot of stuff that's not for the National Biscuit Company.

So, here's my senario:

Mac resigns her commission and they move to Europe -- where ever.

Mac joins the Marine Reserves at a reserve rank of full Bird Colonel, is seconded to the CIA and the two of them fight for truth, justice and the American Way.

After all, the Marines don't want to give up someone entirely who is a great shot, a kickboxer (actually, in real life), is drop dead gorgeous and has a great set of...eyes.

What do you think?