NCIS Recap: First Episode Without Gibbs Asked Tough Questions — Did You Like the Answers?
NCIS fans this Monday got their first taste of what a Gibbs-less show looks like. Along the way, they also got answers to some burning questions about the onetime team leader’s exit (as well as other, lingering workplace issues).
Those questions included:
DID VANCE OFFER GIBBS’ JOB TO (FORMER!) FBI AGENT ALDEN PARKER? | In a word, yes — as Parker himself let slip upon showing up in the big orange room, shortly after McGee returned from Alaska. Parker told McGee, Knight and Torres that he had declined the offer, but moments later agreed to miss out on a Simon & Garfunkel reunion concert that night in order to apply his particular set of skills to helping Gibbs’ team crack their latest case.
WAS MCGEE OFFERED GIBBS’ JOB? IF SO, WHY DID HE TURN IT DOWN? | It wasn’t 101-percent clear if McGee declined the gig when offered it (though Vance did tell Torres he “did more than consider” McGee), or if he proactively took himself out of the running. But when Parker asked the NCIS vet (as he used a urinal!) why he “didn’t make a play for Gibbs’ job,” McGee at first cited the hours, decreased field work and paperwork as reasons.
Later, when (an apparently eavesdropping) Torres pressed his colleague on the issue, McGee opened up about how getting shot by Gibbs (at the top of last season) steered his decision. “I am not Gibbs…. I can’t imagine pulling that trigger” even in the name of a good cause, Tim said. And more to the point, “I don’t want to be that guy” if a situation called for it. Plus, the team leader role, Gibbs showed again and again, can be all-consuming, and as someone with a family, “that can’t be me,” McGee said. “It’s that simple.”
DOES PARKER HAVE GIBBS’ BLESSING? | It sure seems that way. For one, when Torres argued to Vance that Parker was wrong for the job, the director shot back, “you should tell that to Gibbs!” Also, when Vance confronted Parker about there being no Simon & Garfunkel reunion tour to miss, the (former) G-man explained that he “was told” that feigning disinterest while observing a “regular” workday for the team would avoid the risk of “spook[ing] the locals.” Vance asked whose tip that was, but Parker said he will take the answer to his grave.
HOW IS MR. PALMER HOLDING UP? | Related to Gibbs’ absence but speaking to a larger issue, Jimmy at one point asked/begged Ducky to stick around as his partner (and not slink back to his “historian” role). When rebuffed, Jimmy opened up about how a series of losses — starting with wife Breena’s death, followed by Bishop and now Gibbs leaving the team — have left him shaken. “Change is the essence of life,” Ducky counseled his mentee. Gibbs isn’t dead but living life again, and perhaps for the first time since Shannon and Kelly died, Ducky surmised. And them missing their friend “is a small price to pay” for Gibbs’ newfound peace.
WHAT’S KASIE’S TAKE ON THE (POTENTIAL) NEW TEAM LEADER? | Near episode’s end, with the team on the verge of catching their killer, Kasie handed Parker a tell-tale lottery ticket… but then refused to let it go. She then cued up footage of LeMere taking her hostage at knifepoint a few episodes back, and shared that she had heard Parker was planning to “negotiate” the situation, if a shot from Gibbs’ hadn’t rung out and saved the day. In any identical future scenario, she cooly says, she would prefer a “shoot first, ask questions later” approach from her prospective boss.
What did you think of the first NCIS episode of the post-Gibbs era?
Show’s not the same anymore. Cole is ok. Now NCIS just seems like a regular crime procedural. Miss Tony, Kate, Ziva and Abby.
Totally agree with you. Basically quite watching when Ziva left.
It was always a regular crime procedural.
