When you’re the most-watched drama on broadcast television (and for four years in a row), you probably don’t need advice on what to do and not do. And yet here we are, NCIS.
The most recent season of the well-watched drama delivered a 22-episode string of character-centric episodes, opening with a mini NCIS: Hawai’i crossover that resolved the mystery of Parker’s seemingly deceptive ex-wife Vivian and then at midseason delivering a 3-way NCIS universe team-up.
Season 20 gave us more of the “Dad” side of McGee (albeit with no actual kids; more on that below!)… introduced Jessica’s sister Robin… revisited the case that put Parker’s old FBI partner in a wheelchair… explored Jimmy’s relationship with growing daughter Victoria… repeatedly taunted us with Russian spies… and gave Torres a blast or two from his enigmatic past.
Speaking of Nick, NCIS left us with the chilling image of him seated across from the man who had abused his mother for years, brandishing a gun and seemingly dead-set on payback.
Looking ahead to Season 21 (premiering Monday, Feb. 12 at 9/8c), here is what we do (and don’t) want to see happen. Review our picks then share your own wishes in comments!
Since the character’s debut in Season 11, Margo Harshman’s Delilah has made 18 total appearances — yet she is barely averaging one-per-season in recent years. And much more conspicuously, we haven’t seen Tim and Delilah’s twins, Johnny and Morgan, since the November 2017 episode in which they were born. References to the rugrats are nice, but we are way, way overdue to see Tim and Delilah parent some actual human beings.
Maybe it’s just us, but…. Has NCIS never quite made up it’s mind on who Nick Torres is? The past couple of seasons certainly have us wondering.
During his overlap with Ellie Bishop, Torres seemed tougher. Much more of an alpha male. But one who is always hiding (hiding) a sliiightly goofy side. And in the immediate wake of Ellie’s sudden exit, he was shown to be brooding over that loss.
But as of late, Torres seems to more often be the butt of a joke — à la “Hey everyone, Nick doesn’t know this thing, ha-ha!” — than the one cracking the joke. And that makes it harder to connect with the material when suddenly the character is needed to be some, like, badass undercover convict.
Heading into Season 21, we’d like the show to make up its mind about Nick and bring back some of the swagger the undercover vet arrived with.
One of the very best things NCIS has done in recent years was the incredibly deft handling of this workplace friendship caught fire — from its oh-so-sweet onset to Jess’ treatment of Jimmy’s gunshot wound, from the whole “disclosure form” thing to the blurted “I love you” to Jess wondering about her place in the widower’s life. It’s just been perfect so far, and played wonderfully by Brian Dietzen and Katrina Law. So let’s ride that wave and see the couple tackle at least one major milestone in Season 21, be it cohabitation or a “family adventure” B-story with Victoria.
It was an unexpected delight to see Army Wives vet Brannagh pop up during Season 20 as Constance Miller, a U.S. Senator with whom Gary Cole’s Alden Parker shared more than a little chemistry. Alas, their eventually revealed insta-romance got derailed when Alden kinda sorta bluntly suggested that Constance was a traitor in cahoots with Russian spies. There’s no “I’m Sorry” greeting card for that, but it’d be great to see the senator again.
Or, if Constance’s instinct was right — that Alden is still carrying a torch for ex-wife Vivian — let’s see Teri Polo again.
We know that Mark Harmon chose to step away from the role of Gibbs after 18-plus seasons, and Emily Wickersham… actually, why did her run as Bishop end?
Anyway, the point we’re getting to is that while it is understandable that long-running characters such as Gibbs, Bishop, Tony and Ziva will at some point ride off into the (Alaskan or otherwise) sunset, at some point it gets rather odd to not hear a single peep about them!
Yes, the NCIS showrunner has suggested that offering no updates on Gibbs allows the character to “be everywhere and anywhere all at once” (or words to that effect), but can we hear any little something on Bishop, who abruptly kissed Nick good-bye in the Season 18 finale to go be an undercover operative? Or hear tell of what happened when Ziva, who was resurrected and resurfaced for a bit in Seasons 16/17, caught back up with baby daddy DiNozzo (who has been off-screen since Season 13)?
Abby gets the occasional nod; it seems simple enough to do the same for other gone-but-not-forgotten team members.
In just the past few seasons, forensics whiz Kasie (Diona Reasonover) has cheated death during a shooting at the diner… been held at gunpoint in the squad room by an escaped serial killer… been exposed (along with Jimmy) to a deadly biotoxin… and, most recently, saw her Thanksgiving spent with Jess get crashed by the gun-waving con man who’d been wooing Jess’ sister.
We’ve seen the toll that all of this has taken on Kasie — she quietly began training in Krav Maga! — so it’d be great for her to maybe go all of Season 21 without another brush with death.
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Agree with all of these.
Another plus would be another big franchise crossover
The fewer crossovers with NCIS: Hawaii, the better for me. I’ve tried to get into that show, but just can’t warm up to the characters. Sorry NCIS: Los Angeles won’t still be around.
Emily Wickersham was pregnant when she left and gave birth to her son in December of that year so that’s probably why she left. But I miss Ellie! And Tiva! (and Gibbs). Please give us updates on them or let us see them again.
Also, yes to more Jess/Jimmy.
Her contract was up at the same time. And it was pandemic. So, she probably decided it was time to take a break when she realized she was pregnant. Which is why the sudden turn in the finale, and had her exit. But I DO wish they could revisit it. Even if she only comes back for a episode or two. It seemed like it was setting up a storyline. But also, Nick needs some closure. We do too. One way or another.
