After more than two decades on the air, NCIS is quietly stepping into unfamiliar territory — and Season 23 may be its boldest move yet. Episode 8, “Stolen Moments,” doesn’t just feel like a throwback to the show’s golden years; it also sets up the most complicated emotional storyline the series has ever attempted.
At the center of it all is Jimmy Palmer. His unresolved breakup with Jessica Knight was always meant to circle back toward reconciliation — until the show introduced an unexpected variable: Nick Torres. With that shift, NCIS officially enters love-triangle territory involving three main characters, something it has avoided for 14 years.
The episode’s classic tone isn’t accidental. Veteran writer Jesse Stern, a key architect of NCIS’s most beloved era, returned to co-write the episode with Brian Dietzen. The result blends a clever case-of-the-week with quiet, emotionally loaded moments — especially Palmer’s realization that he’s no longer just waiting for love, but competing for it.
Romantic tension has always existed on NCIS, from Tony and Ziva to Torres and Bishop, but this triangle is different. It’s messier, more personal, and harder to ignore. Palmer’s openness means the fallout won’t stay hidden for long, and once the team notices, the emotional ripple effects could reshape group dynamics entirely.
Whether this experiment pays off remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in Season 23, NCIS isn’t just revisiting its past — it’s risking something new.
