Though shorter than most seasons of the series, NCIS season 21 featured some memorable entries. This season had a lot in store for Alden Parker (Gary Cole), Jessica Knight (Katrina Law), Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover), Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), and the rest of the NCIS cast, despite airing a truncated season. The series offered a limited set of episodes due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. That said, the 10 episodes delivered in season 21 packed a lot in and the finale set up an exciting NCIS season 22.

NCIS season 21 even delivered the NCIS 1000th episode, celebrating 1000 episodes across the franchise. It was an impressive network television feat, achieved by the series’ 21 years on-air and four spinoffs (NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: Sydney) with more in the works. NCIS season 21 even paid tribute to one of the franchise’s most beloved characters, Dr. Mallard (David McCallum), and both episodes saw emotional flashbacks from past seasons. With NCIS season 22 confirmed, the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) can explore all the exciting storylines set up by season 21’s ten-episode story.

10

“Prime Cut”

Episode 9

The team travels to Texas to investigate a murder after discovering the remains of a Marine captain in “Prime Cut.” “Prime Cut” went overboard in its Texas tropes, even having Knight sport a cowboy hat and boots. Between a kitchen remodel sub-plot for McGee and his wife, Delilah (Margo Harshman), and a feng shui storyline that sees Kasie redesign her office, the episode, unfortunately, felt like a filler before the big season 21 finale, easily making it the new season’s weakest outing.

9

“Left Unsaid”

Episode 4

In “Left Unsaid,” the team investigates the case of missing Petty Officer Derek Bailey, who disappeared during a marriage proposal to his girlfriend. Ultimately, it was revealed that Bailey’s girlfriend was in on his kidnapping and just in it for the money. The episode felt like a standard, case-of-the-week police procedural where the murder of military personnel leads back to the wife or girlfriend. The setup and twist at the end also came across as par for the course for the franchise. So while enjoyable, it wasn’t exactly a standout entry.

8

“Algún Día”

Episode 1

“Algún Día” focuses on Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres. The episode, which features more interesting twists and turns than some, centers around Torres’ background by exploring the criminal Maurice Riva (Al Sapienza) who abused Nick, his mother, and his sister, Lucia, when he was younger. Riva is found dead, and Nick is arrested by the FBI for his murder. Investigating Nick’s case, the team learns about what happened to Torres’ family when he was growing up, and they work tirelessly to prove Nick’s innocence. It turns out Nick was just protecting his sister, but Nick crossed a line, not trusting his team with the truth.

The episode almost sees Torres leave the team, with Parker being advised to let Nick go because he’s a loose cannon. However, Parker ends the episode by telling Nick to grab his gear and join the team on their next investigation, signaling that Torres isn’t going anywhere. The episode also introduces Kim Matula as FBI Special Agent Rose. Agent Rose is introduced as she is downloading information on Nick and the rest of the MCRT while investigating the murder, and at the end of the episode, she reveals that she has applied to lead the NCIS Cyber Division.

7

“The Plan”

Episode 5

In “The Plan,” the team works to solve the mystery of a missing agent and his service weapon with the help of Knight’s dad, Special Agent in Charge Feng Zhao. The return of Knight’s dad is the beginning of a relationship conflict between Jimmy and Jess regarding what her next step will be. The debacle begins when Jimmy goes to greet Zhao, and it’s clear that he isn’t recognized, signaling that Knight has not mentioned Jimmy to her father. Ultimately, Zhao tells Knight that Jimmy doesn’t fit their “plan” for Jess to work her way up to NCIS director.

6

“Strange Invaders”

Episode 6

The events in “Strange Invaders” were so bizarre that they narrowly avoided a twist that would have broken the entire show. The episode saw the MCRT investigate the death of a Navy pilot who witnessed an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP, formerly UFO) while on the job. The cause of his death, as well as the circumstances surrounding his murder, defy the team’s expectations. At one point in the episode, when Parker sits down with Vance at a diner, he reveals to Vance that his team is actually considering the possibility that it could be aliens.

The episode carries huge implications for NCIS season 22. The episode ended with “To Be Continued…”, implying that there will be more to the mystery. Although the team is able to solve what killed their victim (a drone) and who developed the technology, the manufacturer of the drone and what they’re targeting remains to be resolved. The episode, which offered one of the season’s most polarizing mysteries, will almost certainly be continued in the upcoming season. It could see the return of Parker’s ex-wife Vivian Kolchak (Teri Polo), since she is the Head of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force.

