NCISis planning to copy an element from one of its best spinoffs for the upcomingNCISseason 23, but I am worried the change will actually damage the show. TheNCISfranchise has continued to grow over the years withNCISdeveloping several location-based spinoffs. However, their best spinoff so far has been the show’s prequel,NCIS: Origins, which premiered last year and follows Gibbs' team when he first joined NIS in the early 1990s.NCISis even planning on copying one of the best parts ofNCIS: Origins, but it might not be for the best.
NCISseason 22brought back several popularNCIStropes like recurring villains and deeply involved personal arcs for the show’s MCRT. The season finale even introduced one of the show’s best storylines in recent years, with Parker’s father being killed by the season’s villain, Carla Marino.NCISseems to be on a trend for great storiesfor its upcoming season, but it will take a lot of inspiration fromNCIS: Originsand I am not sure about the combination.
NCIS Season 23 Will Have More Character-Centric Stories (Like Origins)
NCIS Season 23 Will Be Noticeably Different From Its Predecessors
NCIShas often focused on the characters' lives throughout the show’s many seasons. However, more often than not,cases and villains take priority over the MCRT’s personal lives. This tendency is seen all the way back toNCISseason 2 when Rudolf Martin’s Ari Haswari killed Sasha Alexander’s Kate Todd in the finale. After more than 20 years of doing this,NCISseason 23 will be different. Instead of highlighting criminal and military cases related to Naval and Marine Corps personnel,NCISseason 23 will focus on personal stories.
This update for the highly anticipatedNCISseason 23 was revealed byNCIS' showrunner, Steven D. Binder, in an interview withTVLine. Speaking with Matt Webb Mitovich,Binder said that he wants “to make this a character-forward show in a way we haven’t seen before.“The change comes at a time whenNCISseason 22 has already introduced the seeds for bigger character-centered storylines inNCISseason 23, as several of the stories from the previous seasons have not reached a satisfying conclusion yet. Read Binder’s full quote below:
We really want to get toeverybodyin a big way. I know people always say, ‘I watch the show for the characters’ — that was always our thing — and I really want to make this a character-forward show in a way we haven’t seen before. So, if you’re invested in these people, this is going to be the season for you.
Binder’s decision to have a larger character focus inNCIS' future seasons did not develop in a vacuum. Instead, the decision came from a growing trend in theNCISfranchiseto focus on personal arcs. No otherNCISspinoff has shown this likeNCIS: Origins. Rather than be a show that focuses on Gibbs' life and the types of cases that developed his skillset as a Special Agent,NCIS: Originshighlights every character of Gibbs' team with their own episode.
NCIS: Originsis uniquein that way, as while everyNCISspinoff has shown character growth in some way,NCIS: Originshas gone deeper by highlighting the personal problems of every character in the team. To what extent personal arcs will be highlighted inNCISseason 23 remains to be seen, but if they are anything like the ones shown inNCIS: Origins, thenNCISseason 23 will have to make cases secondary. Either way,NCISseason 23 will be different from its previous seasons, and it largely has to do with the success ofNCIS: Origins' stories.
Why Origins' Character-Centric Approach May Not Work For NCIS
NCIS' Characters Are Already Developed
Having more character-centric plots could be good forNCIS, but it could have several consequences too. For one thing,the characters inNCIShave already been there for years. While there has never been a huge focus on one character, most of the character details have been fleshed out as time went on. As a result, it does not seem like there is much more to talk about regarding the characters, especially if the writers want to followNCIS: Origins' path, which features a deeply personal character portrayal in each episode.
NCIS: Originsseason 2 andNCISseason 23 will both premiere in the fall of 2025.
A character-centric plot works forNCIS: Originsbecause it is the entire basis of the show. The prequel begins as Gibbs' story, but later episodes delve into the other characters' personal lives and their own struggles and strengths. That worked because most of the characters were new. Or if they were pre-establishedNCIScharacters like Gibbs and Franks, then room was made to allow for stories about their pasts, like Franks' history with Tish.NCISdoes not have that same leeway, simply becauseNCIS: Originswas on season 1, andNCISis all the way up to season 23.
NCISdoes not have that same leeway simply becauseNCIS: Originswas on season 1, andNCISis all the way up to season 23.
As a result ofNCIS' longevity as both a franchise and a show, there are not as many possibilities to create character-centric storylines unless the same stories are rehashed. While there is potential to look further into some popular storylines like Knight and Palmer’s relationship, and Torres' love life, these plots have already been worked through inNCISseason 22.NCISseason 23 will have more difficultiesnow that the writers have decided to switch things up.
What’s The Best Approach For NCIS Season 23 To Save Its Dropping Ratings
NCIS Season 23 Could Look Towards Its Past And Future
In recent years,NCIShas seen a slow decline in viewershipas their seasons have gone on. In an unexpected twist,NCISseason 22 even had its lowest-rated episodein the history of the show. With new shows, constant competition, and stagnated storylines,NCIShas been placed in a tough spot. However, the show can still be saved even with its declining ratings by combining the different elements that have madeNCISspinoffs and its flagship so good.
Roscoe “Rocky” Carroll
Leon Vance
With Binder’s decision to include more character-centric plots inNCISseason 23,NCIScould opt for a more balanced storytelling approach. This way, character-driven stories could still be made a priority, butNCIS' weekly compelling cases would still remain an important element of the show. This would also be a great way to ensure characters are made the centerpiece of the show without ignoring what madeNCISpopular in the first place, which is their procedural cases.
Changing too much, too fast of what has madeNCISso likable could hurt the show quicker than any slow decline in ratings ever could.NCISis notNCIS: Originsand it should not try to imitate it. Instead,NCISshould look at what made its past seasons so popular while also taking into account the character-driven storylines ofNCIS: Originsto find the sweet spot between them. Finding the right balance is key to makingNCISseason 23 the show’s best season yet.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
