NCIS Season 23 Is Copying A Trick From Its Current Best Spinoff, But I’m Afraid It Won’t Work

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A Focus on Team Chemistry and Personal Stories

NCIS: Hawai’i found its stride by zooming in on what modern audiences love:

  • Character-driven arcs

  • Romantic subplots

  • Emotional backstories

  • A warmer, more diverse tone

Now, NCIS Season 23 seems to be dipping into that same playbook — moving away from strictly case-of-the-week format and leaning more into emotional development and character bonding.

🧪 Why It Worked For Hawai’i

The Right Mix of Emotion and Action

Here’s why the formula worked for NCIS: Hawai’i:

  • The cast clicked fast (hello, Tennant!)

  • There was emotional authenticity — not just procedural pacing

  • It embraced culture and scenery, giving it a unique flavor

  • It wasn’t afraid to take creative risks

Fans loved that it felt new but still “NCIS enough.”

🌀 Why It Might Not Work for Season 23

 Too Much Change, Too Late?

The flagship NCIS series has always had a different vibe — more grounded, grittier, and less focused on heartstrings. Trying to pivot now might:

  • Alienate long-time fans

  • Feel forced instead of fresh

  • Dilute the show’s identity

  • Fail to hit the same emotional notes

It’s like your favorite burger place suddenly trying to serve sushi. Some might love it, but others will say, “What is this?”

🎭 A Shift in Tone That Feels Off?

H3: When Chemistry Doesn’t Translate

The core cast has seen big changes — Gibbs is gone, Torres is shaken, and Knight and Parker are still trying to fill large shoes. While these actors have talent, they haven’t had the same time to build natural chemistry as the original cast.

NCIS: Hawai’i built its tone from the start. NCIS Season 23 is trying to retrofit emotion into a foundation that was built on something else.

🔄 Playing Catch-Up Isn’t the Same as Leading

 Copying Success Rarely Yields Success

Here’s a little showbiz truth: when one show starts copying another, it’s usually a red flag. Instead of innovating, NCIS is chasing what’s trendy — and that’s risky after 20+ years of legacy.

Audiences can smell desperation from a mile away.

👥 Romance and Relationships: Forced or Flourishing?

The Torres-Knight Dynamic

There’s a lot of speculation about Torres and Knight possibly becoming the next big NCIS romance. That would follow in the footsteps of the Tennant-Kai tension on NCIS: Hawai’i.

But will it work?

  • Maybe — if it’s slow-burn and natural.

  • Probably not — if it feels like fan-service or lazy writing.

🧱 NCIS’s Original Strength Was Structure

Mystery, Logic, and Procedural Comfort

Let’s not forget what made NCIS a hit to begin with:

  • Sharp writing

  • Intricate cases

  • Dry humor

  • Tightly woven team dynamics

Trying to change its DNA now could feel like the show is losing what made it special.

📉 Ratings Pressure Is Real

The Shadow of Declining Numbers

NCIS has held strong, but it’s no secret that network shows are under pressure. Streaming has changed the game, and traditional viewership is slipping. Season 23’s shift in tone may be a calculated move to hook newer, younger audiences.

But let’s not pretend: chasing ratings can ruin shows.

🔁 NCIS: Hawai’i Didn’t Replace the Old — It Reinvented the New

 Originality Is Key

What NCIS: Hawai’i did right was this: it didn’t try to be “NCIS 2.0.” It created its own rhythm, its own voice, and its own identity. That’s why the “trick” worked for it.

NCIS Season 23 isn’t creating — it’s borrowing. And that’s the danger.

📣 Fan Response So Far: Mixed Signals Twitter Says… “Hmm?”

A quick scroll through Reddit and Twitter shows mixed reactions:

  • “It’s nice to see more emotion, but it doesn’t feel like NCIS anymore.”

  • “Too much drama, not enough mystery.”

  • “Feels like a spinoff of its own show.”

When your fan base is unsure what your show is, that’s a problem.

🧭 What Should NCIS Do Instead?

 Evolution Over Imitation

If NCIS wants to stay relevant in Season 23 and beyond, here’s what it should focus on:

  • Let relationships evolve naturally — not as a ratings gimmick

  • Keep the procedural roots intact

  • Introduce fresh but grounded characters

  • Use emotional beats to enhance the story, not replace it

📺 Final Thought: NCIS Doesn’t Need to Copy — It Needs to Lead Again

NCIS is a legacy series. It paved the way for dozens of procedural dramas. Copying what works in a newer spinoff might bring a temporary buzz, but it won’t bring back what made the show iconic.

You can change the wrapping, but if the core isn’t there, fans will notice. And worse — they’ll leave.

✅ Conclusion

NCIS Season 23’s move to mimic NCIS: Hawai’i’s character-focused formula is bold — but it might be a step too far in the wrong direction. While NCIS: Hawai’i earned its emotional tone through organic storytelling, the flagship series risks feeling inauthentic and out of touch if it tries too hard to replicate that success.

Yes, innovation is necessary. But the trick is evolving, not imitating. The strength of NCIS has always been in its balance — compelling cases, strong character arcs, and procedural comfort. If that balance tilts too far into the emotional, fans might feel like they’re watching a different show altogether.

In the end, let’s hope NCIS remembers that its identity isn’t in the trends — it’s in the trust it built with viewers over two decades.

❓FAQs

1. Is NCIS copying NCIS: Hawai’i in Season 23?

Yes, Season 23 is noticeably leaning into the same character-driven, emotionally rich formula that made NCIS: Hawai’i popular.

2. Why might this not work for NCIS?

Because NCIS has a different tone and legacy. Changing its format too much risks losing what longtime fans loved about it.

3. Who are the key characters driving this new emotional tone?

Torres and Knight seem to be central to the romantic/emotional pivot, while Parker is being developed more personally as well.

4. Is the audience responding well to the changes?

It’s mixed. Some welcome the deeper emotion, but many feel the changes are forced or out of character.

5. What can NCIS do to stay fresh without losing its identity?

Focus on natural character development, maintain solid procedural storytelling, and let emotional arcs evolve without trying to mimic spinoffs.

🛡️ “NCIS: Lead with Legacy. Don’t Chase What You Helped Create.” 🛡️

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