A New Case Puts the Team on Edge
A mysterious death leads the NCIS: Sydney team into the world of competitive chess in Season 3, Episode 5, “Black Is White.” When a U.S. Navy attaché is found dead inside a movie theater — with a USB drive lodged in his throat — what seems like an isolated crime soon reveals ties to an international chess tournament in Sydney.
Before the investigation kicks off, however, the episode revisits an unresolved secret: Blue’s fabricated background. In an early scene, JD confronts her about the lies she told to land her NCIS job. Blue admits that she never earned her qualifications and even confesses to helping others win university medals for money. It’s a revelation that could change the team’s dynamic forever.
Mackey Takes Charge — and the Team Splits Up
Any discussion about Blue’s deception is quickly cut short when Captain Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) gets the call about the attaché’s murder. The case brings in the whole team, including JD (Todd Lasance), DeShawn Jackson (Sean Sagar), Evie Cooper (Tuuli Narkle), and Doc Penrose (William McInnes) — who, in classic Doc fashion, shares gory details of the crime while enjoying a salted caramel ice cream.
It’s Doc who uncovers the key clue: the USB hidden in the victim’s throat. But what’s on it remains a mystery — and the promos are keeping that tightly under wraps.
A Checkmate Connection
Mackey dispatches DeShawn and Evie to the Australian International Chess Championship, where they question Ali Azad, who’s coaching his daughter Rana (Lily Montalto) — a rising prodigy dominating the tournament.
While Evie can’t resist teasing DeShawn for secretly watching a chess livestream, their lighthearted banter contrasts the tension of the case. As clues start aligning, the team realizes that the chessboard may be more than a metaphor — it’s a coded map of murder, espionage, and deceit.
Episode Details
Title: “Black Is White”
Air Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 10/9c
Network: CBS
Streaming: Available next day on Paramount+
Writers: Michael Miller, James Cripps & Andrew Anastasios
Director: Catherine Millar
Official Synopsis
When a U.S. Navy attaché is found dead with a USB lodged in his throat, the NCIS: Sydney team investigates a killer with possible ties to an international chess tournament.
Main Cast
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Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey
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Todd Lasance as AFP Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey
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Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson
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Tuuli Narkle as AFP Constable Evie Cooper
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Mavournee Hazel as Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson
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William McInnes as Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose
Guest Stars: Claude Jabbour as Travis “Trigger” Riggs, Lily Montalto as Rana Azad
What to Expect
Episode 5 looks to balance two emotional arcs: the fallout from Blue’s exposed lies and a gripping murder investigation that tests the team’s unity. Expect sharp dialogue, moral dilemmas, and the trademark NCIS: Sydney mix of action and intellect — all set against the high-stakes tension of a chessboard where one wrong move could be deadly.
