Two decades. Countless cases. One unstoppable team.
When NCIS first premiered in 2003, few could have predicted that it would become one of the most enduring and beloved dramas in television history. Now, more than 20 years and 450 episodes later, the iconic crime procedural is back for Season 23 — promising new beginnings, old ghosts, and the kind of personal stakes that will leave fans reeling.
“This isn’t just another season,” star Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres) recently teased. “This is NCIS turning the volume up to eleven.”
The stage is set: a grieving team leader, fractured relationships, and enemies closing in from all sides. But at its heart, NCIS remains what it has always been — a story about loyalty, found family, and the cost of justice.
So, when exactly can fans reunite with their favorite agents? And what can we expect from this new chapter in the NCIS legacy? Here’s everything you need to know about Season 23 — from the premiere date and returning cast to the personal drama and emotional fireworks waiting to ignite.
🕵️ When Does NCIS Season 23 Premiere?
After a summer of speculation and behind-the-scenes teases, CBS has confirmed the return date fans have been waiting for.
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Premiere Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
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Time: 9:00 PM ET/PT (8:00 PM CT)
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Network: CBS
The series continues to hold its iconic Monday night slot, serving as the anchor of CBS’s primetime drama block. Following NCIS, viewers can expect either one of its popular spin-offs or a brand-new procedural.
For streaming fans, every new episode will be available next day on Paramount+, alongside the complete 22-season library — making it the perfect time to binge, catch up, or relive the show’s most unforgettable moments.
📺 How to Watch: Every Way to Join the Investigation
Live Broadcast:
Watch NCIS every Monday on CBS — check your local listings for specific channels.
Next-Day Streaming:
Episodes stream on Paramount+ the day after airing, available to both ad-supported and premium subscribers.
Live Stream:
Subscribers with local CBS access on Paramount+ can stream the show live at broadcast time.
Catch-Up Marathon:
Seasons 1–22 are now streaming on Paramount+, giving fans the chance to relive everything from Gibbs’s legendary head slaps to Torres’s explosive undercover missions.
👥 Meet the MCRT: The Agents Behind the Badges
While NCIS has seen its share of cast changes, the current team has carved out its own identity — a mix of wit, intelligence, and unshakable loyalty. Season 23 finds the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) back at full strength, ready to face their next wave of challenges.
| Character | Actor | Role | Season 23 Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alden Parker | Gary Cole | Supervisory Special Agent, Team Leader | Returns to lead the MCRT with his dry wit and unpredictable leadership style. Expect Parker to face emotional turmoil after his father’s death — a storyline that could push him to the brink. |
| Timothy McGee | Sean Murray | Senior Field Agent | The team’s longest-serving member continues his role as the steady moral compass and tech genius, but Season 23 may force McGee into an impossible moral decision. |
| Nick Torres | Wilmer Valderrama | Special Agent | Haunted by his past and tempted by revenge, Torres’s arc promises fire, redemption, and possibly… romance. |
| Jessica Knight | Katrina Law | Special Agent | Still reeling from her breakup with Palmer, Knight’s focus is on her career — but Torres’s influence might change that. |
| Dr. Jimmy Palmer | Brian Dietzen | Chief Medical Examiner | The team’s emotional heart continues to juggle grief, fatherhood, and the fallout from his fractured romance with Knight. |
| Kasie Hines | Diona Reasonover | Forensic Scientist | Returns with her trademark humor and insight, facing a storyline that tests her resilience and faith. |
| Director Leon Vance | Rocky Carroll | NCIS Director | The steady hand guiding the agency, Vance will once again find himself caught between politics, ethics, and loyalty to his team. |
🔥 Season 23 Storylines: Revenge, Redemption, and Rebirth
The Season 22 finale left fans with jaws on the floor. Parker’s father’s murder at the hands of mob boss Carla Marino shattered the team’s sense of stability and left their leader consumed by vengeance.
Now, Season 23 picks up in the aftermath — with the entire MCRT walking a dangerous tightrope between duty and personal loyalty.
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Parker’s Reckoning: Wracked with guilt and rage, Parker’s hunt for his father’s killer threatens to pull him — and the team — into moral darkness.
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Torres’s Redemption: Torres, who has walked through trauma and near self-destruction, becomes Parker’s mirror — a man who knows how easy it is to lose yourself in the pursuit of justice.
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Knight & Palmer’s Fallout: After a heartbreaking breakup, the two struggle to maintain professionalism amid lingering emotions. Showrunner Steven Binder has promised “complications, confessions, and consequences.”
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Kasie’s Crossroads: The forensic expert takes on a case that hits close to home, forcing her to confront mortality in ways that change her forever.
“Every story this season is deeply personal,” Binder teased. “We’re not just telling cases. We’re telling the cost of every decision these agents make.”
❤️ Romance, Rumors, and the Torres–Knight Question
No NCIS season would be complete without a little romantic tension — and this year, the rumored chemistry between Torres and Knight is turning up the heat.
Fans have long noticed their flirty banter and fiery dynamic, but with Knight now single and Torres seeking emotional redemption, the timing feels… suspiciously perfect.
Valderrama has stayed coy, hinting only that Torres is “ready for love — or at least to feel something again.” Meanwhile, Law recently told TV Insider that Knight’s arc is about “reclaiming her strength — and learning who she wants beside her.”
Whether the sparks ignite or fizzle, one thing’s clear: NCIS Season 23 is putting relationships under the microscope, balancing the chaos of crime-solving with the messiness of human connection.
⚓ Why NCIS Still Matters — 23 Seasons Later
At a time when most shows struggle to last five seasons, NCIS continues to command millions of viewers weekly. Its formula — part procedural, part family drama — remains timeless.
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The Case of the Week: Fans love the satisfying structure: a mystery solved, justice served.
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The Emotional Core: Beyond the crimes, it’s the camaraderie, humor, and deep compassion of the team that keep viewers invested.
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Adaptability: From technology to storytelling style, NCIS continues to evolve without losing its soul.
“It’s rare to see a show that can reinvent itself after 20 years,” said Valderrama. “But that’s the magic of NCIS — we’re not just surviving; we’re thriving.”
⚠️ The Verdict: Season 23 Is Poised to Explode
With its mix of high-octane storytelling, deeply emotional arcs, and a cast firing on all cylinders, NCIS Season 23 isn’t just another chapter — it’s a reinvigoration of a TV legend.
Expect tears, laughter, and plenty of rule-breaking as Parker, Torres, Knight, and the rest of the MCRT tackle their most dangerous — and personal — season yet.
The family is back. The cases are darker. The fire is real.
NCIS returns Monday, September 29, 2025, at 9/8c on CBS and streams next day on Paramount+
