NCIS has had many character deaths over the years, but there is one specific death I have never gotten over, even six years on. NCIS has been on the air for over 20 years and has featured several exciting and tragic plot lines. The show is known for its dramatic character exits, but it still does not hurt any less when a favorite character leaves. One character’s death six years ago continues to play in the back of my mind whenever I watch NCIS.

Ahead of NCIS season 22, I can not help but think about how many NCIS characters left the show over the years. While some character exits seem planned and fitting for the character’s storyline, others can be more surprising, emphasizing that surprises are to be expected when watching NCIS. There have always been a few NCIS deaths that have stood out to me, but one in particular continues to rankle, especially given its tragic and random nature.

Clayton Reeves’ NCIS Death Still Bothers Me

Clayton Was Killed Too Soon

Clayton Reeves’ NCIS death continues to bother me six years after his final episode. It was revealed that Duane Henry’s Clayton Reeves was killed in the season 15 episode “Two Steps Back” in 2018. Clayton heroically died while protecting Abby from a supposed mugging gone wrong. At first, his death seemed random, since it appeared to be the result of a robbery. But as the episode goes on, it is revealed that Abby was the original target and Clayton was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The episode reiterated that no character is safe in NCIS.

The circumstances of Clayton’s death make it all the more tragic, since he was just trying to protect Abby. I’m especially bothered by the episode because of how sudden it was. Clayton was only on the show for two seasons before he was killed off, and to make matters worse, he was on good terms with all of his teammates. In Clayton’s last episode, Ellie even regrets not having told Clayton that he was like a brother to her. Clayton had so much more potential, and I’m especially sad that we were not able to see how his character could grow.

Clayton Reeves’ Death Was Made Worse By Abby’s Exit

Clayton’s Death Set Up Abby’s Exit

In the same episode that Clayton dies, Abby announces her NCIS exit. In honor of Clayton’s memory, and the memory of his mother, Abby decides to leave NCIS to start a charity to help the homeless. She tells the team that she is leaving in the end of episode 22, and it just felt like two exits were stacked on top of each other. Abby’s exit made Clayton’s death even worse because it seemed like his death was written into the show so that Abby could leave unharmed, unlike many other NCIS characters.

It is not unusual for NCIS characters to be written off the show, but to have two likable characters written off so close to each other, in the same episode, makes it so much worse. I really liked both Clayton and Abby, so their combined exit makes the season 15 episode all the more painful. Because of the circumstances of Clayton’s exit, I always felt like his death was overshadowed by Abby’s exit, despite being memorably tragic. Clayton could have had a harmless exit like a career change. Instead, Clayton’s death was used to justify Abby’s exit.

In Hindsight, Clayton Reeves’ NCIS Death Hasn’t Aged Well

Clayton’s Death Continues A Painful Trend

Clayton’s death has not aged well because it continues a painful trend among NCIS characters. While Clayton’s exit was upsetting in the moment, it also continues to be upsetting because it is part of a series of unexpected character deaths. NCIS set the precedent for unexpected deaths with the murder of Kate Todd in season 2. Even though it should not be surprising that this continues to happen, it remains shocking each and every time because we learn to love these characters.

Another reason why Clayton’s death has not aged well is because it is another example of a changing cast. NCIS has been on the air for over two decades, so it makes sense that characters will come and go over time, but it does not make it any less painful when a beloved character leaves the show. It is relieving when characters get to change their careers or retire, as was the case with Mark Harmon’s NCIS exit, but as was shown with Clayton, that is all too uncommon in NCIS.