The nineteenth season of the American police procedural television series NCIS premiered on September 20, 2021, on CBS, for the 2021–22 television season, and concluded on May 23, 2022. The season contained 21 episodes. This is the final season to feature Mark Harmon as Gibbs.
Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, former NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) of the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) assigned to Washington's Navy Yard (Episodes 1–4)
Jason Wiles as Paul LeMere, former Navy Seal and contract killer who blew up Gibbs' boat
Valarie Pettiford as Sonia Eberhart, CEO of Sonova Industries arrested for paying Hanover to hire LeMere to kill opponents to her planned copper mine in Alaska
John Hensley as Phil Hanover, a man who hired LeMere to kill opponents to Sonia Eberhart's proposed Alaskan copper mine
While reeling from Bishop's departure and Gibbs' disappearance, McGee and Torres convince Vance to bring Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) into the team to help them find Gibbs after the wreckage of his boat is discovered. Though the team locates Gibbs and catch a cohort of the serial killer he and Marcie Warren (Pam Dawber) were tracking, the suspect remains at large.
NCIS follows leads to catch Paul LeMere (Jason Wiles), the serial killer operating under the alias Tom Samuels. To protect Gibbs, Vance gives a press conference implying Gibbs died in the boat explosion. McGee, Torres, and Knight apprehend a man believed to be tied to the killer, but soon discover he is undercover FBI agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) who was also investigating LeMere. Meanwhile, Torres is eager to give Bishop's desk to Knight, to her aggravation, culminating in an argument about personal space and Torres' lasting grief over Bishop's departure. The team locates LeMere, and after preventing Gibbs from shooting him, they find out he is not a serial killer but a contract killer. When Knight mentions the name of the account paying him in interrogation, LeMere shoves the desk at her, breaking the glass and allowing him to escape and hold Kasie hostage in the squad room. However, Gibbs shoots LeMere in the back from the elevator, ending the episode on a cliffhanger.
Note: First appearance of Gary Cole as Alden Parker. He is credited as "Also Starring" in the end credits.
LeMere survives his gunshot wounds, Gibbs having intentionally missed vital arteries. Parker and McGee question LeMere, who only mentions his first victim and offers to take Gibbs there, as that holds the key to solving the case. Parker tags along due to mistrust of LeMere's intentions, but is dumped by Gibbs after stopping for lunch. LeMere increasingly gets under Gibbs' skin, taunting the latter over the many similarities in their respective pasts, while the rest of the team investigates Sonova Industries, the company believed to be paying LeMere for the killings, with Knight going undercover. LeMere indeed leads Gibbs to a dead end and blows himself up before revealing anything else.
Note: Gary Cole (Alden Parker) is added to the opening credits in this episode.
An FBI team led by Parker has a warrant for Gibbs' arrest due to his actions in the case against LeMere, but find his house deserted with a large hole in the basement (finally answering the series-long question of how he gets his boats out). Gibbs and McGee travel to Naktok Bay, Alaska to take down Sonova's proposed copper mine that would destroy the ecosystem. The rest of the team confirms that the mine is the motive behind the killings, with several of the victims being opponents to the mine's construction and environmental impact. After compiling enough evidence to arrest Sonova's CEO, Gibbs has McGee arrest him to keep his agent from being caught in red tape, but Parker has a change of heart and lets Gibbs go, leading to Parker being fired from the FBI. Gibbs decides to stay in Naktok Bay, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't felt since the deaths of his wife and daughter, and bids an emotional farewell to McGee.
Note: Final appearance of Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, except for in the opening credits in which he remained for the rest of the season.
The team investigates the death of a soldier believed to be linked to a suicide bomber, only for the body to explode before Jimmy can examine it, prompting Ducky to once again suit up in scrubs. Meanwhile, Parker declines Vance's offer to take Gibbs' place on the team, though agrees to temporarily join them in the field. Torres is angered at Vance offering the role to Parker, but later learns that McGee was earlier offered to be promoted to team leader, but refused it citing the position's extraordinary personal and professional challenges and not wanting to be alienated from his own family like Gibbs was.
Note: This is the first episode of the series not to feature Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. As of this episode, no character has appeared in every episode of the series.
NCIS investigates the death of a beloved Navy coach whose office is found to contain PEDs. Torres bonds with the coach's protégé, who asks to prove that the victim wasn't causing his athletes to cheat.
McGee's mother-in-law Judy (Patricia Richardson) happens upon a dead sailor aboard a cruise ship. McGee juggles working the case and dealing with Delilah and Judy's bickering over what is perceived as Delilah's overprotectiveness of her mother.