The show is not the same without Gibbs. We miss Tony, Ziva, Abby, Kate. They all made the show great! It was more like family that cared about each other as well as the victims. Ya’ll need to pay whatever it takes to get the crew back together. Gary Cole just don’t fit the profile! Nobody can replace Gibbs. I don’t even know if we will keep watching. And we DO NOT like the new show in Hawaii. Nor Vegas
your on target. the good humor quirks made the show
become something you wanted to see on tuesday nite. and yes I also miss ziva Abby, Kate, and Tony. I also like the newer characters. The series was filled with touching emotions happy and disturbing interesting and full of surprising events all of which i could identify with. It will fill my interest without Gibbs. A few years ago I was visiting my 100 year mother in south Georgia and was shopping for her a washing machine at Lowes and while talking with sales Lady I told her my business was 5 miles south of Quantico Marine Base I asked her did she ever watch NCIS she said Yes! Yes! I Love me some Jethro! Then I stretched the truth and told her to come on up because I usually had coffee about twice a week with Gibbs. Then I admitted I wasn’t being truthful We laughed and then shared our mutual admiration for the show. My EX girlfriend and I made a regular date nite every Tuesday until about two years ago. for a while I couldn’t figure out if it was me or Gibbs she lost interest in, but when I found out she was still watching NCIS my hopes vanished, I’m going to really miss Both.
Mark Harmon is 70 years old. Micheal Wetherly is working on another popular show Bull.
There will never be another Gibbs and that’s ok . and although I adore Mark Harmon and will miss him on the show I will continue to watch NCIS . I love the show , Knight is a wonderful addition to the team by the way ! Love all the actors on the show
Didn’t one of the NCIS producers say in an interview by TV Line that Parker would not replace Gibbs? I’m still hoping that was true, but it’s starting to look otherwise.
That depends on what way one views a “replacement” of a character. Someone,obviously, has to step in as the character to take on the position of Field Team Leader. If McGee had accepted he would not be the “new Gibbs” any more than Kate was the “new Blackadder” (the first female agent of the team in the backdoor pilot) Ziva was not the “new Kate” ,Bishop not the “new Ziva”,Knight is not the “new Bishop”//Jenny was not the “new Morrow”,Vance was not the “new Jenny”//Torres is not the “new Tony”//Kasie is not the “new Abby”…the show has made it clear that even if Gibbs is no longer in the position his presence in the NCIS-universe is still very much still there.
That’s semantics at best. They mislead viewers intentionally.
If you saw and read the many verified statements both here and other sites that stated Gibbs (Harmon) was going to be appearing in only a very limited amount of episodes and that Cole would be joining as a regular cast member (not a recurring character) before the first episode of the Season aired–what where you “misled” about?How did you think he was going to fit in a a regular cast member?
The part where they said Gary Cole’s character was not going to replace Gibbs.
I totally agree. When the rumors came out that Mark Harmon was reducing his episode count, they said not to believe everything we read, yet Gibbs actually left. Then they said that Gary Cole would not be replacing Gibbs, yet it’s pretty clear he’s going to be team lead. So this tells me that we should always believe the rumors because they turned out to be totally true.
If Mark Harmon were truly gone, Gibbs wouldn’t be shown in the opening credit montage, as he was last night…
That is quite possibly a contractual thing.
Wait for the next episode. They did not do it this week because Cole had not been established as the team lead. Now that he is, he will replace Harmon in the opening credits. Might partially be a contractual thing, partially to “maintain tension” (not that we dont know).
I interpreted Parker not replacing Gibbs as meaning he wouldn’t become the team leader, as I believe any reasonable person would have done. So far, I’m not liking the character of Parker and feel he has a wider streak of jerk in him than an NCIS leader should. Also, as somebody with nothing more than an FBI background, he would be too green to the way NCIS operates. He might qualify as a trainee, but nothing more. If Leon doesn’t promote from within the office, he should bring in an experienced NCIS agent from another office.
