‘NCIS’ Actually Got Better When Gibbs Left

Usually, the main character leaving a long-running TV show means the show is doomed. When Mark Harmon left NCIS, it would’ve made sense for CBS to cancel the show. After all, it was in Season 19 at that point. But, against all odds, the show was still sharp. Furthermore, as much as fans love Gibbs, NCIS was never a show like House M.D. or Bones that relied on one personality to carry it. The successful spin-offs already proved that, as long as an NCIS show delivers on thrilling episodic storylines, it doesn’t need Gibbs. After the shakeup, the show became even better thanks to great storytelling and one major secret weapon: Gary Cole.

‘NCIS’ Handled Gibbs’ Departure Perfectly

Gibbs left NCIS early in Season 19 and passed the torch to Alden Parker (Cole). In comparison to something like the search for the new boss after Steve Carell left The Office, it’s stunning how smooth and confident the transitional episodes are. The first episode without Harmon shows each of the characters reacting to the idea of Parker taking over, with Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderama) being the most skeptical and acting as a mouthpiece for fans who might not be sold on the change.

Parker fits into the role almost immediately, with just a few slightly awkward moments to make the transition entertaining, like when he has to ask where the bathroom is. The climax of the episode, when Parker realizes that someone surgically planted a bomb in a court stenographer, was a promise that the show wouldn’t slow down the excitement just because of cast shakeups.

Gary Cole Was a Perfect Addition to ‘NCIS’

Cole’s talent and charisma brought new life to the later seasons of NCIS. He’s one of the best character actors out there. Although he was previously best known for comedic roles like Office Space and Veep, he proved he can fit into a procedural with his standout performance as Kurt McVeigh on The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight. When NCIS gave him the chance to become a leading man, he was more than up to the task.

NCIS is the rare show that truly got it right and walked a fine line with a main character replacement. Cole is such a strong and unique screen presence that the writers didn’t have to strain to make Parker distinct from Gibbs. He still has Gibbs’s most important qualities, including a paternal side in his interactions with the rest of the team. Cole’s performance, as well as the writing of the character, brought a warmth to Alden Parker that immediately made him feel like part of the NCIS family. It took no time at all for his emotional scenes with his teammates to hit. Even Torres’s initial skepticism felt like natural resistance to a new paternal figure and allowed for dynamic scenes as Parker won him over.

The Storytelling on ‘NCIS’ Never Declined After Gibbs’ Departure

Getting it right with Gibbs’ replacement was the biggest challenge the later seasons of NCIS faced. But, even with the perfect casting decision to bring Cole in, the show could’ve floundered if it weren’t for the excellent storytelling of recent seasons. The show has its formula down and continues turning out exciting mysteries like a well-oiled machine. Bold episodes like the one in which Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) seems to have taken a man hostage, as well as serialized stories like the mole in the department keep the show fresh. If there’s one element that has gotten stale in the later seasons, it’s the will-they-won’t-they between Knight and Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), which would be an issue even if Gibbs was still on the show.

‘NCIS’ Current Cast Is Its Best Yet

NCIS has always had an evolving ensemble. It faced its first major shakeup early, when Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander) left the main cast after Season 2. Despite losing fan-favorite characters like Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perette) and Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) over the years, the show persisted. That was partially because for the first 18 seasons it had Gibbs as an anchor, no matter who else came and went. But, mostly, it was a finely tuned ability to bring in new cast members with grace. None of the current cast members were in the main cast of Season 1, but it’s a phenomenal mix of people who’ve made great additions over the years. Knight in particular is a powerhouse who consistently leads the best episodes. Katrina Law, previously best known for playing Nyssa al Ghul on the Arrow-verse shows, truly came into her own on NCIS and brings badass charm to the character. Diona Reasonover‘s Kasie Hines brings not just comic relief, but an interesting vulnerability to the ensemble, as a scientist who’s out of place in the action.

The current cast’s biggest strength isn’t any one individual character, it’s the group dynamic. The show put in the work to make the relationships between the team members feel comfortable and natural. Casual heart-to-hearts between co-workers are effortlessly woven into the conversations about the case-of-the-week. It’s a tight-nit group with the best family dynamic NCIS has ever had. The platonic relationships on NCIS right now are all strong and entertaining. The show is in a great position where it can pair any two characters up for a plotline or just a one-off emotional scene, and it feels organic.

Thanks to the combination of Cole effortlessly stepping into the lead and the writers keeping up the quality, NCIS is one of the rare shows that’s truly hit a second wind after a cast shakeup. The best episodes of the last few seasons could go up against any of the best episodes from the early seasons. This ever-changing ensemble approach to NCIS is its biggest strength. Everyone in the current cast is there because they made a strong impression in their debut.