NCIS begins its ramp-up to the season finale on May 21 with tonight’s episode, “Judge, Jury…” and next week’s “…and Executioner.” Expect more than a few plot twists and more questions than answers. Stay tuned for a sneak peek and a look at some observations on NCIS rumors swirling the internet.
Kasie (Diona Reasonover) has solved a 30-year-old murder case involving ice cream laced with strychnine. Supported in court by Gibbs (Mark Harmon), Bishop (Emily Wickersham), Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Jack (Maria Bello), Kasie’s DNA evidence proves who the killer is. Unfortunately, there is a loophole that may prevent the perpetrator from being convicted. The judge on the case, guest star Mike Farrell of M.A.S.H. fame, notes that Gibbs is “very determined.” (A slight understatement…)
Gibbs and Vance (Rocky Carroll) look deeper into a hit, a conspiracy, a billion dollars of “dark money” and ties to SecDef, while McGee (Sean Murray) uncovers something unexpected. So, why is McGee not in court to support the team? He is on a trip to Silicon Valley. The high-tech company that has been trying to headhunt him for a high-salary job this season finally lures him to the left coast for a visit. Is this a storyline to prep the audience for a possible departure by Murray at the end of this season? Or a red herring to make the audience “stay tuned”? Let’s open the internet’s rumor mill and see…
Rumor #1: There may be a backdoor pilot in the works. With all of the discussion of Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) this season, the audience is expecting at least one of them to show up before the season finale.
Rumor #2: Weatherly’s current series, BULL, dropping a bit in the ratings sets up the possibility of its cancellation freeing Weatherly for a spinoff with Tony, Ziva and McGee starting a new NCIS team. Is it true? No idea. But nobody ever said the internet was the place of truth, and rumors abound.
Rumor #3: Viewers of NCIS: LOS ANGELES know that Beale (Barrett Foa) and Nell (Reneé Felice Smith) are discussing relocating to the Bay area to take care of Nell’s ailing mother. A well-oiled NCIS machine of DiNozzo, Ziva, McGee, Beale and Jones would be an assured hit. Is it true? No idea, but it definitely would be ratings gold, and the camera crew could stop worrying about getting palm trees in shots of “Virginia.”
Rumor #4: JAG’s Captain Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr. (David James Elliott) would be part of the San Francisco team after visiting NCIS: LOS ANGELES. The original NCIS was a backdoor pilot of Elliot’s series, JAG. Is it true? No idea. JAG reboot rumors have been around since the series was canceled. A NCIS/JAG combo of law enforcement and tribunals seems a bit like a military LAW & ORDER. NCIS and JAG together might be too much content for 42 minutes.
Rumore #5: This is my contribution to the rumor mill, and unlike the internet rumors, note this is TOTALLY FAKE NEWS: The latest NCIS spinoff, NCIS: THE PRESIDIO, opens with Tony, Ziva, McGee, Beale and Nell in their new Bay area HQ at the former military fort in San Francisco named The Presidio. Gibbs will visit regularly having enjoyed his time at The Presidio back in 1988. Is it true? Probably not. But for those of you who don’t remember 1988, check out the photos above for artwork of the feature film, THE PRESIDIO, starring Harmon and Sean Connery, investigating another military murder mystery.
Yes, it was a long way to deal with the recent batch of rumors and suppositions. But nobody ever said the internet was rumor-free.
“Judge, Jury…” was written by Christopher J. Waild and directed by James Whitmore, Jr. NCIS airs tonight (April 30) at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS in the United States and on Global TV in Canada.
