After more than two decades on the air and with its 500th episode approaching, NCIS is proving it still has surprises up its sleeve — and longtime star Sean Murray is promising the most shocking twists fans have seen in years.
Murray, who has played fan-favorite agent Timothy McGee since season 1, recently spoke with CinemaBlend, revealing that season 23 is pushing harder than ever in terms of storytelling. With ratings rebounding this cycle and viewers buzzing about recent developments — from Parker’s emotional family fallout to the Torres–Knight romance tease — the cast and crew are leaning into bold choices.
According to Murray, that momentum is far from slowing down. “We’re trying to do something different,” he said, adding that the team behind the camera is more energized than ever. He teased that upcoming episodes include “legit jaw-on-the-floor” moments — and not the kind of fakeouts fans have learned to spot over the years. Instead, he promises “real deal stuff” that will genuinely shock the audience.
Naturally, speculation is already running wild. Could a major character be leaving? With rumors swirling about Murray’s own future on the show, fans are nervous — and excited — about what’s coming. Others wonder if a beloved former cast member, such as Emily Wickersham’s Ellie Bishop, might make a surprise return.
What’s clear is that NCIS is treating its 500th episode not as a nostalgic victory lap but as an opportunity to shake things up. After more than 20 seasons, Murray insists there’s still plenty of storytelling fire left: “I’ve never gotten bored for a moment… we’re telling the stories on all cylinders.”
With big swings, potential heartbreak, and franchise-wide ripple effects on the horizon, season 23 may go down as one of the boldest — and most talked-about — chapters in NCIS history.
