Amid everything that has happened in NCIS season 23, however, arguably the biggest surprise has been the return of Emily Wickersham’s Ellie Bishop. The character walked away from MCRT shortly before Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ retirement, but unlike Mark Harmon’s exit, her departure was more convoluted and less ironed out. The NCIS season 23 finale ended with the cliffhanger that she’s back, leaving viewers waiting anxiously for some answers.
The Wait For Ellie Bishiop’s NCIS Cliffhanger Resolution Is Now Longer
Unfortunately, the public will have to wait longer to find out what truly brings Bishop back to Washington D.C. For context, she left her job with the MCRT to be a long-term undercover agent, which means that no one from her old team has heard from her in years. So, when Director Leon Vance informed Jessica Knight’s first ELITE target was Bishop, questions followed about what happened to her.
CBS, however, is delaying NCIS season 23’s 2026 return, effectively pushing the timeline for the show to provide answers about the character. Originally, the procedural was poised to return with new episodes on February 24, alongside the rest of the Super Tuesday block. The network recently changed NCIS season 23’s comeback to March 3, in order to give way to President Trump’s speech to Congress.
While it’s just a one-week delay, it’s important to note that by then, NCIS season 23 would have already been off the air for two and a half months. Historically, CBS would bring the premier procedural in January following its mandatory holiday break. So having to wait this long is something new, and Bishop’s cliffhanger is making it worse.
Why Bishop’s NCIS Return Is Equal Parts Exciting & Scary
Seeing any returning character is always a treat for NCIS, but there’s something more special about seeing someone who played an important role in the show’s long history. When Bishop joined the MCRT, she was very different from Ziva David despite being her permanent replacement. She grew into the role thanks to the guidance of Tim McGee, Anthony DiNozzo Jr., and Gibbs. Watching her grow was one of the most satisfying arcs in the series.
