Fans of NCIS have been eagerly speculating about the return of Mark Harmon’s iconic character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, in Season 22. While Harmon has not made an on-screen appearance in the current season, his presence continues to be felt through various narrative elements and his involvement in the franchise’s expansion.
🕵️♂️ The Last On-Screen Appearance of Gibbs
Mark Harmon’s final on-screen appearance as Gibbs occurred in Season 19, Episode 4, titled “Great Wide Open.” In this episode, Gibbs informs Special Agent Timothy McGee that he will not be returning to Washington, D.C., choosing instead to remain in Alaska, where he finds peace after the tragic loss of his family. This marked a poignant farewell to the character, leaving his fate open-ended yet definitive.
🎙️ Mark Harmon’s Role in NCIS: Origins
Although Harmon hasn’t appeared in Season 22, he has returned to the NCIS universe in a different capacity. He serves as the narrator for the prequel series NCIS: Origins, which delves into Gibbs’s early career in the United States Naval Investigative Service (NIS) during the early 1990s. Additionally, Harmon makes a brief on-screen appearance in the series premiere, portraying an older version of Gibbs. This return allows fans to reconnect with the character’s origins while maintaining the narrative continuity of the franchise.
🔄 Future Possibilities: Will Gibbs Return to NCIS?
The possibility of Mark Harmon returning to NCIS has been a topic of discussion among fans and producers alike.Harmon has expressed openness to revisiting the role, stating that he has been asked about returning “a lot.” However, he emphasizes that any potential return would need to be meaningful and not just a brief cameo. Executive producer Steven D. Binder echoed this sentiment, stating that if Gibbs were to return, it would need to be for something “special.”
🧭 Gibbs’s Legacy in NCIS Season 22
Even without Mark Harmon’s physical presence, Gibbs’s influence permeates Season 22. In a recent episode, Special Agent Timothy McGee receives an envelope from Alaska containing a Polaroid photo of himself, Gibbs, and the late Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. This gesture serves as a reminder of Gibbs’s enduring impact on his colleagues and the team’s ongoing connection to him.
🧠 Conclusion: A Door Left Open
While Mark Harmon has not returned to NCIS Season 22, his legacy as Leroy Jethro Gibbs remains integral to the series. Through his narration in NCIS: Origins and subtle narrative callbacks in the current season, Gibbs’s presence continues to resonate. The door remains open for a potential return, but as Harmon and the producers have indicated, any comeback would need to be significant and true to the character’s journey.
❓ FAQs
1. When did Mark Harmon last appear on NCIS?
Mark Harmon’s last on-screen appearance as Gibbs was in Season 19, Episode 4, titled “Great Wide Open.”
2. Will Mark Harmon return to NCIS Season 22?
As of now, there are no confirmed plans for Mark Harmon to return to NCIS Season 22.
3. What is NCIS: Origins?
NCIS: Origins is a prequel series that explores the early career of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the United States Naval Investigative Service during the early 1990s.
4. Does Mark Harmon appear in NCIS: Origins?
Mark Harmon serves as the narrator for NCIS: Origins and makes a brief on-screen appearance in the series premiere.
5. Will Gibbs return to NCIS in the future?
While there are no current plans for Gibbs’s return, both Mark Harmon and the show’s producers have expressed openness to the idea, provided it serves a meaningful narrative purpose.