The whole update of past characters thing,I have this suspicion that those are being kept more or less in reserve for the last season of the show which almost happened then it got a reprieve because of Gary Cole being so good.All that said it can’t go on but so much longer and I bet the “last season” will be packed with returning cast etc.I bet season 21 or 22 is it especially with season 20 delayed by months and probably in part a whole year.
Not to mention they’ll bring back JAG characters to bring it all back to NCIS’ beginnings as a JAG Spin-Off. Maybe Capt. Bud Roberts Jr. or something like that or maybe Scott Bakula’s Agent Dwayne Pride and some from the LA team and some from the Hawai’i team too to properly close out the main show.
I don’t see them bringing JAG characters back. That was over 20 years ago. I don’t think there would be much intertest in that. I could see a 2-3 episode arc with TIVA and a guest appearance for an episode or two by Bishop. Paulette Pirette has said she would never return, so the best we’ll get is an update. I would be surprised if Gibbs doesn’t return for the final 2-3 episodes of the series.
Didn’t they have an ep or two a couple of seasons ago bringing back some JAG characters?
Yes, Harm & Mac were on NCIS: LA
Agree with numbers 1-4, and no crises for Kasie. As for #5, well, a mention is okay but I not really interested in hearing about anyone beyond Gibbs.
What I do want to see in season 21 is for McGee to have a nemesis like every other character has had, one that puts him in a dangerous/dramatic situation.
I agree with all these. I wish we saw the twins. Now that they are getting older, and in school. Maybe have them pop up. We finally saw Victoria. It’s time to see Morgan and Johnny. We have seen McGee having to deal with the kids school in a case this past season.
What about ol’ Ducky ?
David McCallum will turn 90 in just a few weeks and lives on the east coast. That we occasionally get to see him at all is remarkable. An occasional pop up is the best we can get at this point.
What an amazing long lived life and career for David McCallum! It was great to visit his past where there was a wink/nod to his role in Man from UNCLE. I enjoy the few times we do get to see him on screen.
It would be nice to get updates on former characters even in passing and real treat to end the eventual ending of the show or before, to JAG characters as well.
I thought I saw a framed picture of David from the UNCLE days sitting in the background when he was on a video call with the team in DC during a recent episode
A-HA! I thought I saw the same thing on that episode! Glad I read it here, I had no idea how to get a confirmation, and it would be nagging me forever otherwise. Thanks.
Curiously enough, what got me hooked on NCIS was an earlier show (or rerun) where, at the end of the episode as “Ducky” is bundled away by two admiring young girls, the question is asked “What did Ducky look like when he was younger?” And we get a superb “Gibbs” amused look as he replies “Illya Kuryakin” I just knew I had to start watching that show!
As someone who grew up with The Man From Uncle and swooned over Illya Kuryakin it`s wonderful that we occasionally get to see Ducky.
Ziva asked Gibbs; “What did Ducky look like when he was younger?” Gibbs thought for a moment and stated; “Illya Kuryaken.”
Every time we see Ducky I am beyond thrilled.😁 I’m so glad they did those origin stories of he and Gibbs while Mark Harmon was there and that we got to see Ducky in Scotland. We should all be as blessed to live the life that David McCallum is living.❤
I’d be happy if all of that happened.
Why would you want to see a couple of children ? I can live without that (Unless maybe they get abducted and their pursuit brings out a darker McGee). What I really want to see is OSP personnel visiting Washington !
A way to get a crossover Bishop episode, would be with Ncis Hawaii, and LL Cool J’s character, who can still be in touch with G and co in their hunt for Hetty. Hannah follows a lead to help them in Hawaii and finds Bishop.
I can’t believe that I have been watching since the original JAG. That’s a lot of episodes. I got CBS All Access just to rewatch but it only had a few episodes and now Paramount+ in Canada has none. Like Gibbs being out in the ether somewhere fishing or doing woodwork, same with Hetty, for years I thought of Harm and Mac living happily ever after until that notion was abruptly ruined on NCIS: LA. Still NOBODY looks better in a flight suit than David James Elliott.😁
No to Bishop. Never ever liked that character and was happy to see her go. Gibbs would be great. Others I could take or leave.
Bishop never grew on me so I didn’t care when they wrote her off the show.
I think both the writers and actress are doing a great job with the Jess character.
They have addressed the need for Torres to be more open and to let go of his deep cover persona in previous seasons. Seeing him being more relaxed and more open around his close knit team seems like a natural progression to me.
I just want to see a new episode before 2025!!
I really like the show, even with Gibbs gone, but I still miss Abby. The new leader (can’t remember his name) has fit in super great! The show has shown that just like real life people move on to other things. I was so glad when DeNizzo left, he acted inappropriately with women, I really got to a point where I would mute the tv when he was on. I still love the program with the current actors.
I don’t understand why NCIS LA won’t be back
Am I the only one that remembers Ms. Brannagh appeared in a very early season of NCIS? She was a mental health patient.
Correct.
Co-sign for ALL these. #moredelilah #morejessjimmy #happystoryline4kasie
since ncis; la will not be return i do not know what i will be watch on sunday nights
since ncis ;la will not be coming back in the fall i do not know what i will watch on sunday nights
My favourite character is Gibbs I I know he may never comeback I miss him dearly but it would be nice if he could comeback as a guest star on ncis it would be so awesome for that to happen please please please please come back Gibbs
My favourite character is Gibbs I I know he may never comeback I miss him dearly but it would be nice if he could comeback as a guest star on ncis it would be so awesome for that to happen please please please please come back Gibbs
Also, would like an update on Jack Sloane, given she was in Afghanistan when the U.S. withdrew. Did she make it out alive? And, if so, is she, maybe, in Alaska…
I think every suggestion is great. I would love to see each one added to the show.
The best show on television also we will miss David McCallum as Dr Donald Ducky Mallard Rip Donald. 🙏.