I agree that it seemed very abrupt for Vance to offer a person hired outside of NCIS such an important position without NCIS training.Then again,Kate was hired by Gibbs straight from her being fired by the Secret Service,and Ziva was given security clearance as an NCIS agent AFTER she had been revealed to be acting as a double-agent.The ending of the episode certainly seems to imply Cole accepts the position Gibbs occupied (and that might very well turn out to be true) but one can’t totally rule out there could be a twist ahead with McGee.
Don’t forget that Ziva had to become an American citizen before they would hire her as an agent. She served as liaison under Jenny. Then she studied for her citizenship test, and when she took her oath she severed all ties with Mosad and Israel.
It’s in the canon of the show that it was revealed she was acting under direct orders from her father to be a double-agent under the cover of being a liaison and even lied to NCIS about Michael Rivkin .She then left NCIS to work for her father which led to her capture in Somalia. That should have excluded her from passing security clearance as an NCIS Agent but the show used creative license for her to remain in the cast.
Yes the guy from NCIS new Orleans would be best
“feel he has a wider streak of jerk in him than an NCIS leader should.”
.
Yet you had no problem with Gibbs? The guy who was a raging a-hole to everyone for 19 years? Hey, at least he didn’t hit his subordinates anymore.
You really need to learn the difference. Head slap was more of a reminder to those like Tony and early Mcgee to ficus on the case. Gibbs never did anything to be straight hurtful.
I’d love it if they brought Pride back from N.O.L.A. to N.C.I.S. NOW THAT WOULD BE COOL. WAKE UP PEOPLE
We like McGhee, Jimmy, and Nick and the Director too. But they all work off each other . The show needs Ziva and Tony back. They have a child and they could be brought back. Ya’ll had a GREAT show. Now it’s just ok . Nothing great. Nick should have been put together. That’s what we were looking for.
McGee turned it down. Google it. Why Producers chose to replace Gibbs with a character from outside NCIS is a mystery. They should explain why Sean Murray won’t be team leader.
Sean Murray is an actor, highly unqualified to be NCIS team leader.
So many bonus points.
Yes, that was said, but it was before Harmon left, so how else was the producer going to respond?
Gibbs isn’t gone. Parker is a temp fill-in, to keep the seat warm in the hopes that Gibbs will eventually make his way back.
This isn’t the first time Gibbs has “left” NCIS. Gibbs will be back at some point this season. It likely depends on how the show goes the next few months – if he stays on the show (much like Duckie has), or if it’s to help wrap up the series finale this spring.
You sure are an optimist, don’t want to believe anything, I guess. But I think most people already realize that Harmon wants to actually live some of his life outside of acting on NCIS. The guy’s been doing this fir years, and he’s 70 years old, he’s got a family that I’ll bet he never had all of the time that he wanted to spend with them. Now he and Pam get that chance to at least have that time together, like most retired couples do.
Thanks for all of the years, Mark Harmon.
I am open to giving Parker a shot. It will be interesting to see how McGee and Torres work with Cole going forward after having been under Gibbs for so long. Poor Palmer has been through a lot and I like how Ducky handled it. I like how they have developed Kaycie and she gets some great one-liners (like a couple episodes back about adding a bell to Gibbs). I can see how McGee may not want to step into that role now but would love it prior to the series ending. Torres is going to have to adapt, like he did when he had to get used to working with a team.
The problem with McGee being team leader is that he would also, by default, be the main lead of the show, and I’m sorry, but Sean Murray/McGee is not a lead actor/character.
He’s perfectly fine in a supporting role, but I completely understand why they didn’t just promote McGee.
I sort of like having Lumbergh possibly being thrust into the leadership role. The change creates some beneficial tension within the team.
Parker is a lot more like Jack Killian (Midnight Caller) then he is Lumbergh.
They’re definitely trying to make Parker the anti-Gibbs. He knew computers unlike Gibbs he had a smartphone and bluetooth headset unlike Gibbs flip phone and unlike Gibbs Parker was a chatter box.
