NCIS fans, Leroy Jethro Gibbs is moving on to the next chapter of his life and he’s not taking us with him.

Since the premiere of season 19 in mid-September, folks have been on the edge of their seats. While the hit CBS drama is full of adrenaline-pumping action, many fans were awaiting the unfortunate news that Gibbs, played by actor Mark Harmon, was leaving. But now, that it’s come to fruition, viewers aren’t sure what to do with themselves.

From the start of Monday night’s episode, Gibbs was in a reflective mood prompting his team to repeatedly ask him if he was OK. Before taking off to Alaska with McGee (Sean Murray), Gibbs said emotional goodbyes to Leon (Rocky Carroll), Ducky (David McCallum) and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama). And after finally getting to the bottom of the Sonova case, McGee was ready to head back to Washington, D.C., but Gibbs had different plans.

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“I’m not going back, Tim … I’m not going back home,” he said. “Whatever I’m feeling, this sense of peace, I have not had this since Shannon and Kelly died. And I’m not ready to let it go.”

With tears in his eyes, McGee stopped trying to reason with Gibbs on why he should get on the plane and instead accepted his goodbye. “I could not have hoped for anyone better to watch my back for the past 18 years than you, Tim. I love you, man,” Gibbs added.

NCIS fans watching from home were just as choked up by the moment and had lots of thoughts about his final scene. “I was not ready for that ending!!! @NCIS_CBS 😭,” one person wrote. “I don’t usually cry over tv characters, but watching #NCIS say goodbye to Gibbs/Mark Harmon after 19 seasons broke me,” another added. “OMG! What an emotional ending to last night’s #NCIS episode 😭 and what a beautiful way to end Leroy Jethro Gibbs story after 18 years and seasons 👏👏👏,” a different fan said.

However, a good chunk of folks also declared that they were no longer planning to tune in to the show. “I've seen every single episode. I've seen people come and go, from Kate, Ziva, Tony, Abby and even Bishop but NCIS is Gibbs. He goes, I go,” someone tweeted. “Well, this was MY last time watching the show. There is no #NCIS without Gibbs.😭😭,” another said. “I loved the ending for Gibbs, and I won’t watch anymore NCIS. That ending was perfect, that’s where they should’ve just ended the season. Definitely bittersweet. 😭,” added a different person.

All this said, NCIS showrunner Steve Binder offered a glimmer of hope that this wouldn’t be the absolute last time Mark and Gibbs would be seen.

“As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show,” he said in a statement. “Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years… never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.”

So, we’ll just take this info and hold on it. Until next time, Gibbs!

From: Good Housekeeping US
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Selena Barrientos
Entertainment & News Editor

Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in journalism and creative writing.