Sean Murray has been portraying Special Agent Timothy McGee on NCIS since its 2003 premiere, yet the writers are still finding new ways to challenge him — including a wild alternate universe episode airing Tuesday, November 18.
Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly, the 48-year-old actor revealed that this episode is unlike anything the series has done before. “McGee is back at it again with his Deep Six novels, doing his thing, writing his book, and he has a little bit of a run-in with an obsessed fan — McGee gets kidnapped,” Murray teased. “He’s in a little bit of trouble, and he’s got to figure his way out of it.”
To navigate the peril, McGee must rely on the fictional characters from his Deep Six novels — which are inspired by his NCIS colleagues in Washington, D.C., but with some fun twists.
“It was great. It was challenging for us because we know each other so well as agents, as our characters,” Murray explained. One standout was Gary Cole, who plays Alden Parker on NCIS but here takes on the role of Professor Parkman, a “chameleon” of sorts. Murray added, “He was somewhat Ducky-like — a little nod to David McCallum’s iconic British medical examiner.”
Katrina Law, who portrays Jessica Knight, also had fun stepping into her alter ego, Agent Knightshade, decked out in a Tomb Raider-style superhero outfit. Murray laughed, recalling, “She was wondering, ‘Should I do an English accent? Should I go cheesy?’ and we just had fun with it. Her accent is over the top.”
Wilmer Valderrama got in on the fun too, showing a very different side of his character Nick Torres as the book persona Rick Soares — nerdy, cautious, and far removed from the fearless, rough-around-the-edges Torres fans know. “Seeing Wilmer bring Rick Soares to life — sweater vest, glasses, the voice — was one of my favorite things,” Murray said.
Murray himself gets to explore McGee’s fictional alter ego, McGregor. “I think McGee would like to be a little cooler, a little more proactive, like McGregor,” he noted. “But I think all of us have that version of ourselves we aspire to be.”
As for the case, Murray teased that fans can expect a satisfying resolution. “You hope things are going to work out OK,” he said, promising the conclusion unfolds in a “pretty respectable way.”
With its mix of action, comedy, and meta twists, this NCIS episode promises a unique take on the familiar characters fans know and love.
