NCIS season 22 confirmed some fans’ worst fears about the long-running CBS series. After weathering major changes, including Mark Harmon’s exit as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in season 19, the show had continued to deliver memorable episodes. However, season 22 felt lackluster, especially compared to the network’s spinoff, NCIS: Origins.
Following a shortened season 21 due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, season 22 returned to a full episode count. While it resolved Jessica Knight’s cliffhanger and explored Parker’s conflict with nemesis Carla Marino and McGee’s competition with Gabriel LaRoche, the season lacked the stakes and emotional depth that longtime viewers expect.
NCIS: Origins Outshines the Flagship Series
Initially met with skepticism, NCIS: Origins quickly proved itself. The prequel expanded beyond Gibbs’ story to explore the lives of his colleagues in Mike Franks’ NIS team, all while delivering weekly cases that were both compelling and emotionally resonant. Its darker, grittier tone highlighted the contrast with NCIS season 22, which often leaned too heavily on humor, undermining dramatic moments.
Season 22 Lacks Emotional Impact
While NCIS has historically balanced humor with serious storytelling-covering veterans’ struggles, grieving families, and Navy reintegration-season 22’s cases often felt unfocused and emotionally flat. Even the season finale, which revealed Parker’s father had been murd3red, could not fully compensate for the overall decline in dramatic tension. As a result, some episodes ranked among the lowest-rated in the show’s history.
How CBS Can Fix NCIS in Season 23
With season 23 confirmed, CBS has the chance to redeem the series. Parker’s tragedy offers a strong emotional anchor, while Gary Cole’s leadership as Gibbs’ successor could be further developed. McGee also needs a clearer professional arc, building on the setup with LaRoche. Finally, the show must re-evaluate its weekly cases, learning from NCIS: Origins’ success in balancing personal and professional storylines or revisiting the legacy storytelling that made the original series compelling.
If CBS can refocus on stakes, emotion, and meaningful cases, NCIS can reclaim the strength that made it a television institution.
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