A new NCIS season 22 story tease from executive producer Steven D. Binder teases yet another change in Jessica Knight and Jimmy Palmer’s relationship. Knight (Katrina Law) and Palmer (Brian Dietzen) began dating at the very end of season 19, becoming the CBS procedural’s rare example of an established romantic pairing within the main team. However, the NCIS season 21 ending saw them break up when Knight accepted a new job within the agency, despite Palmer wishing her to remain close. The ongoing season 22 features them trying to navigate being separated while still working together.
However, they might not remain split up for long. In a new interview with TV Insider, Binder previewed an upcoming NCIS season 22 episode where Knight and Palmer will be drawn back together. The installment will also feature a new appearance from Palmer’s daughter Victoria, who will be working with her father on a case. This will pave the way for the show to explore whether Palmer and Knight should truly be together. Binder says:
[She’s] going to team up with her father to help take down an infamous bank robber, like a D.B. Cooper type person, and Knight’s going to be involved in this episode. Jimmy’s going to have to go undercover. There’s going to be some other women Jimmy’s going to meet. So now you’ve got Knight there. We’ll see how mature she is when Jimmy’s undercover, the bell of the ball, and Knight has to watch through a camera.
All the while though, I think you’re going to get a sense that maybe they’re better off together. So we need to see how they’re not better off together first before we see that they’re better off together. And that’s the fun seeing how they’re not better off.
Regarding Victoria’s involvement, Binder added that the character has been aged up somewhat to make the plot plausible. He said:
…due to some shooting logistical issues, Victoria got aged a few more years older than she normally was before, but also, yes, it’s insane how quickly time goes by.
What Binder’s Comments Mean For Knight & Palmer’s Relationship
Knight And Palmer Have A Bright Future Ahead
Unlike other popular NCIS pairings like Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo), and Bishop (Emily Wickersham) and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), Knight and Palmer didn’t spend much time building up their romance with heavy subtext and flirting. After several promising dates, the two became an open and committed couple, thus allowing NCIS to track the ups and downs of their relationship alongside their various cases. In many ways, their dynamic was a breath of fresh air, and it was disappointing for many to see them split.
Binder’s comments offer a great deal of hope for Knight and Palmer’s future. Though the producer did not go so far as to openly confirm they will get back together, it seems very likely that the two NCIS employees will find themselves drawn back to each other. Television shows frequently seek to disrupt their biggest relationships with temporary break-ups, and it could be that the NCIS writers merely wished to deepen Knight and Palmer’s individual characters by testing them with fresh heartbreak.
Our Take On NCIS’ Handling Of Knight & Palmer’s Relationship
NCIS Deserves To Have A Healthy Romantic Couple
Seeing as NCIS has run for 22 seasons at this point, it’s been more than enough time for the show to try something new with its romantic storylines. Knight and Palmer’s breakup was somewhat frustrating, but the idea that they could be reunited by the season’s end is promising. NCIS has a history of teasing exciting couples but only letting them come to fruition right when one character leaves. Knight and Palmer can rectify this long-running habit by becoming a healthy couple that operates within the core team, which also opens the show up for fresh, exciting storylines.