NCIS: Goth
Girl Magic!
By Margaret
Curtis, PhD
Has a Gothic
character ever touched America’s heart like Abby Sciuto? Yes, she uses the
short form of the adjective, a bow to current English usage, but this female
leads in popularity because she comes directly from the Middle Ages. Her
respect for mortality heads the parade of traits identified with that time
misnamed The Dark Ages. Was the screen ever dark when Abby appeared? Hardly.
Her mastery
of forensic science perfectly parallels the attention that medieval people gave
to magic, beginning with turning lead into gold—and any script writer can count
on Pauley Perrette, who plays Abby to a P, to charm her way around heavy verbiage
with light humor. Her fondness for music also demonstrates how close her
alliance is to the Middle Ages. What would a cathedral be without Gregorian
chant?
But her
costumes seal the deal for this medieval creation. Her braids become a peaked hood,
swaying rhythmically around her cherubic smile. Her bangs lead the viewer
immediately to her eyes, which snap with mischief, like a leprechaun’s, troll’s,
or elf’s. If Gibbs didn’t have Abby to play his Tinker Bell, what would he do
with his morbid self? Every skull she wears turns into a design, signaling the
Gothic period’s profound inspiration from glorious Art.
Her respect
for the human body verges on that attitude which considers it a temple. Her
perfectionism when handling its remains defies the seamy side of life. Her positive
spirit speaks for the best of rituals which transform the darkest moments into
life-affirming exercises. She doesn’t need to roller skate, although she
sometimes does. Her blithe spirit protects her from excess gravity, ill befitting
a woman who recalls the excitement of that moment—
that moment
when a little girl heads for a Medieval Fair. Abby’s is underground, but so
what? She’ll bring all her candles and icons, if needed, just to celebrate life
gone merry. We’re alive. Isn’t that always, always more than enough? Hang
around long enough, and the discoveries always turn up. It’s just one miracle
after another in the Middle Ages with the Abbess Abby.
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