NCIS Recap: 10 Things To Remember Before Season 22

May 10, 2024, midnight

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NCIS Recap: 10 Things To Remember Before Season 22

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A lot has happened in the shared NCIS universe leading up to season 22, and there are a few key details to remember. NCIS has been on television for over two decades and has plenty of history that can factor into an ever-changing narrative. The series first launched in 2003, meaning it's been 21 years since the NCIS pilot aired on CBS. The decades of rich history factor into the stories the series tells today, but in order to keep things fresh, NCIS season 22 will have to introduce new narratives mixed in with ongoing arcs.

CBS packed NCIS season 21 full of action for the cast of NCIS despite airing a limited number of episodes due to the 2023 strikes. The series balanced significant character departures, franchise milestones, and exciting personal growth within the 10-episode set. With a complete roster of episodes for season 22, NCIS can bring storylines that it introduced in season 21 to fruition. That said, it's critical to remember what happened to appreciate the complexities of the NCIS season 22's story.

10 Leroy Jethro Gibbs Exited NCIS

Mark Harmon Doesn't Lead The Series

It's been a few years, but it's important to remember that Mark Harmon exited NCIS in season 19. He played Special Agent-in-Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs for nearly two decades on the series and helped establish the entire franchise. Harmon was the face of the franchise during his time with the series, and he is still involved in the production of NCIS: Origins.

Related What Gibbs Is Doing Now In NCIS Secretly Revealed By Ducky Tribute Episode Despite Mark Harmon's absence in NCIS season 21, episode 2, the episode secretly offers an update about what Leroy Jethro Gibbs is up to these days.

After Harmon exited, Gibbs retired and moved to Alaska. Gary Cole, who plays FBI Agent Alden Parker, took over after helping his predecessor escape. Gary Cole will maintain his supervisory character role as NCIS season 22 debuts.

9 NCIS Said Goodbye To Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard

David McCallum Died At 90

NCIS bid farewell to Donald “Ducky” Mallard after over 400 episodes of the series when David McCallum died at 90. The beloved The Man From U.N.C.L.E. actor played the team’s chief medical examiner for over a decade until stepping down and becoming NCIS Historian. NCIS officially said goodbye to Ducky in the second episode of season 21.

NCIS season 21, episode 2, "The Stories We Leave Behind," featured clips of Ducky’s best moments on NCIS and even saw the return of Michael Weatherly as Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo. Still, the episode didn’t return Harmon’s Gibbs character, leaving many fans disappointed. NCIS season 22 will be the first season to move on without Ducky officially.

8 NCIS Introduced Jessica Knight's Dad

Feng Zhao Hailed From The Far East Office

NCIS season 21, episode 5, "The Plan," introduced Russell Wong’s Feng Zhao character and a direct connection to the NCIS Far East Office. Zhao is the Special Agent-in-Charge of the office, and a case brought him face-to-face with his daughter, Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight. While there was initially some conflict between Jess and her dad about her relationship with Brian Dietzen’s Jimmy Palmer, they ultimately met at the diner, so Feng could adequately meet his daughter’s boyfriend.

With a regular set of episodes that will allow for more returning characters, Feng Zhao could return to NCIS Headquarters in season 22. Zhao could return for official business, although he retired in season 21, leaving time for a more personal visit. He initially recommended that Jess take over his old post. However, she decided to forge a new path and would later receive a more alluring job offer.

7 The Team Investigated A UAP

It Was Actually An Autonomous Drone

In NCIS season 21, the team investigated a case where all the evidence pointed to extraterrestrial life. Their killer had levitated at the crime scene, leaving no footprints, and killed their victim with futuristic ammo Jimmy and Kasie had never seen. Then, they found out their victim, a Navy fighter pilot, had recently testified about seeing a UAP (formerly UFO) in Congress. The victim’s fatal wounds also contained traces of a rare element that had no record of being synthesized on Earth.

Related NCIS Season 21 Narrowly Avoided A Twist That Would've Broken The Entire Show NCIS season 21, episode 6, “Strange Invaders,” narrowly avoided an extraterrestrial plot twist that would have broken the logic of the NCIS universe.

While the team eventually uncovered that a lethal autonomous drone executed the attack, they're not out of the woods yet. They could not locate the weapon manufacturer that developed the drone and couldn’t explain the traces of a rare element in their victim’s body. Ultimately, NCIS season 21 left the UAP case temporarily resolved but not solved. It’s a critical case to remember since the team could revisit it, especially since the threat the AI poses is impending.

6 Lindsey Wexler Attacked NCIS

The Case Was From "Yankee White"

In NCIS season 21, Lindsey Wexler plotted an attack on NCIS with multiple targets, trying to take out some of its most valuable members. That included an attack on former FBI agent Tobias Fornell, who reported to NCIS after an explosion in his garage. When he got involved in the case, Fornell connected it to the series' first-ever case from NCIS season 1, episode 1, “Yankee White.”

2:28 Related NCIS' 1000th Episode Recap: 10 Biggest Returns, Surprises & Reveals NCIS' 1000th episode looks back at some of its biggest moments for its case, allowing the show to include a string of Easter eggs and references.

