Summary
After the twist ending for Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) at the end ofNCISseason 21, a character from one of the show’s spinoffs could fill her roleon the Major Case Response Team. It was revealed that the special agent was departing the team in theNCISseason 21 finale, and Jessica Knight’s departure continues a 19-year franchise legacy. When looking at who could fill the role next, it’s important to consider how a potential replacement would gel with Alden Parker (Gary Cole), Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), and the rest oftheNCIScast.
Naturally, a new character in the role could completely change theNCISseason 22 story.The show has been on-air for over two decades, and thesavvy changing-of-the-guard between characters when they arrive and depart the seriesis a main contributor to the show’s longevity. Another factor of the show’s success is the authority established by the many spinoff shows that comprisetheNCISshared universe.The franchise launched some of the spinoffs with backdoor pilots in the main series and has a history of finding different ways to incorporate characters across its many shows.
Because of all the shows that make up theNCISuniverse, the franchise is actuallyfull of pre-existing characters that could easily fill the void left by Knight’s potentially permanent departure.After all, each show inNCIS’world generally comes complete with its own cast of major and supporting players, which lends itself well to crossover opportunities and possible character replacements. What’s more, since some shows are longer on the air, there’s quite a few characters who would be available if a move toNCISseason 22 ever became a necessity.
7Special Agent Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah)
NCIS: Los Angeles
One agent who’s more than capable of taking on Jessica Knight’s role on the flagship MCRT is Daniela Ruah’s Special Agent Kensi Blye. Although she’s used to working in the Los Angeles Office of Special Projects, Blye is no stranger to the flagshipNCIS.In fact, Ruah has been featured on the main show in three episodes. She appeared on the show twice in season 6 to launchNCIS: Los Angeles,and she made an appearance recently inNCISseason 21.Ruah is also familiar with the police procedural format, appearing in over 300 episodes of the LA-based spinoff.
Ruah has a lot of connections to the flagship show that make it an obvious choice to pull her from thecast ofNCIS: Los Angeles.Ruah appeared on the show in theNCIS1000th episode,signaling her character’s major significance to the NCISverse. Additionally, Ruah has directed several episodes across the franchise, directing six episodes ofNCIS: Los Angelesduring her stay on the show and one episode of bothNCISandNCIS: Hawai’iwithin the last year (she directedNCISseason 21, episode 4, “Left Unsaid”). Joining the main series would provide an abundance of directing opportunities for Ruah.
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6Special Agent Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito)
NCIS: New Orleans
Another agent well-suited for the role is Special Agent Tammy Gregorio, who hails fromtheNCIS: New Orleanscast.Gregorio would make a great replacement for Jessica Knight simply because she shares qualities with other agents who have shined in the role in the past. For instance,Gregorio is a former FBI Special Agent, and she has FBI profiling experience, which is something Caitlin “Kate” Todd (Sasha Alexander) brought to the team from her experience with the Secret Service. It’s a quality that, when it’s present in the team, offers a richness to the formulaic case-of-the-week investigations.
Tammy is a trained sharpshooter, often serving as the team’s sniper onNCIS: New Orleans.The special agent’s skills proved to be valuable many times throughout the series, andher excellent marksmanship would be the perfect addition to the D.C. office.Tammy’s skills evoke the same versatility that Jessica Knight, Ziva David, and Caitlin Todd brought to the team. In fact, her experience as a sniper gives her characteristics that cross over with Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), proving she has the right stuff for the flagship MCRT. She and Parker would also have a connection with their FBI backgrounds.
5Special Agent Lucy Tara (Yasmine Al-Bustami)
NCIS: Hawai’i
Lucy Tara would make a great replacement for Jessica Knight, especially after thecancelation ofNCIS: Hawai’ibefore season 4.Lucy is a capable agent who shows composure in harrowing situations but is fiercely dedicated to her work. Incorporating Lucy into the main show wouldn’t make up for themassive loss for the franchisethat came with the cancelation ofNCIS: Hawai’i,because her role on the show is irreplaceable, buta continuation of her story on the flagship series is the least that could be done for her character and would give her some well-deserved spotlight.
One interesting fact about Lucy is that she carried a SIG-Sauer P365.The pistol is the same brand as the weapon of choice for Kate, Ziva, and even Jess. It’s memorable that Kate carried a SIG-Sauer P228 because at one point, inNCISseason 1, episode 16, “Bete Noir,” Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin) confiscates Agent Todd’s SIG Sauer. He later instructs Leroy Jethro Gibbs to pick it up and persuades Gibbs to use the pistol to shoot at him so that he can execute his escape plan. It’s a fascinating detail connecting Lucy to the role’s legacy.
