NCIS Solved Its Biggest Mystery Ever
The following contains major spoilers from the Oct. 11 episode of NCIS.
Something huge happened this week on CBS‘ NCIS.
OK, two things.First and foremost, as detailed here, the Oct. 11 episode of TV’s most watched drama marked the end of series lead Mark Harmon’s full-time run.
But along the way, something else major happened: We learned once and for all how Gibbs gets his boats out of the basement, when FBI Agent Alden Parker (played by Gary Cole) went looking for AWOL Gibbs in the suspended NCIS agent’s home. As Parker shined his flashlight around Gibbs’ cellar, we saw that the fourth, cinder block wall — the one that we have almost never laid eyes on — had a large, boat-shaped hole sledgehammered into it (see photo below).
As such, the show’s longest-running mystery has been solved. Gibbs knocks down that fourth wall each time he has a boat to remove (and then bricks it back up). Over the years, multiple NCIS characters who have stood in Gibbs’ basement have themselves wondered/asked him how he gets his boats out. In fact, the recurring joke resurfaced as recently as in this season’s premiere, when McGee and Torres shared the curiosity with a state trooper.
Most amusingly during Harmon’s final episode, Torres shared with Gibbs not only the fact that many have wondered about his basement, but he also rattled off some of the “nuts” theories (including many rounded up by TVLine). “Moveable walls, pulley systems… your house has a coal tunnel underneath,” Torres said, much to Gibbs’ amusement.
Were you happy to have this Gibbs-centric mystery (finally) solved, before Harmon walked out the proverbial door?
This episode could have served as the series finale. Not sure how Agent Parker will be taking over same with Agent Knight.
Many shows switch out characters (just look at the Law & Orders shows). It’ll be fine.
Remember when everyone complained that no one could replace Ziva? And DiNozzo? And Abby?
And now look how bad it is lol
On the contrary, having those characters leave brought a much needed fresh dimension to the show. I wouldn’t want to have any of those three back.
The longer a successful TV ensemble drama with a wide viewer audience goes on the more the comment sections on SM regularly get filled with negative comments from people unhappy with changes that have happened and “predicting” the change will be the end of the show. Grey’s Anatomy when Katherine Heigl left ,when Patrick Dempsey left,etc… Law &Order when Chris Meloni left,etc..Granted there have been 2 major challenges to NCIS (original) this Season— the first was whether the change of timeslot would cause havoc to the viewership.That’s been answered-NCIS is still the #1 highest scripted show viewership not only of CBS but across all networks. The second is obviously the impact on viewership of Gibbs no longer in the lead role position –how the Season progresses in his absence remains to be seen.But Showrunner Binder’s statement released after the episode “So regarding the future of Gibbs….Never count Leroy Gibbs out” and the dedication the cast and crew have already shown to continue impress me more than the always constant SM “gloom & doomers”.
What is SM?
Social Media (Media sites, gossip sites Twitter,Facebook,etc…)
They were right!
No one HAS replaced these characters. They are simply somewhere else. Gibbs is in Alaska, Tony is in Paris with his daughter and Ziva. Abby is fulfilling Reeds wishes.
The new characters are simply stand ins.
Gibbs did once give a partial answer when someone asked him how he got the boat out of his basement. I can’t remember the episode, but he answered “break the bottle.”
Without “Gibbs” ….In a year the SHOW will be on “DEATH-Watch” . Regardless of the negative junk “ABBY” left everyone when she got paranoid over a “DOG” , GIBBS WAS “THE SHOW” . YES, Ziva and Tony were sorely missed but , Tim took up the slack with “THE BLOND” and “FEZ” playing footsie with each other . Kinda like Santa retiring and “THE ELVES” taking over. Will miss Gibbs and his persona ….
I honestly think this will be the final act for the show.
You can replace others on this show but you can’t replace the main star.
Thanks for a great 19 years NCIS but it’s time to take a bow.
Agreed. It’s too bad NCIS NO isn’t coming back since that finale was left open ended
Disagree. First, they aren’t replacing the main star. Make no mistake, even if he isn’t on screen the presence of Gibbs will still be there.
Second, there have been shows that have successfully replaced lead characters (see Criminal Minds when Mandy Patinkin left); the secret is in the writing. And right now the writing is excellent as well as the cast who are still on the show.
I’ve been a loyal fan since day one. The writers last season and this season have been sloppy. They didn’t even have Gibbs say goodbye to Palmer? What’s up with that! Palmer has been around since the first season. How could the writers forget about Palmer?
There’s only such much time, and the chance to have Gibbs and Ducky together again outweighed Gibbs and Palmer. I’m sure we’ll hear something in the future episodes about Gibbs and Palmer. Besides, Gibbs isn’t dead, he’s just in Alaska and who knows when he could pop up again. btw I think the writing last season and this is some of the best ever.