I liked the show. I liked Gary Cole. I will keep watching. I liked the line, “this is way more interesting than FBI”.
The writing is excellent. Tonight was a good show. I hope this season Parker finds some happiness.
I’m with you Kathy – It was a very good show. I loved the idea of Ch-ch-changes… I’ve always like Gary Cole and I feel the writing is top notch. Parker is as technological as Gibbs was not – They wrote him as his own man – not to replace anyone. We Will Keep Watching!
I agree–Mark Harmon did (and may still do more–who knows what Gibbs will do.) a wonderful job since day one–and I should know been watching since he started on JAG. Things have to have changes it’s how the world works. The writing is great and now we are privileged to see what those changes will bring. I liked what I saw and will continue to watch…
I said “Grey’s Anatomy” was dead to me after Patrick Dempsey, but somehow I kept watching. I was wrong, and it is now a better show. I do not expect NCIS to become a better show, but I’m amazed at how well this transition is being handled. The producers included some pretty great character moments throughout the episode, suggesting many places for these relationships to go. It was entertaining, engaging, and as usual, the case-of-the-week mattered not a bit — that’s not what we come to this show for. It was the human comedy and interactions between the characters that continues to make NCIS more engaging than any other procedural on the air. I’m in.
I agree. I think the addition of Gary Cole adds a much-needed shot of energy to the show. Like you, I also enjoyed the interactions between characters like McGee explaining to Torres why he didn’t want to be the team leader, Kasie making it clear to Parker what she expected of him, and Parker and Knight discussing what they’ve gotten themselves into while standing on the stairs watching the rest of the team interact. I’m in.
Gibbs loomed large over this episode… still first in the opening credits.
I really don’t think the show should continue without him, but the episode was pretty good. I liked Kasie’s “are we good” moment.
While I would have preferred that McGee become the team leader, the reasons he gave make a lot of sense. Maybe over time he will learn to lead without that becoming all consuming – after all he hasn’t had many role models to show that kind of balance.
Will the show be the same without Gibbs (who is still in the opening credits btw)? No. Does that mean it should end. NO! It is intriguing watching the show evolve at this point. Ducky said it so well: “Change is inevitable.” I’m ready to see what comes; no looking back – just forward.
I love McGee but I love him more as the superglue of the team not the leader. He is perfect in the position he is in. I miss Gibbs but I am willing to keep on watching and I think Gary Cole will fill the void. I will also miss Pam hope they bring her in occasionally
Yes gibb had nobody but his team family and friends were dead like he told mike after all he did killing the drug man his was still gone I remember a seen where he was sitting on the beach with a gun in hi mouth Kelly came back he had people’s had to help
I really liked the episode. I really like the team this year and there’s a string familial vibe there. It’s not the same team but it’s a different good team. I like that each character hold their own. And despite wanting McGhee to be the leader all of his reasons make sense. There’s nothing wrong with steady and strong, because even in the quirky dinozzo/ Abby years that were fun and special, it was still the strength of the team that came through.
It’s not the same without Gibbs, they have taken too many of the regulars off the show. It’s just not the same!!!!!!
There is a term for when things never change or adapt —it’s called “being stagnant”.
With the exception of Jennifer Esposito, IIRC every main cast member of NCIS who has left has chosen to go and not been “taken off”. You can’t make them stay or sign new contracts if they want to move on and do other things.
So many great intra-cast moments in this episode! Yes,I definitely wanted McGee to be the one to get the position by the end of the episode,but his reasoning made sense for the character’s history and personality.Can not say enough good things about Ducky and Palmer basically being the surrogates for the viewers reflecting back hopes and concerns about the show and it’s future while being completely in character. McCallum(Ducky) may not appear that often but he really brings his A-game.
I sobbed through that Ducky and Palmer moment. Just sobbed. I also loved that Kasie moment. My biggest concern with Mark Harmon leaving was adding Gary Cole. This episode I didn’t really dislike him as an actor or character which is major change for me. I thought the writing was superb.