4Constable Evie Cooper (Tuuli Narkle)
NCIS: Sydney
It would make for a wild twist to fill Jessica Knight’s role with Constable Evie Cooper fromthe cast ofNCIS: Sydney,especially since the show is still running.Sheworks for the Australian Federal Police and serves as a Liaison Officer with AFP and the NCIS Sydney Task Force. Although her work with the task force established in Sydney is just getting started, it would really shake things up to include Tuuli Narkle’s character in the flagship series. However, it would take some finessing to incorporate why she needed to be transferred to Washington D.C. into her storyline.
While it would be fun to see Tuuli’s character on the flagshipNCIS,it probably won’t happen sinceCBS has renewedNCIS: Sydneyfor season 2.While it would be great to have Evie’s charisma on the main show,what she provides to the cast ofSydneyis too valuable to take away from at this point.Evie Cooper is still establishing her connection with Special Agent in Charge Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann), Special Agent DeShawn Jackson (Sean Sagar), and Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson (Mavournee Hazel), and so moving her at this point seems highly unlikely, and would compromiseNCIS: Sydney.
3Sam Hanna (LL Cool J)
NCIS: Los Angeles & NCIS: Hawai’i
While Jessica Knight’s role has traditionally been filled by a strong female character, Sam Hanna would also be a worthy candidate to become a special agent at Washington D.C.’s flagship office.Joining NCIS at their headquarters feels like a natural progression for LL Cool J’s character, who was a part of the Office of Special Projects as part of the cast ofNCIS: Los Angeles,and he spearheaded an elite team of federal agents inseason 3 ofNCIS: Hawai’i.It wouldn’t be the first time Hanna was recruited from one NCIS office to another, making hisNCISreturn likely.
Sam Hanna was introduced at the onset ofNCIS: Los Angeleswith other characters like Kensi Blye and G. Callen (Chris O’Donnell), andafter the conclusion ofNCIS: Los Angeles,his role continued to evolve.LL Cool J’s character appeared inNCIS: Hawai’iseason 2 episodes 10 and 22, and he would go on to star as a series regular in season 3. He also made an appearance inHawaii Five-0,another series that exists within the NCISverse. AftercancelingNCIS: Hawai’ibroke an unwanted franchise record,Sam will need a new position to hold his standing.
2Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant
Jane Tennant would be a goodJessica Knight replacement forNCIS.However, the position would be a downgrade for her, after serving as Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Hawai’i Field Office. With the recent cancelation ofNCIS: Hawai’i,Tennant’s character is left with incomplete storylines. At leasta role for Jane on the flagship series could see her further explore the Maggie Shaw cliffhanger that concluded theNCIS: Hawai’iseason finale. While otherunfinished storylines for Jane makeHawai’i’s cancelation worse,bringing her character to the flagship could be the only way for her character to get resolution.
It would be a downgrade for Tennant to take the role as it is, but perhaps instead of replacing Jessica Knight,Tennant could become the Special Agent in Charge at NCIS Headquarters to help fill Knight’s vacancy from a different angle.Knight’s responsibilities could be shifted to Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker, who took over for Gibbs (but never in the capacity of Special Agent in Charge). In that sense, she could replace Knight. Tennant has a working relationship with the characters from the mainNCIS,starring alongside Jess and Torres in anNCIS: Hawai’icrossover episode.
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1Ziva David (Cote de Pablo)
NCIS
Finally, the best agent for the job could be Ziva herself. Ziva would make an excellent replacement for Jessica Knight becauseshe defined the legendary role on the MCRT with nearly a decade of service to Gibbs' team and the NCIS.She was introduced at the onset of season 3, at which point she ultimately killed her half-brother, protecting Gibbs and avenging Kate’s death. She was a mainstay on the show until season 11. Ziva would be the perfect character to step into the role, but her time at NCIS Headquarters would be provisional.
It wouldn’t be the first time the actor appeared onNCIStemporarily. Theseason 6 finale shocked fans when Ziva returnedin season 16. Furthermore, Tony DiNozzo actorMichael Weatherly, seemingly confirmed Ziva’s returnfor season 21. Her not making an appearance boosts the chances of seeing Ziva in season 22. Since the spinoff won’t air until late 2024 or early 2025, it creates theperfect window of time for Ziva to return and launch her show on the flagship.Ziva has big things coming inNCIS: Tony & Ziva.
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