CBS/Paramount | 2003-04 | 1012 mins. | Not Rated
As the eighth season drew to a close, Harm (David James Elliott), resigned his commission in order to travel to Paraguay and find Mac (Catherine Bell). Special Agent Webb (Steven Culp) went undercover to stop a drug lord named Sadik from selling missiles to terrorists. In the ninth seasons premiere episode, “A Tangled Webb, Part 2,” Harm risks everything to make sure Mac is safe. Upon arriving in South America, Harm is dismayed by what he learns; Mac and Webb have gotten a little too close to give him any comfort. The always reliable Gunny Galindez (Randy Vasquez) is there to help out, but there’s no denying an uneasy tension between Harm and Mac. To make matters worse, Sadik ends up getting away.
Once Harm returns to the States, he’s shocked to learn Admiral Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) had actually processed his resignation through official channels, and won’t give him his job back. Meanwhile, JAG is in a bit of disarray; Tyner (Chuck Carrington) is moving on, leaving Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Coates (Zoe McLellan) to replace him, and Mac has some issues re-assimilating after her C.I.A. mission, as Chegwidden tries to keep his sanity.
Without a job, Harm approaches the CIA handler who “sanctioned” his mission in Paraguay. He wants to make him a field operative, but Harm declines. They work out something more to his tastes. Harm ends up flying special missions for the agency. In the episodes “Secret Agent Man”, “The One That Got Away”, and “Touchdown”, in those episodes Harm finds himself in the Philippines, North Korea, and Libya often cheating death. At the end of “Touchdown”, he is let go from the CIA.
Once again without a job, Harm meets a teenager named Mattie Grace Johnson (Hallee Hirsh) who runs an airfield by herself. She employees Raab in her crop dusting business for a short time; while the crop dusting plot is short-lived, Mattie becomes an integral part of Harm’s life. When he learns that Mattie is estranged from her alcoholic father, Harm decides to become her legal guardian, even though his experience with teenage girls is limited at best. Throughout the season Harm is forced to prove his suitability as a father, and help Mattie deal with her anger at her biological dad.
Reinstated to JAG after his replacement falsified having passed the bar, Harm finally returns to the job he was meant to hold. At this point, the series continues to draw upon the dramatic, action filled court cases that the show was known for. At the same time, the series writers and producers weaved the personal lives of the main characters into the stories. Mac faces some emotional difficulties when confronted by Sadik, in “Persian Gulf,” and though her relation with Webb continues, she struggles with his lifestyle and her conflicted feelings for Raab. Meanwhile, Chegwidden and Meredith prepare for the upcoming wedding, but there is unexpected melodrama. Bud continues to excel as a lawyer. His little brother Mikey (Michael Bellisario) plays a bigger role as he goes through the Naval Academy and is involved in a situation that threatens Bud and his relationship. Turner (Scott Lawrence) tries to get his life back on track, which is impeded when he is charged with racism.
With its solid mix of courtroom and personal drama, the ninth season of JAG is a strong one. The Harm-Mac-Webb love triangle is an interesting one, and it’s especially gratifying for long time fans to see Bud finally come into his own as a lawyer. The only sad part of the season is the departure of John M. Jackson as Chegwidden; I always felt the show lost a little something once he left.
Below are episode synopses taken from the DVD cases:
1. A Tangled Webb (Part 2): In Paraguay, Harm recovers from the plane crash but finds Mac Missing. Clayton Webb continues to search for the terrorist who tortured him.
2. Shifting Sands: A female Petty Officer who married a sheik is tried for desertion. Tyner leaves JAG and is replaced by Jennifer Coates, and Harm is recruited by the CIA.
3. Secret Agent Man: Harm’s first assignment with the CIA is to deliver a rigged limo to a military strongman. Meanwhile, Bud’s brother Mikey testifies at an honor code hearing.
4. The One That Got Away: Harm’s test flight for the CIA turns into a dangerous mission over North Korea. In Iraq, a Marine survives the desert, but is charged with dereliction of duty.
5. Touchdown: Harm and his co-pilot use a transport plane to rescue a CIA agent and his family. But when they run into trouble, the only landing strip is on an aircraft carrier.
6. Back In The Saddle: After Harm leaves the CIA, he becomes a crop duster and grows close to Mattie, his teenage boss. Harm’s replacement at JAG lied about taking the bar exam.
7. Close Quarters: An American submarine rescues the crew of a North Korean sub, but soon regrets it. Harm returns to JAG and comes to the aid of a homeless war veteran.
8. Posse Comitatus: A Marine helicopter pilot is charged with unlawfully aiding the police in a hostage situation. As Harriet organizes a Christmas show, Turner has a crisis of faith.
9. The Boast: A Marine denies killing an Iraqi POW, even though he bragged about it to a reporter. And the Admiral defends a baseball player who threw a dangerous pitch.
10. Pulse Rate: Aboard a carrier, a Petty Officer’s smoking habit may have contributed to a radar technician’s death. Mikey unexpectedly falls for his roommate’s sister.
11. A Merry Little Christmas: Harm is investigated after petitioning to become Mattie’s guardian, but then her real father shows up. Turner falls for a famous singer who entertains the troops.
12. A Girl’s Best Friend: The Admiral discovers the engagement ring he bought contains a controversial diamond. Harm asks Jennifer to become Mattie’s new roommate.
13. Good Intentions: A drunken Petty Officer is charged with killing a female officer, but he claims he doesn’t remember a thing. Bud investigates a SEAL who stole from the Navy.
14. People vs. SECNAV: When a US bombing in Iraq kills civilians, the Secretary of the Navy is charged with war crimes. Bud’s son goes missing while at a video arcade with Mikey.
15. Crash: After a pilot crashes his jet into a carrier, Mac suspects suicide. So charges are brought against his commander, who knew that the pilot was depressed.
16. Persian Gulf: The terrorist Mac pursued in Paraguay is now in DC and he tries to convert Mac to his way of life. Harm loses his hearing when his car battery explodes.
17. Take It Like A Man: While defending a Marine who claims to be a war hero, Mac spins out of control and is ordered to therapy. Bud loses a piece of evidence, a deadly snake!
18. What If? : At A Chinese restaurant, the JAG staff reads their fortune cookies, wondering what life would be like if they had all chosen the road not taken.
19. Hard Time: Mac is ordered to accompany a violent female prisoner to the brig. And Harm and Bud seek justice for a master chief whose HIV status was made public.
20. Fighting Words: A high-profile general, instrumental in fighting the war on terrorism, is court-martialed after he makes inflammatory remarks against Muslims.
21. Coming Home: After a young Marine is killed in Iraq, Harm and Mattie comfort his grieving mother and sister. Meanwhile, Bud investigates the soldier’s armored vest.
22. Trojan Horse: Mac meets a British agent during a drug bust at sea and tries to gain insight into her relationship with Webb. Bud helps a singing Marine get out of his contract.
23. Hail and Farewell (Part 1): As the Admiral plans his retirement party, Harriet resigns from JAG. Mac worries about Webb and her health. And Harm worries that he might lose Mattie.
The video is presented in anamorphic 1.78:1 ratio widescreen color format. The picture quality is quite good. There is a slight coating of grain, but detail remains sharp and clear. You will notice evidence of compression artifacts on occasion, but it shouldn’t interfere with the viewing experience.
Audio is provided in English 2.0 Dolby digital stereo surround sound. While it’s not spectacular, the track is clear and all dialogue is distinguishable.
There are no special features included with this set.
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