For over two decades, NCIS has been a television institution, captivating millions of viewers with its intricate plots, compelling characters, and high-stakes criminal investigations. A key part of the show’s formula is its depiction of cutting-edge technology, with the NCIS team—particularly its brilliant forensic scientist Abby Sciuto and its tech-savvy Special Agent Timothy McGee—using computers to crack cases in record time. From bypassing firewalls with a few keystrokes to tracking a suspect’s location in seconds, the show’s tech scenes are nothing short of cinematic magic.
However, for a different demographic—the world of tech experts, cybersecurity professionals, and computer scientists—these scenes are more a source of frustration and unintentional comedy than awe. As a new generation of tech-savvy viewers watches the show, a collective eye-roll echoes across the internet. From made-up jargon to blatantly impossible scenarios, tech experts are increasingly calling out NCIS for its rampant inaccuracies, with many agreeing on a core sentiment: “No one talks this way.”
The “Hollywood Hacking” Phenomenon
The issues with NCIS‘s tech portrayal are not unique to the show; they are a symptom of a larger phenomenon known as “Hollywood hacking.” In television and movies, the complex, time-consuming reality of cybersecurity and digital forensics is streamlined into a visually dramatic sequence. A typical scene involves frantic typing, a flurry of green code on a black screen, and a final, triumphant “I’m in!” that solves a major plot point in under a minute.
NCIS has perfected this formula, but its consistent use of specific, and often comically unrealistic, tropes has made it a favorite target for criticism. Experts point to several recurring offenses that make them cringe every time they see them:
1. The Two-Person Keyboard: Perhaps the most famous and widely mocked inaccuracy is the “two people typing on one keyboard” trope. In several episodes, McGee and another agent—often Gibbs—will furiously type together on the same keyboard, with one person typing on the left side and the other on the right. This is usually accompanied by a flurry of dialogue about “creating a back-door” or “bypassing the core firewall.” In reality, this is not only impractical but utterly pointless. Typing is a linear process, and two people typing at once would not speed it up; it would simply create unreadable gibberish. As one cybersecurity expert put it, “It’s like watching two people try to drive a car by both pushing the gas pedal at the same time.”
2. The Instantaneous Hack: On NCIS, “hacking” is often presented as a single-action event. A few lines of code and a dramatic pause are all it takes to break into a secure server, trace an anonymous IP address, or unlock a password-protected file. In the real world, hacking is a long, methodical process that can take weeks, months, or even years. It involves reconnaissance, exploiting vulnerabilities, social engineering, and a great deal of trial and error. The show’s rapid-fire approach makes for good television but misrepresents the intricate nature of the field.
3. The Nonsensical Jargon: The dialogue in the NCIS tech lab is filled with jargon that sounds legitimate but often makes no sense to a professional. Words like “mainframe,” “firewall,” and “trace” are used out of context or incorrectly to add a layer of technical authenticity. Experts have pointed out that the characters sometimes seem to be stringing together random tech terms to sound smart. A common example is when a character says they need to “hack the mainframe’s firewall” or “trace the IP address back to its router.” A real tech professional would use much more precise and technical language, and the conversation would be far less dramatic.
Why Do They Do It? The Case for Dramatic License
While the criticism from the tech community is valid, it’s also important to understand the show’s perspective. NCIS is, first and foremost, a television drama, not a technical tutorial. The primary goal is to entertain and advance the plot, and strict technical accuracy would often be slow, boring, and visually unappealing.
- Pacing and Plot: Imagine a scene where McGee has to spend six hours running a decryption program. That would kill the pace of the show. The instantaneous nature of the hacking scenes allows the plot to move forward quickly and keep the audience engaged. The two-person keyboard, while ridiculous, is a visual metaphor for teamwork and urgency.
- Visual Storytelling: A show about computers can be visually static. By using fast-paced typing, flashing lights, and a rapid-fire dialogue, the producers make the tech scenes dynamic and exciting. The visual language of Hollywood hacking is designed to convey a sense of intelligence and expertise in a way that viewers can instantly grasp.
- The Rule of Cool: Ultimately, NCIS operates on the “Rule of Cool,” a common trope in fiction where logic and realism are sacrificed for a more exciting and memorable scene. The show’s writers and producers know that their audience is watching for the drama, the character interactions, and the solving of the crime, not for a lesson in computer science.
The Impact on Public Perception
While the inaccuracies may seem harmless, many tech experts argue that they have a negative impact on the public’s understanding of their field. The glamorous, high-speed portrayal of hacking can lead to misconceptions about what cybersecurity professionals and digital forensic experts actually do. It can also create an unrealistic expectation of what law enforcement and intelligence agencies are capable of, potentially undermining public trust.
In the age of cybercrime and data breaches, a more accurate portrayal of technology on screen could be a valuable tool for educating the public. However, for a show like NCIS, which was created in a different media landscape, changing its established formula would be a risky move.
Ultimately, the debate over NCIS‘s tech scenes is a fascinating case study in the intersection of entertainment and reality. While tech experts will continue to cringe at the sight of a “bypassing the firewall” scene, millions of viewers will continue to be entertained, a testament to the show’s ability to turn complex tech into high-octane drama, even if no one in the real world would ever talk that way.