The team investigates the death of a Navy reservist who is found in an abandoned car at a gun range, seemingly as a way for the killer to cover their tracks. Meanwhile, Kasie is shown to be struggling to cope with the hostage situation at the diner (see 17x19 "Blarney") and being held at knifepoint by LeMere in the squadroom, and contemplates buying a gun for protection. Also, Torres decides to fix the car as it resembles the first one he owned.
A financial advisor who pled guilty to embezzling money from clients is found shot execution-style near a ballpark. Her estranged daughter Ruby assists NCIS in solving the case, as does a hologram made by the victim in hopes of making amends with Ruby. The case strikes a chord with Knight, who hasn't spoken to her own mother in a while.
NCIS investigates Rafi Nazar, a Navy Chief Warrant Officer suspected of stealing combat drone software to sell to terrorists. Meanwhile, Jimmy and McGee receive a large amount of money anonymously for their children, and Vance reveals that Gibbs has kept a scholarship fund open in honor of his late daughter, and Vance's own children were recipients as well.
Terrorists posing as Navy servicemen take control of a ship in the North Atlantic under the guise of needing medical attention for a dead body. When NCIS is called in, the team is forced to hide, with Jimmy stowing away with their pilot who got shot. Meanwhile, Knight is asked by her niece to assist with her "Paper Pauline" project.
While Torres works through his pent-up anger over his father, Bishop, and Gibbs all leaving, he and Agent Dale Sawyer (Zane Holtz) go undercover as participants in a cage-fighting ring linked to a murdered sailor.
The team investigates the death of an intruder at Quantico who was involved with a radical group planning a bioterror attack. Jimmy and Kasie unknowingly inhale a sample of the biotoxin the group was planning to use, sending the lab into lockdown. NCIS calls on old CDC friend Carol Wilson (Meredith Eaton) to help find the antidote. Meanwhile, Torres keeps a visiting Victoria Palmer busy with video games and other activities. The team is able to retrieve the antidote and kill the bioterror group's supposed leader (called the "Raven") in the nick of time, but as Jimmy and Kasie recover in the hospital, Vance and Parker inform the rest of the team that the actual Raven is still out there.
Vance's daughter Kayla, who wants to be an agent, completes FLETC training and begins field training under Torres. The team is called in when a Navy doctor drops dead during surgery, but is forced to rescue Kayla from kidnappers who want a prisoner exchange: their cartel leader for Kayla.
Parker reunites with his old friend and juvenile cellmate Billy Doyle (Kevin Chapman) when the latter's nephew, as well as a petty officer, are murdered. Meanwhile, Knight tries to get a date to her cousin's wedding so she can avoid questions about settling down. She eventually asks Jimmy, and a budding attraction is hinted.
A missing woman's case that was popularized on a true crime podcast turns into a murder case when pieces of her flesh and skin are discovered. Knight relies on her negotiation skills to prevent the woman's husband (who is the prime suspect in her disappearance) from shooting himself.
While Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano) and Dr. Grace Confalone (Laura San Giacomo) assist NCIS in the apparent suicide case of a Naval officer in Palmer and Knight's grief group, Torres is informed by old colleague and friend Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) that a witness in an old case of his has resurfaced, but when they pick him up, their car is hit by a barrage of gunfire and overturns.
Reymundo Diaz (Joseph Melendez), an infamous arms dealer Torres locked up following an undercover stint, bribes his way out of prison seeking revenge against Torres. While undercover, Torres had fallen for Diaz's cousin Maria, and the regret of leaving her in witness protection adds to his continued internal struggles with abandonment.
A series of break-ins at military housing in Quantico by rambunctious teens escalates to a bomb exploding at a Navy commander's home. While investigating, McGee bonds with Teagan Fields (Cay Ryan Murray, Sean Murray's real-life daughter), one of the partying teens who had created software to generate fake QR codes to gain access into Quantico. During the case, the Hawaii office's cyber analyst Ernie Malik (Jason Antoon) assists with the autopsy via video call, only for Jimmy to hang up on him when he keeps asking about Knight afterwards.
NCIS investigates the death of a Navy reservist who had slot machines in his van, while Jimmy and Knight volunteer to transport an organ to a hospital for a transplant. The two events coincide with each other as it is revealed that the patient is connected to the murder victim, and they were both trying to take down a corrupt business. Jimmy and Knight are pursued by the criminals and take shelter in an isolated cabin, where they admit to having feelings for each other.
