The NCIS franchise made history Tuesday night by delivering two emotionally charged midseason finales that introduced parallel love triangles across both its flagship series and its prequel.
Now airing back-to-back on Tuesdays alongside NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney, the long-running franchise continues to evolve even without Mark Harmon’s Gibbs on the main show. While NCIS Season 23 remains a ratings powerhouse, Origins is expanding Gibbs’ legacy through Austin Stowell’s younger portrayal.
In NCIS Season 23’s “Stolen Moments,” a new love triangle emerges between Nick Torres, Jessica Knight, and Jimmy Palmer. Jimmy realizes he may have missed romantic signals between his two close friends, putting him in direct competition with Torres for Knight’s affection – a rare storyline for the flagship series.
Meanwhile, NCIS: Origins mirrors that tension with its own triangle involving Gibbs, Diane, and Lala Dominguez. Though Gibbs marries Diane in Las Vegas, executive producer Gina Lucita Monreal confirmed Gibbs remains emotionally torn between the two women, leaving the door open for Lala’s long-term role in his life.
The franchise has increasingly connected its shows through parallel storytelling, including a recent crossover case spanning 30 years. Now, with matching romantic conflicts, NCIS is rewarding loyal viewers who follow both series.
While Gibbs’ romantic future may ultimately unfold years later in Alaska, the outcome for Knight, Torres, and Palmer remains uncertain. Jimmy has only just realized his lingering feelings, and any decision will inevitably hurt someone – making this one of NCIS’s most complicated love triangles yet.