Palmer may have started in the first season but it was at the very end and he was recurring I believe. It wasn’t until Ducky started slowing down and Jimmy passed the exam that he truly became a main part of the show. Ducky compared to Palmer, apples and oranges. If they could only show one, Ducky was the one who told Gibbs to go back and see Shannon, who he eventually married. Ducky and Gibbs predate NCIS.
.
I also agree with GailH that we will hear that Gibbs said goodbye to Palmer and maybe it just wasn’t shown.
Surely there was a better way than demolishing the wall and then rebuilding it each time. LOL
It was very sad watching that final scene. Good Luck Mark. Its been a pleasure watching you all these years. The show won’t be the same.
It won’t be the same ever again. But I’ll watch. I’m glad Pam dawber got to spend some time on the show
So what you are saying..
..is that Gibbs broke the 4th wall
Literally!!
I’m feeling so many feels!!
Real glad we now know how he got those boats out.
It was fitting that in Gibbs’ final episode the mystery is solved. Also love that he broke the forth wall, literally.
Have to think Katrina Law joins shows with the thought they likely won’t last long. She said she joined H50 in 2019 knowing that it was likely close to the end. She also had to know the cancellation/finale rumors surrounding Harmon when joining NCIS.
Gibbs still has the sat phone so maybe he will be involved in the future.
I wish Elle would have stayed, and I think Tim, Elle, Nick and Palmer and Vance could have taken the show a different direction but still stayed on. Its been a great 19 years but the writing for the show has changed over the last couple of years.
I was of the understanding that he may return down the line for a few episodes. Is that not correct? Also, is he remaining involved as an Executive Producer??
https://tvline.com/lists/mark-harmon-last-ncis-episode-season-19-episode-4-gibbs-leaves/
Mark is 70. Let me him enjoy retirement. I will still watch. However, most people watched it for Mark.
NCIS is Done. Ratings will steadily decrease. Stick a fork in it. I’ve watched NCIS since it started but after losing the members that made this show what it once was I too like Gibbs will walk away and I don’t think I’m alone.
Bye bye! Your loss – some people just aren’t curious enough to want to find out what happens now on the show.
You mean show’s loss. There are more people like Danny here. I stopped watching every week when Cote left, stopped watching all together when Weatherly left, the season after him was unwatchable. There is a lot of others that feel NCIS is not the same funny, quirky show everyone loved. Harmon stopped caring around Weatherly’s exit so his Gibbs was just meh after 2016. Unfortunately NCiS is on its last legs, to be fair most TV stations in Europe stopped broadcasting new seasons because people stopped watching. I can see the same trend on the US NCIS boards that I signed up to when I was such a fan girl.
We will have to agree to disagree, because I didn’t get really interested until after Cote and Weatherly left. I never got the impression that Mark was ever phoning anything in, and the show did have to adjust a bit when the show runner, Gary Glasberg, unexpectedly passed away, but those who stepped in have made it a much better show as far as I’m concerned.
So, they literally broke the fourth wall?
Indeed. Indeed.
This will be its swan song. You can replace supporting roles but not the main character. Mark Harmon will be missed and the show will feel his loss. There will be no more rule #’s to follow. Sadly the end.
I want Gibbs to be McGee’Mike Fraco
Mike Franks
What happened to his dog? You know, the reason he got suspended and started down the path to Alaska?
Watch (or re-watch) Season 18 episode “Unseen Improvements”. While Phineas was staying with Gibbs under his protection the boy became bonded with “Lucy” the rescue dog.At the end of the episode Gibbs gave “Lucy” to Phineas.
What a superb end for mark harmon: emotional without being mawkish.
the episode itself was ho-hum mundane as far as the crime solve goes. where it picked up its power was in the realization that within the story telling of Gibbs going was the story telling of Harmon going. found it interesting that it was an all male comradery of goodbyes because there was no Kate, Jenny, or Ziva for Gibbs to say “so long” to – although he did say rule 91 to Bishop last season. i read somewhere how it would have been nice to see him say “goodbye” to Dr Palmer – especially since they both share the loss of spouse, but we can’t have everything. and don’t get me started on the Fornell thing – goatrope all the way around!
guess what really bothers me is that with all the limited episode talk set up over the summer I don’t remember any of the tv guess heads coming out with the first 4 and out model and that’s the triple truth ruth! c’mon man what are you people getting paid for – to find the news or shill for the studio?
NCIS isn’t NCIS without Gibbs it’s a new spin off NCIS LITE!
Well, that was unexpected; the scene between Gibbs and McGee. That was a bit emo. That was a good run for Mark Harmon. I think this should have been the series finale. Not sure what to think beyond this.
Ncis brillant even the repeats,,,,Paula parrette sexy and beautiful,,,let’s have more with original cast plz for one last episode,,,,