If you’re a fan of NCIS: Hawai’i, you already know that Lucy Tara and Kate Whistler are pure TV gold. But here’s the real talk—why aren’t we seeing more of them together? Seriously, the chemistry, the tension, the subtle glances—they’ve got it all. And let’s be honest: the show hits different when these two share the screen.
Without Lucy and Kate’s romance, and Lucy’s presence in general, there was a major void in the show that couldn’t be filled, proving how important these characters and their relationship are. Even before her absence, these two were not getting enough time on-screen together. NCIS: Hawai’i Season 3 needs to focus more on expanding these characters — romantically and otherwise. Both are beloved, fan-favorite characters that the general audience desperately wants to see more of. Both have interesting and rather unexplored backstories, only getting a few mentions here and there over two seasons about what their lives were like. After a season majorly lacking, we need to amp up their roles.
As the series points out early on, Lucy’s family life isn’t exactly what you’d expected. It would be nice to dig into her past, to learn more about her family and how their influence shaped her life and led to her coming to Hawai’i. Or, to delve into Lucy’s skills and give her a work-related story that showcases the character, as we have with Jane on several occasions. The same could be said for Kate. Though she’s not technically a part of the NCIS team, she is their FBI liaison and a series regular. We haven’t seen too much of Kate outside of her relationship with Lucy, which is an enormous missed opportunity. Anderson is an incredibly talented actor, and the small tastes of what Kate is capable of have been excellent to watch. She is a very capable, skilled agent, one who the team relies on constantly to help them out on some level. And, as with Lucy, we know little about Kate’s family and what her current relationship is with them, which is important and needs to be fleshed out as soon as possible. It’s not enough to tell us; we need to see it and see more of these characters’ lives.
While NCIS: Hawai’i Season 2 was still incredible and heartening to watch, it was quite obvious how the series suffered without Lucy. It wasn’t their fault, which we can take heart in, but it was disappointing to see how little was done to put Lucy and Kate in the spotlight following her return to the island. The characters deserve more time to shine jointly and on their own, and it’s vital this is done for the upcoming season. As one of the fairly rare LGBTQ+ romances on broadcast television (particularly with two main characters), in a time when LGBTQ+ rights are being stripped away (or many are fighting to do so), Lucy and Kate provide something unique to the television landscape and the fans, the importance of which cannot be understated. And, we just love them.
It’s clear as day—Lucy and Kate are the emotional core NCIS: Hawai’i needs. They’re more than just a couple; they’re a cultural moment. Ignoring their potential isn’t just disappointing—it’s a missed opportunity. More screen time. More backstory. More everything. Because the show is better when they’re together. And frankly, we’re all tired of waiting.
