Why Medical Examiners Have Been Crucial to NCIS’ Storyline

Medical examiners have always played a crucial role in the NCIS narrative, given the franchise’s focus on murder and homicide. The show has typically followed an episodic, case-of-the-week format, with each episode starting with a crime—usually involving murder or an attempted murder—that drives the plot.

While this format is essential for the show’s dramatic storytelling and is likely what draws many viewers, I’m excited about the upcoming spinoff that promises to shift the focus. A new series that revolves less around gruesome crimes would make NCIS a bit more accessible for casual viewing. Sometimes, watching the show during lunch or dinner can be challenging due to the frequent depictions of dead bodies, which can be off-putting.

Don’t get me wrong—NCIS’s murder investigations are compelling. But I’m looking forward to seeing more complex, espionage-themed crimes in the spinoff, much like the undercover work Tony and Ziva engaged in during NCIS season 3, episode 8, “Under Covers.”