The most recent episode of the series “NCIS: Special Investigations” confirms the departure of an emblematic character from the show. Another blow for the fans.
NCIS : a cult series from another time
NCIS: Special Investigations is actually in the middle of its season 19. An impressive longevity for this emblematic series of the early 2000s. In 2003, Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill imagined a series derived from JAG centered on the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (aka NCIS).
Worn by Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray and even Mark Harmon, the show quickly met with well-deserved success. It must be said that at a time when detective series proliferated, NCIS manages to stand out by opting for an intimate approach, which focuses its dramatic springs on extremely endearing characters. NCIS quickly becomes one of the flagship products of the CBS chain. Faced with this success, the channel even derived the series through three spin-offs : NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawaii.
Gibbs’ departure
For almost 20 years, series NCIS is led by comedian Mark Harmon. The latter, who plays the famous Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the 19 seasons of the series, is about to hang up. Now 70 years old, the actor is undoubtedly tired, physically as well as intellectually, by a role which today represents the main part of his cinematographic career. According to Deadline, Mark Harmon just left the show in the last episode aired on CBS. A departure that took place in the episode Great Wide Open. The latter features Gibbs who decides to stay in Alaska after a mission with McGee. Steven Binder, writer of the series, extended on these farewells full of emotion:
As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the series. Our North Star has always stayed true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So when it comes to Gibbs’ future, as longtime fans of the show may have noticed over the years… never let Leroy Jethro Gibbs sidelined.
Mark Harmon’s departure is arguably the greatest outing in the history of NCIS nowadays. The actor follows Pauley Perrette in the skin of Abby, Cote de Pablo in the role of Ziva and obviously to Michael Weatherly in the costume of the unforgettable Tony DiNozzo. It’s very simple, there are now only Sean Murray (McGee) and David McCallum (Ducky) who are from the first season of NCIS. So it makes sense to see Gibbs bid farewell to McGee, his oldest collaborator to date.
A real page therefore turns with the departure of Mark Harmon. But these farewells can nonetheless be positive for the series, which can thus take a fresh start and create an unprecedented dynamic, to take the show to new horizons. In addition, it is clear that the door remains open for possible future appearances of Gibbs. The character will indeed be able to return from time to time for a few welcome cameos.
