A Real Forensic Expert Calls Out NCIS’ Most Beloved Character – How It Changes the Show

NCIS has been a major TV hit since 2003, spawning multiple spinoffs and becoming known for its characters as much as its cr1me-solving. One of the most iconic is Dr. Abby Sciuto, played by Pauley Perrette for fifteen seasons.

Abby is portrayed as a brilliant forensic scientist who handles nearly every type of forensic work – fingerprints, ballistics, chemical analysis, tech work, and more. But according to real-life forensic expert Matthew Steiner, this is impossible.

Steiner, a former NYPD detective and Cr1me Scene Unit instructor, explained to ScreenRant that no one person could ever master so many specialties:

• Each forensic field requires years of training.
• Even something simple like fingerprint lifting takes thousands of hours to master.
• Real cases rely on multiple experts across different departments.
• Someone claiming expertise in more than one or two areas is “not realistic.”

In short, Abby Sciuto couldn’t exist in real life, because the skills she shows on NCIS would take several lifetimes to learn.

Why Abby Still Works for the Show

Although unrealistic, Abby’s role makes sense for TV. Instead of showing many minor characters working on each case, NCIS consolidates the work into one main character to keep episodes fast and engaging. Abby represents an amalgamation of several real-life forensic roles.

This is a common TV trope. Characters like Sherlock Holmes, Dexter Morgan, and Shawn Spencer also have exaggerated skills for entertainment purposes.

Why Abby Left NCIS

Pauley Perrette exited NCIS in 2018 (Season 15). In the show, Abby survives a hitman att4ck, and after her friend Clayton Reeves is k1lled protecting her, she leaves NCIS to start a charity in his honor. She moves to England and has not returned.

Her replacement, Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover), continues the same “multi-expert” role, even though it’s still unrealistic.