NCIS - Ms Abby Sciuto

[Triffid1]

I've been rewatching NCIS from season 1 and it's quite interesting how it's dated - I'd argue that the Harmon character is a workplace bully, the sexual innuendo in the first few seasons is just horrendous etc. But one thing that's really bothering me is that Abby is always referred to as "Ms Sciuto". One assumes she has at least a few doctorates? It's really annoying me!!!

Maybe Abby dabbled a lot and "only" got Masters degrees in multiple subjects? That is a good question, though.

According to wikipedia, it was only ever hinted that she had a PhD in Chemistry, but that she definitely has her masters.

So

I always thought it fitted her, because she had that Goth, impeccably turned out thing, used the parasol etc. so a bit of formality suited her.

Ducky tended to call her Ms, and it seems to me, that of all the characters, he would have called her Dr if she had a Doctorate?

I think it's only Ducky who calls her Ms Sciuto or Abigail; he occasionally calls Tim and Tony by their full first names, presumably to exaggerate his British formality.

It's implied Abby has a degree in Forensic Science but no postgrad qualifications as far as I'm aware. I'm not sure Americans routinely call those with PhDs Dr Name; they seem to prefer to put the letters PhD after their name.

I'm enjoying watching it all from the start. The Tony character is cocky and sexist at the start, but I interpret that as a facade; he feels obliged to play the class clown and never take anything seriously. There are some great female characters in the show (and in a lot of crime drama generally). As they are investigating naval crime, it's also refreshing that most of the corpses on the slab are males, rather than the inevitable young female who is a serial killer's "type" (although there are a couple of episodes that visit this trope).

Okay maybe she doesn't have a doctorate. That's quite reassuring.

Other non MD characters (guests usually) are referenced as Dr. Which is why I noticed this in the first place.