5

“Lifeline”

Episode 3

Kasie gets stuck in an unusual role when she is working as a dispatcher for Parker’s Walk-a-Mile day in “Lifeline.” The events set Kasie up as the sole confidant of former NCIS agent Eric Webb (Chris McKenna). The episode is in part an exploration of Kasie’s character. She opens up to Webb about three failed relationships in five years. The episode establishes that Kasie feels at fault for being alone. It’s likely the narrative will be explored in season 22. Kasie’s love life finally getting the spotlight could atone for the franchise’s massive NCIS: Hawai’i relationship loss.

4

“Heartless”

Episode 8

“Heartless” delivered a worthwhile combination of harrowing events and heartfelt moments. In the episode, the team is investigating the murder of a Navy commander and heart surgeon, Dr. Erik Harper (Tim Russ). The sci-fi cameo created a franchise plot hole 18 years deep. The investigation leads them to Harper’s surgical partner, Navy Commander Clara Logan. When Parker is questioning Logan, she is abducted. Parker goes along with her, posing as her colleague, and the dire circumstances see Parker and Logan getting to know one another, and the chemistry between them could indicate that Parker is finally getting the storyline he needs.

Although the director remains at NCIS, the episode sets up the perfect way for Leon Vance to exit the show. The team catches Carlos Savina (Juan Javier Cardenas), the head of the Cali Cartel, who was involved in a case that haunted Vance after he lost agents trying to hunt Savina down. Seeing Savina arrested certainly gave the director a newfound peace of mind. After the life-threatening events that Leon Vance experienced in the NCIS 1000th episode, it would have been understandable for him to reevaluate his priorities.

3

“Reef Madness”

Episode 10

The season finale, “Reef Madness,” packed a punch. At the beginning of the episode, Leon Vance approaches Jessica Knight about a promotion to REACT Chief Training Officer. While Knight is grappling with the decision to break up her current team, she and Parker get trapped inside a ship that is scheduled to be sunk while investigating a murder. When Parker and Jess are trapped, a large piece of metal falls on Parker’s leg, pinning him down and causing him to lose blood. While Parker is losing consciousness, he has a vision of a mystery girl named Lily.

“Reef Madness” was one of the best episodes of NCIS season 21, due in part to its long-term impact. Ultimately, Jessica Knight accepts the promotion and so the episode sets major questions in motion about what’s next for Jess in NCIS season 22. It’s unclear at this time what her promotion means for the current MCRT, but if she commits to the position, Knight’s departure will continue a 19-year legacy within the franchise. Next season will also likely explore Parker’s vision, which clearly had something to do with his past.

2

“A Thousand Yards”

Episode 7

“A Thousand Yards” was the 1000th episode of NCIS between NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: Sydney. The episode saw Leon Vance visiting the grave of his late wife, and in a shocking plot twist for Vance, the character was shot in the back. The attack was witnessed by his son Jared (Spence Moore II), who has conflicted feelings about his father’s role in NCIS and the ways in which his job took away from his role as a father. The episode explores what NCIS means to Vance and others through the eyes of his son.

The 1000th episode is one of the best of the season, not simply because it was a milestone for the franchise, although that gives the episode major significance. It’s also one of the best because it pays homage to the entire cast of NCIS through the show’s 21 seasons and pays tribute to some of its most valuable characters and their most intense moments on the job. It sees Timothy McGee temporarily stepping into the role of NCIS Director while Vance is recovering, which teased big shifts in the NCIS universe for their characters.

1

“The Stories We Leave Behind”

Episode 2

“The Stories We Leave Behind” was a tribute episode to Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. Dr. Mallard was found dead by one of his closest colleagues and friends, Dr. Jimmy Palmer, after dying of natural causes at home in his bed. The episode witnessed the team processing the death of their beloved former official Medical Examiner while solving the case that Ducky was working on before his death. As well as paying tribute to one of the most important NCIS cast members, the episode featured a surprise cameo from Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) that saw the return of his character.

As well as paying tribute to the final remaining cast member of NCIS, Ducky’s tribute set up Tony & Ziva’s spinoff, with the return of Tony signaling that he is officially back. Although it was natural to hope for more cameos – perhaps a visit from Abby or Gibbs – there were references to the characters, such as a black flower arrangement that was clearly sent from Sciuto. Although Tony’s brief cameo was disappointing for some, the Tony & Ziva spinoff updates explain the disappointing element of Ducky’s tribute. The tribute was a touching, heartfelt, and nostalgic journey through Ducky’s past.