When 'JAG' first aired on British television back in early 1996, I was hooked. As a huge fan of shows such as 'Law and Order', it was a dream come true finding a series that had all the action of a military programme and the intelligence of a courtroom drama rolled into one. The characters were also likable and well-portrayed with David James Elliott's Harmon Rabb being stubborn yet just and dedicated to Navy and his country and Tracey Needham's character Meg Austin being his talented, determined partner who, after the first season, was replaced by Sarah Mackenzie-- a tough, aggressive Marine-- played by Catherine Bell. It was always thrilling and engaging to watch Rabb and co investigating various crimes involving the Navy and Marine, often cases that bore resemblance to military news happening in reality, then having to argue their case in court.
However, this once great show went downhill by season five when the military-based story lines quickly gave way to plots that would have been more suited to a daytime TV soap. Instead of seeing Rabb and Mac striving to see justice done, we had excessive time wasted on which man Mac liked and, worse, whether she wanted to have babies. There were times I honestly felt I was not watching 'JAG' and had accidentally switched over to 'Neighbours' or 'Sunset Beach'. As the show lost sight of its original genre and became less of a military series and more of a soap, it lost its appeal with me although I still enjoy watching the earlier seasons when it was at its best. I only hope 'JAG''s producer Donald P. Bellisario doesn't make the same mistake with his other series 'NCIS'.
However, this once great show went downhill by season five when the military-based story lines quickly gave way to plots that would have been more suited to a daytime TV soap. Instead of seeing Rabb and Mac striving to see justice done, we had excessive time wasted on which man Mac liked and, worse, whether she wanted to have babies. There were times I honestly felt I was not watching 'JAG' and had accidentally switched over to 'Neighbours' or 'Sunset Beach'. As the show lost sight of its original genre and became less of a military series and more of a soap, it lost its appeal with me although I still enjoy watching the earlier seasons when it was at its best. I only hope 'JAG''s producer Donald P. Bellisario doesn't make the same mistake with his other series 'NCIS'.