NCIS set a precedent eight years ago that it should never repeat, especially when handling Jessica Knight’s possible departure. Katrina Law’s character leaving NCIS was set up in the NCIS season 21 finale. Jess accepted a promotion to Chief REACT Training Officer that would take her to California’s Camp Pendleton. Since Jessica Knight’s NCIS departure is not yet official, it’s good to keep an open mind until it is. If she leaves, however, there’s a good chance the Major Case Response Team will get a new member when NCIS returns in the fall with NCIS season 22.
NCIS has extensive experience navigating changes throughout its 21 seasons on CBS. The cast of NCIS has been in constant rotation, with characters coming and going and actors fluctuating between seasons. If the series does replace Katrina Law’s character in NCIS season 22, it must take care of who takes her place. In doing so, NCIS must avoid repeating an instance that would damage the series. While it’s impossible to avoid this precedent for certain, CBS needs to consider this during the transition.
Jennifer Esposito Joined NCIS In Season 14 But Only Stayed One Season
Alexandra Quinn Was The Shortest-Lived Regular NCIS Cast Member
The Blue Bloods actor joined the series for NCIS season 14 as Alexandra Quinn.
When filling Jessica Knight’s role in NCIS season 22, the series must avoid a risky precedent set by Jennifer Esposito. The Blue Bloods actor joined the series for NCIS season 14 as Alexandra Quinn – and that was the only season she was with the cast of NCIS. Esposito was a regular cast member introduced at the top of the season. However, she left the series after the season finale to take care of her mother. As such, Esposito’s character was the only regular NCIS cast member to stay with the show for only one season.
Why Jessica Knight’s Replacement Needs To Stay More Than One Season
Jessica Knight’s Replacement Would Need To Stay A Few Seasons
Knight’s replacement must avoid what happened with Esposito; MCRT’s next member must stay with NCIS for more than one season. The series witnessed Mark Harmon’s NCIS exit in season 19 when the leading actor decided to hang up his cap. Subsequently, it bid farewell to Ducky in NCIS season 21 after David McCallum died at 90. Jessica Knight herself joined the series in season 18 as a replacement for Emily Wickersham’s Eleanor Bishop. While NCIS is used to changing rosters, it needs stability more than ever, and it can come with a set cast for the next few years.
NCIS needs to balance the old and the new. Whoever becomes Knight’s replacement needs to add stability with a maintained presence. If Knight’s replacement became the second regular cast member to stay with the series for a single season, it would set a dangerous trend that actors could follow. The NCIS cast’s rotating model wouldn’t work if cast members came and went every season. Some core members must remain so that audiences can be familiar with the series and have a reason to continue investing in NCIS after 21 seasons.