I’ve watch ncis from the first show, the have now lost me as a viewer, poor McGee should have left when Gibbs did, cause there is not one actor on the show that would make watch the show anymore.
This is a tough one. After reading the the below comments over one of my husband’s and my favorite shows, I am inclined to agree with the majority. The only thing we can count on in life besides death and taxes is that life is always changing. Mark Harmon is 65 years old and wants to slow down and enjoy life now. Understandable. I love Gary Cole and will wait to pass judgment. I think the changes have been made slowly and intelligently. If the original cast were still in place, I suspect NCIS would have been cancelled before this. But there are fresh, great actors being cast and fresher stories to go along with them. We are just being patient, still watching, to get to know the new people in the series family. We will always be fans of this show, as someone below said, it’s light, character driven entertainment in a world that seems to be falling apart. I say two thumbs up for escape entertainment!!!
Mark Harmon is actually 70 years old.
Agree with the thumbs up. What is the big deal – If Mark Harmon had only done a few series in the first place instead of twenty years of the programme we would’ve adapted perfectly well to his successors given time! Twenty years of the same lead is going to be tough to get past but for goodness sake you have to give this great series a chance
I was pleasantly surprised not only by the consistent and superb acting, but by the writing and story line! I actually can’t wait to watch the next episode – even if Gibbs is not rejoining the team (for now?)
How dumb do the producers think we are? They are using Gary Cole to fill Mark’s shoes in every sense. To say his character wasn’t being brought in to replace Gibbs – just to put him in Gobbs’ chair is insulting.
This was a really good episode!
I miss Gibbs, but still enjoyed the episode. I’m starting to like Parker, he will fit well to the team. I just wish McGee got that job instead. Parker could still be on the team, just not as leader.
When will it be aired in Australia free tv
I liked it. The episode was well written and week acted. Cole’s strong presence grounds the cast and the action and they gave him some subtle humor, as well. Best of all, they brought in David McCallum’s Ducky as a transitional object for us. Well done.
Gary Cole continues to be one of TV’s finest actors. He is excellent in this new role just as I always knew he would be. More Gary Cole, please.
I enjoyed the episode. The story and the acting was very good. I love the show, I have been a long time fan and will continue to watch.
Gary cole sounds remarkably like Mark Harmon. There were several times when I was listening that I swore Harmon was in the scene.
Mark Harmon and Gary Coleman do sound alike! I don’t know if that was intentional, but a couple of times when I left the room I ran back in thinking Gibbs was back! I wasn’t sure what to expect post Gibbs, but I totally enjoyed the episode. Someone else made an excellent point that I had not thought about, if we still had the original cast with no new blood the show probably would have ended a long time ago. If they continue to talk about Gibbs and we see him occasionally, I think the show will be just fine. Even without Mark Harmon, who I love, the show was still way better than pretty much any other show I can think of.
Exactly. For now, Gibbs is only “gone” like Duckie is gone. The only question is if he’ll be around-but-not-around, or if he’ll be back to help wrap up the series finale in the spring.
What you talking’ ’bout Tarheelgirl77?
I also noticed that Harmon and Cole sound remarkably alike in this episode, but I did not notice it in previously.
I liked the episode and think they did a good job with it, as many comments have detailed.
The teens in the opening scene were just dropped from the story line with no explanation.
It’s because they were only there as devices in the opener to discover the body before the team showed up, like many previous cases in every NCIS show. They were completely inconsequential to the actual investigation after giving their witness statements to the first LEOs on the scene.
There was an episode where Gibbs was ask to take some time off…. Relax…..go on vacation….go fishing……. Gibbs answered by stating he was happy and relaxed doing what he does best leading his team and that was his vacation.
It was different while also familiar at the same time. I’ll likely keep watching but I do wonder how long everyone else will without Gibbs being there full-time anymore.