Lindsey was following through with her father’s attempt to assassinate the president on Air Force One. The episode paid off an NCIS villain story after 21 years and was a memorable way to reflect on the series in the 1000th episode. The show’s decision to revisit the pilot case after two decades resonated with its rich history and how it can factor into the narrative at any time.

5 NCIS Director Leon Vance Was Shot

Rocky Carroll's Character Almost Died

Also, in the 1000th episode of NCIS, Rocky Carroll’s Leon Vance was shot in the back by Lindsey Wexler with a sniper rifle. Vance was visiting his wife’s grave when Lindsey shot him. Vance had been talking to his son, Jared, at the time of the hit. It was a grave moment in NCIS season 21, and the director’s life hung in the balance momentarily.

The events from season 21 are a good reminder that no character is safe in NCIS.

The events from season 21 are a good reminder that, in general, no character is safe in NCIS. Carroll is the third actor to play the NCIS director on the series, and his predecessors, Thomas Morrow and Jennifer Shepherd, both faced tragic fates. The moment could factor into NCIS season 22 significantly since it called Vance’s fate into question. The injury could have been severe enough to cause Vance to step down as NCIS director, allowing someone else to step into the role.

4 McGee Filled In As Temporary NCIS Director

Sean Murray's Character Was An Obvious Choice

While Leon Vance recovered from the attack on his life in NCIS season 21, Sean Murray’s Timothy McGee stepped up and acted as temporary NCIS director. NCIS fans should remember the moment since McGee is trying to climb to a deputy director position in season 22. McGee was initially offered Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ position in season 19, but he turned it down, saying he didn’t want additional paperwork.

NCIS is revisiting McGee in a more supervisory role in season 22. It’s a promising development for the agent, who, aside from a temporary stint as director, had an uneventful NCIS season 21. While other agents were involved in plots that explored their history and moved their lives forward, McGee mostly stood still. Remembering McGee’s temporary gig is vital since it could be a launching point for the character’s evolution in season 22.

3 Parker Did Surgery And Met Someone

Parker Had Chemistry With Clara Logan

While investigating the death of a famous heart surgeon, played by Startrek’s Tim Russ, Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker was interviewing Navy Commander Clara Logan (Christina Kirk) when she was abducted. Parker threw himself into the situation, claiming to be her surgical partner, so he could follow the captors directly to the murderer and protect Clara. While their connection began as adversarial, Parker and Clara developed chemistry throughout the episode.

Watch Parker and Clara hit it off in NCIS season 21, episode 8, "Heartless."

The story should be fresh in viewers' minds because NCIS could bring back Logan in season 22. Parker and Clara can see each other outside of work, with the series introducing a new relationship that viewers can witness unfold outside the bullpen. The storyline is overdue for Parker, whose relationship history is limited to a divorce from Teri Polo’s Vivian Kolchak. Parker had a sweet connection to Clara, but Parker’s Lily mystery overshadowed the romance. A budding romantic connection for Parker could be what he needs to open up about his childhood.

2 Parker Hallucinated A Little Girl As He Lost Blood

Parker Saw A Little Girl Named Lily

In the NCIS season 21 finale, Parker had a near-death experience when he and Jessica Knight were investigating a Navy ship. When they went back to explore an overlooked piece of evidence, the murderer trapped Parker and Jess in the ship’s engine room. Worse yet, a large piece of metal trapped Parker and fatally injured him in the leg, causing him to lose blood rapidly.

2:21 Related Who Is Lily In NCIS' Season 21 Finale? Parker’s Mystery Girl Explained & What She Means For Season 22 The tense NCIS season 21 finale introduced a brand new mystery concerning Alden Parker and the unknown identity of a young girl named Lily.

As Parker began to go in and out of consciousness due to the blood loss, he saw a vision of a little girl he called “Lily” superimposed on the ship’s engine room. The vision then became a flashback, showing Parker with Lily aboard a Navy ship being scolded by, presumably, their mother. NCIS season 22 will check in with Parker’s mystery girl since he couldn’t remember her while recovering after the incident.

1 Jessica Knight Took The Promotion To Chief REACT Training Officer

The Promotion Challenged Her Relationship With Jimmy

The NCIS season 21 finale was momentous for certain characters, namely Special Agent Jessica Knight. “Reef Madness” featured a harrowing plot for Parker and Jess, and amid fighting for her life, Knight grappled with a pivotal decision regarding her career. At the onset of the season closer, NCIS Director Leon Vance offered Knight a promotion to Chief REACT Training Officer. The position had a meaningful connection for Jess, whose NCIS background before joining the MCRT was with REACT.

NCIS season 22 airs on Monday nights on CBS.

Knight grappled with the decision throughout the finale, and it caused tension with her boyfriend, Jimmy Palmer, with the couple seemingly calling it quits. The story is critical to remember since it will drive much of the narrative in season 22. Knight actor Katrina Law will stay with the series following her teased potential NCIS exit, meaning she will likely rejoin the MCRT. Knight’s return means she and Jimmy must reconcile their differences to work together, making Knight's promotion essential to remember heading into NCIS season 22.