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NCIS is a great example of procedural dramas with a dedicated fanbase, an ensemble cast with great chemistry, and stories that keep audiences coming back for more. But for those who have already seen every single episode and are looking for new shows to watch, there are many procedural dramas perfect for NCIS fans, from disturbing police procedurals to captivating courtroom dramas.

JAG Was the First Show to Introduce NCIS

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JAG was a legal drama that followed a group of Marine Corps judge advocates who prosecute and defend criminal cases under the jurisdiction of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This series, which debuted in 1995, is not only perfect for NCIS fans due to the show’s connection to military crimes, but also because it featured NCIS’s backdoor pilot.

JAG Season 8, Episodes 20 and 21, “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown,” were the first introductions to the NCIS team. The two-part storyline sees the NCIS team, led by the iconic Special Agent Gibbs, investigate the murder of a recurring JAG character, Lieutenant Loren Singer. These episodes follow the NCIS team’s investigation and the subsequent trial.

JAG is not as action-packed as NCIS, as the series focuses more on the legal drama and courtroom stories rather than the investigations. However, JAG remains a must-watch procedural drama for fans of NCIS. The series often depicts fictionalized versions of real-life cases, similar to other popular procedural dramas such as the Law & Order franchise.

JAG, which stands for Judge Advocate General, had a rocky start, as it was almost canceled. Luckily, after NBC decided to give up on the series, CBS picked it up, and the courtroom drama ultimately became more successful after changing networks. JAG starred David James Elliott as Harmon Rabb, who reprised his role for three episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles.

Criminal Minds Also Has a Lovable Ensemble Cast

What makes NCIS so popular among fans and such a long-lasting procedural is the chemistry between its main cast. And for fans of NCIS who love to see a great ensemble cast working together, there’s no better procedural to watch than Criminal Minds. Criminal Minds is a disturbing yet gripping police procedural drama that investigates some of the scariest villains.

Criminal Minds follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI, known as the BAU. Originally led by Jason Gideon, played by Mandy Patinkin, the BAU features a group of FBI profilers who are called upon to help across the country whenever a serial criminal is on the loose. The BAU also assists in cases of child abduction, terrorist threats, and more.

Criminal Minds ended after 15 seasons, but its popularity led to a revival titled Criminal Minds: Evolution. While it doesn’t have as many episodes as NCIS, Criminal Minds currently has almost 400 episodes across 18 seasons. And even though many characters often come and go in procedural dramas, most of Criminal Minds’ original cast are still leading the revival.

Criminal Minds has many disturbing criminals and cases, but what makes the series stand out is the chemistry and friendship between the characters. Similar to how NCIS features a lovable ensemble cast, Criminal Minds keeps a focus on the friendship, loyalty, and found-family element of the story. The BAU agents often spend a lot of time together, making their bond unique.

Bones Expands on the Forensic Side of Procedurals

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For those who enjoy the forensic analysis side of NCIS at the hands of the iconic Ducky and Abby, then Bones is the perfect procedural drama to watch next. Bones delves deeper into forensics thanks to one of the show’s main characters, Temperance “Bones” Brennan. Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who teams up with FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth to solve cases.

But what made Bones so popular and beloved was easily the undeniable chemistry between Brennan, played by Emily Deschanel, and Booth, played by David Boreanaz. Their will-they-won’t-they love story kept many fans on the edge of their seats for many seasons, similar to how many NCIS fans were waiting to see Tony and Ziva together.

Bones follows Brennan and Booth teaming up to solve different FBI investigations, often related to cold cases and forgotten victims. With her anthropological knowledge and the help of her forensic team at the fictional Jeffersonian Institute Medico-Legal Lab, Brennan often finds new evidence and clues that help Booth solve multiple cases and catch the most elusive criminals.

Bones blends action, comedy, and mystery, becoming a captivating and at times one-of-a-kind procedural drama. Brennan’s lack of social experience and awareness is a major focus of the series. Seeing her learn to trust other people, form solid bonds, and have more meaningful relationships is one of the many reasons why Bones is such a great show for fans of procedurals.

CSI Also Spawned a Major Procedural Drama Franchise

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NCIS is one of the longest-lasting procedural dramas. The series is currently airing its twenty-third season and is approaching 500 episodes. And thanks to the show’s popularity, a media franchise was born, including other shows in the NCIS family, such as NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Origins, video games, and crossovers across all series.

So, for fans of NCIS looking for another major procedural franchise to get into, there’s no better choice than CSI. The original series, also known as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, debuted 25 years ago in 2000 and has since developed into a major procedural franchise that includes CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, CSI: Cyber, and more.

Other procedural dramas have tried to create a solid media franchise, such as Criminal Minds with Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. However, NCIS and CSI are some of the few procedural dramas that have managed to keep up a long-lasting popularity and franchise, next to the iconic Law & Order universe.

CSI is perfect for NCIS fans who want to delve into a big procedural universe, with memorable cast members, solid teamwork, and many crossovers. The original CSI follows a crime scene investigation team within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who assist with some of the darkest investigations, often having to replicate blood splatters and more.

CSI is a character-driven procedural drama, as many episodes shed light on the team’s personal lives, struggles, pasts, and relationships with each other. And much like NCIS, CSI has a charismatic team leader who has grown even bigger than anyone would’ve anticipated, as Dr. Gil Grissom quickly became one of the most beloved characters.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Is a Must-Watch for Any Procedural Drama Fan

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The Law & Order franchise is one of the most popular procedural franchises of all time. And while there are many great shows in this universe, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is easily the most beloved among them. Special Victims Unit, led by Mariska Hargitay as the legendary Olivia Benson, follows a unit within the NYPD that deals with some of the most heinous crimes.

From sexual assault, abuse, child abductions, and more, the Special Victims Unit takes on the darkest cases. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has even come face-to-face with many military and naval units as they investigate different cases and take jurisdiction, creating a connection between the series and NCIS, even if they don’t share the same universe.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is currently the longest-running primetime live-action series on American television, and it’s required viewing for every procedural drama fan. But fans of NCIS will particularly enjoy the teamwork between the characters as they work on different cases. NCIS is popular for the chemistry between its cast members, and that’s also a big part of what makes SVU so beloved.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is currently airing its twenty-seventh season and has over five hundred episodes. So, for fans of NCIS who want a long procedural drama to get fully invested in, Special Victims Unit is the perfect choice. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was the first spin-off series in the Law & Order universe, which now consists of seven series.

But SVU doesn’t only share a universe with other Law & Order shows. The series is also part of the same universe as Chicago PD and other shows in the Chicago Universe, meaning there are many crossover events and storylines to follow. The many episodes, connected shows, and longevity make Law & Order: Special Victims Unit a great option for NCIS fans.