A kidnapped jogger is revealed to be Parker's ex-wife Vivian Kolchak (Teri Polo), a paranormal investigator. After Parker's corrupt ex-partner at the FBI is discovered dead, Parker becomes a suspect when his DNA is found underneath the victim's fingernails. Vivian assists Torres and Knight by telling them her memories of where she was held captive, and the agents find the location empty but "nevermore" is written on the wall, meaning the Raven is back with a vengeance. Upon finding out Parker's house was bugged, the team and Vance let Parker escape with Vivian before handing the case to the FBI (whose deputy director has a grudge against Parker for not turning Gibbs in), but Vivian is revealed to be secretly communicating with an unknown recipient, assumed to be the Raven. Elsewhere, Jimmy and Knight's relationship blossoms.
Note: This is the final episode, as well as his final work, to be directed by Terrence O'Hara, who died in December 2022, seven months after this episode aired. This is also the final episode to feature Mark Harmon in the opening credits.
Crossovers
On January 3, 2022, it was announced that a crossover with the first season of spin-off NCIS: Hawaiʻi would be taking place on March 28, 2022, with Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law announcing they were traveling to Hawaii for filming. Showrunners of both series had previously mentioned crossing over and CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl had stated that discussion about a crossover would start after NCIS: Hawaiʻi finished its first batch of episodes.[23]Diona Reasonover and Gary Cole also made appearances on the NCIS Hawaiʻi episode of the crossover.[24] The series were previously connected in the thirteenth episode of NCIS: Hawaiʻi when it was revealed that NCIS: Hawaiʻi protagonist Jane Tennant was recruited to NCIS by Leroy Jethro Gibbs.[25]Vanessa Lachey appeared as Tennant in the NCIS episode of the crossover.[26] On April 29, 2022, it was reported that Jason Antoon would be appearing in the nineteenth episode of the season as his NCIS: Hawaiʻi character, Ernie Malik.[27]
Production
Development
On April 15, 2021, it was announced that CBS had renewed NCIS for a nineteenth season.[28] The season is set to bring back the series' typical "Case of the Week" format after having more story arcs during the previous season.[29] Production on the season began in July 2021.[30] Series regular Brian Dietzen wrote an episode of the season.[31] On January 5, 2022, it was reported that production on the season had been suspended for at least a week after a cast or crew member tested positive for COVID-19.[32]
Casting
In February 2021, it was reported by The Hollywood Reporter that series lead Mark Harmon had entered discussions to return for "a handful of episodes" for a nineteenth season after he was told that CBS would end the series if he left.[33] On March 10, 2021, it was announced that Katrina Law had been cast in the final two episodes of the eighteenth season, with the option to be promoted to series regular for the nineteenth season.[34] When the series was renewed, it was reported that Harmon would be returning.[28] On May 26, 2021, it was revealed that Emily Wickersham would be leaving the series after the eighteenth season.[35] Wickersham joins Maria Bello who left earlier in the eighteenth season.[36] On June 16, 2021, Variety reported that Gary Cole was in talks for a major role in the nineteenth season.[37] On June 21, 2021, TVLine reported that Harmon will only appear in a small number of episodes of the season.[38] The following day, it was confirmed that Law and Cole would be series regulars for the nineteenth season.[39] Law started as a series regular in the season premiere, "Blood in the Water", while Cole debuted in the second episode, "Nearly Departed".[40]Joe Spano returned as Tobias Fornell, while Pam Dawber returned as Marcie Warren.[29][41] On October 11, 2021, it was officially announced that Harmon would be departing the series, with the fourth episode, "Great Wide Open", being his last appearance as a regular. Harmon remains an executive producer and showrunner Steven D. Binder has left the door open for Harmon to appear in the future.[42][43] In the seventh episode, "Docked", Margo Harshman reprised her role as Delilah Fielding-McGee, while Patricia Richardson guest-starred in the same episode as Judy Fielding.[44]Meredith Eaton also reprised her role as Carol Wilson in an episode of the season.[45]
Marketing and release
On May 19, 2021, it was announced that the series would move from the Tuesday 8:00 PM ET timeslot that it had held for all of its previous seasons to Mondays at 9:00 PM ET, to allow FBI: International to join FBI and FBI: Most Wanted on Tuesdays. The season airs after The Neighborhood and Bob Hearts Abishola and leads into the first season of spin-off NCIS: Hawaiʻi.[46] On July 12, 2021, it was revealed that the season would premiere on September 20, 2021.[47] On September 13, 2021, the promotional poster for the season was released by TVLine.[48]
Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of NCIS season 19
