Everything We Know About NCIS Season 22 – The Shocking Details Will Blow Your Mind!
Over two decades ago, CBS revolutionized procedural dramas with NCIS, a show that captivated audiences by focusing not only on case-solving but also on the workplace dynamics of a group of endearing characters. Now, with more than 20 seasons and several spin-offs, the “mothership” continues to thrive, even though the cast has evolved significantly since the series premiered in 2003. NCIS has become synonymous with primetime ratings success, as demonstrated by the popularity of all the shows sharing its acronym.
“What makes NCIS so special and what people love about it is the characters,” said David J. North, co-showrunner of NCIS: Origins and a former NCIS writer, during the Television Critics Association press tour in July. This sentiment holds true regardless of which characters have been on the show. Even after major figures like Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), and Leroy Gibbs (Mark Harmon) left, the show remains a fan favorite.
NCIS Latest News
The cast has recently returned to set to film Season 22, and while an official synopsis hasn’t been released yet, Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Special Agent Nick Torres, hinted that the new season would be more intense than before. “It’s not going to be your casual, ‘Oh, your favorite team is in trouble,'” Valderrama said in an interview with People. “It’s going to be more personal, more soul-shattering. There’ll be some [tragedy] this season.”
Adding to the uncertainty is Katrina Law’s potential departure as Jessica Knight, which could affect her relationship with Jimmy Palmer. Additionally, SSA Alden Parker (Gary Cole) is recovering from injuries sustained in the Season 21 finale, leaving fans anxious about what Season 22 has in store.
When Does NCIS Season 22 Premiere?
NCIS Season 22 will premiere on Monday, October 14, at 8/7c. It will be immediately followed by the two-hour series premiere of the prequel NCIS: Origins. Starting October 21, NCIS will move to the 9/8c slot. After a shorter than usual Season 21 due to the writer’s strike, Season 22 is set to have 21 episodes.
What Is NCIS About?
NCIS is a military police procedural, often called the “mothership” of the NCIS franchise, which includes NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The series follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a real government agency. The characters and concept were introduced in two episodes of the CBS series JAG in 2003 before NCIS became its own show.
As of 2024, NCIS is the third-longest-running scripted, live-action U.S. prime-time TV series currently airing, surpassed only by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order.
Who Stars in NCIS?
Over its 21 seasons, NCIS has seen significant cast changes. Remarkably, Gary Cole’s SSA Alden Parker is only the second boss the NCIS team has had. Sean Murray’s SSA Timothy McGee and Brian Dietzen’s Chief Medical Examiner Jimmy Palmer have been with the show since its inception. The team also includes Rocky Carroll’s Leon Vance, who joined in Season 5, Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres (Season 14), Diona Reasonover as Chief Forensic Scientist Kasie Hines (Season 15), and Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight (Season 18). The show lost longtime cast member David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, after Season 20.
NCIS Cast:
- Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker
- Sean Murray as NCIS Senior Special Agent Timothy McGee
- Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres
- Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight
- Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer
- Diona Reasonover as Chief Forensic Scientist Kasie Hines
- Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance
Is Katrina Law Leaving NCIS?
A major question heading into Season 22 is the future of Special Agent Jessica Knight. In the Season 21 finale, Knight was offered a job as the REACT team’s chief training officer at Camp Pendleton, far from the DC Offices. Unlike a previous offer to lead the NCIS Far East Field Office in Yokosuka, which she declined, Knight accepted this position. Does this mean Katrina Law is leaving NCIS?
“We aim to please, and we think the audience will be satisfied with where they see this go. Sometimes that satisfaction is bittersweet and sometimes it’s just pure joy. You’ll have to wait to find out which one it’s going to be,” co-showrunner Steven D. Binder told TVLine. Law’s departure has not been confirmed, and given her character’s relationship with Jimmy Palmer, dubbed “Knight In Shining Palmer” by fans, it’s hoped that she won’t be leaving the show.
How Does NCIS Season 22 Tie into NCIS: Tony & Ziva?
With the cancellation of NCIS: Hawai’i in 2024, three other NCIS series remain: NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva. NCIS: Sydney is set in Australia and has no direct connections to the main series, although crossovers might happen in the future. However, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva are closely tied to the main storyline.
NCIS: Origins serves as a prequel to the main series, tracing the origins of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon for 19 seasons. Set in 1991, it follows Gibbs as a new agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office shortly after the tragic deaths of his first wife Shannon and daughter Kelly. Meanwhile, NCIS: Tony & Ziva focuses on the beloved characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, along with their daughter Tali. The series follows them as they navigate life in Europe after Ziva’s supposed death and the revelation of their daughter’s existence, exploring their life on the run.
More Shows Like NCIS
For fans looking for more NCIS-like action beyond the franchise’s spin-offs, there are other military dramas and thrillers worth exploring.
NCIS Season 22 Trailer
There is currently no trailer for Season 22, but it will be available here once released.
Where Can I Watch NCIS?
NCIS is available for streaming on Netflix, Paramount+, and PlutoTV.
