After 22 seasons, the flagship crime drama is losing the emotional core that once defined it.
⚠️ What Went Wrong with Season 22
NCIS has defied expectations for over two decades — surviving major cast exits, spinoff fatigue, and even a post-Gibbs era. But for long-time fans, season 22 felt like the beginning of something far more troubling: a slow unraveling of what made the series great. Yes, the team’s chemistry remains strong, and the occasional emotional beat still lands. But overall? The show has drifted into lightweight territory, and the weighty, grounded storytelling that once defined NCIS feels like a distant memory.
📉 The Rise of Origins, The Fall of the Flagship
While the main series stumbled, NCIS: Origins quietly emerged as a dark horse hit. Initially met with hesitation, the prequel starring a young Gibbs blossomed into an emotionally rich and compelling look into the early days of the Naval Investigative Service. By exploring deeper character backstories and delivering gritty, focused weekly cases, Origins reminded us what NCIS used to do best: blending heart, history, and procedural drama.
Ironically, it was the contrast that made NCIS season 22 feel even weaker. Where Origins brought intensity and stakes, NCIS sometimes played like a comedy procedural — quick quips, awkward pacing, and low-risk storytelling.
🤡 Goofy Cases, Vanishing Stakes
Yes, the show has always had a signature sense of humor — think DiNozzo’s wisecracks or Palmer’s quirky energy. But NCIS also used to bring gut-punch stories: veterans in crisis, fallen sailors, parents seeking justice. In season 22, however, many cases lacked that gravitas. Some felt borderline silly. Even heavy moments, like Jessica Knight’s departure and return, were handled with surprisingly low emotional payoff.
While the finale introduced genuine heartbreak with the murder of Parker’s father, it stood out mostly because so much of the rest of the season lacked that kind of weight.
🧭 How Season 23 Can Get Back on Track
1. Dive Deeper Into Parker
Gary Cole’s Parker has been a slow-burn replacement for Gibbs — competent, witty, and grounded. But season 23 is the time to push his character into deeper emotional territory. His father’s death offers the perfect chance to humanize him further and create meaningful growth.
2. Give McGee a Real Storyline
Timothy McGee has quietly become the series’ emotional center — and deserves more. The LaRoche subplot had potential but fizzled out. It’s time for NCIS to give McGee something weighty, whether it’s a promotion arc, leadership test, or deeply personal case.
3. Bring Back Meaningful Cases
Not every episode needs to be a tearjerker, but NCIS works best when it taps into real-world emotional stakes — particularly those tied to military life. Season 23 needs to reintroduce storylines that feel urgent, personal, and tied to the NCIS mission.
4. Learn from Origins
If the flagship can blend the heart and grit of NCIS: Origins with its classic team dynamics, it could find a powerful new rhythm. Let the cases matter. Let the characters bleed a little. And most importantly — remind us what the badge really means.
💬 Final Word
NCIS isn’t dead — not even close. But it’s losing the edge that made it a legacy show. Season 23 may be its best shot at recapturing the magic. If CBS and the creative team course-correct now, there’s still time to make it matter again. Fans are watching. They just need a reason to care.
