NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder has addressed the long-standing mystery of why Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) and his wife Delilah Fielding’s (Margo Harshman) twins have never made a physical appearance in the series. There has been a lot of speculation about the McGee twins, Morgan and Johnny, despite their birth in season 15, episode 9, “Ready or Not.” The episode aired in 2017, and they have not been present as of NCIS season 22.
During a recent interview with TVLine, Binder explained that COVID-19 protocols were the main reason for their lack of on-screen appearances. With restrictions preventing young children from being on set, a decision was made to keep the twins off-screen. Binder elaborated that when Jimmy Palmer’s daughter Victoria appeared in 2022, she had to be aged to fit into the story. Read his response below:
“Even when we brought Jimmy Palmer’s daughter on [in February 2022], we had to magically age her a little bit. Now she’s older than McGee’s kids, so do we age McGee’s kids?”
What This Means for McGee’s Family On-Screen
Binder’s explanation underscores the challenges of integrating younger characters into NCIS, focusing primarily on its procedural aspects. Aging up characters for narrative convenience, as was done with Palmer’s daughter, can disrupt a series’ continuity. While COVID protocols on-set are no longer as restrictive, the decision to keep McGee’s twins off-screen has allowed the focus to remain on his role in the team. While the show could introduce the twins by adjusting their ages, as they are likely about 7 years old, Binder’s remarks suggest that any inclusion would need to align with current storytelling directions and production considerations.
Whether McGee’s children will eventually be introduced depends on how the showrunners choose to balance the procedural nature of NCIS with character-driven moments. While there is an eagerness for more personal storylines, the shows’ investigation has often kept family dynamics in the background. Binder has expressed his attentiveness to making changes that could alter the established tone and pacing of the overall series.
Why We May (Or May Not) Meet the Twins
Binder’s comments clarify why McGee’s twins, Morgan and Johnny, have stayed off-screen. While it may seem like a missed opportunity for character development, the show’s procedural nature means family moments are typically sidelined in favor of the investigations that plotlines focus on. Introducing these NCIS characters would certainly add depth to McGee’s character, but Binder’s cautious approach suggests that any inclusion must serve the overall story and not disrupt the show’s structure. Whether the twins will be featured in the series later remains uncertain, but any such decision will be driven by narrative needs rather than viewer interest only.
