The fifteenth season of the Americanpolice procedural drama NCIS premiered on September 26, 2017, in the same time slot as in the previous seasons, Tuesdays at 8 PM. The season premiere was watched by 17.42 million viewers,[1] picking up two months after Gibbs and McGee were last seen fighting a group of rebels in Paraguay and focused on the aftermath of those events. The season concluded on May 22, 2018 and contained 24 episodes.
NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Jennifer Esposito, who portrayed Special Agent Alexandra Quinn, did not return as a series regular this season. Maria Bello joined the cast as Dr. Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane, NCIS Senior Resident Agent and operational psychologist (episodes 4–24). After 15 years of playing Abby Sciuto, Pauley Perrette left the show in episode 22 - "Two Steps Back." Duane Henry, who plays Clayton Reeves, also left the show as he was killed off in the same episode. CBS renewed NCIS for both seasons fourteen and fifteen on Monday, February 29, 2016.
Cast
Main
Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) of the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) assigned to Washington's Navy Yard
The series was renewed for fourteenth and fifteenth seasons by CBS on Monday, February 29, 2016. It was announced that Jennifer Esposito, who portrayed NCIS agent Alexandra Quinn, had departed[2] and would be replaced by Maria Bello as Agent Jackie Sloane — a new series regular, beginning with episode 15:5.[3] Bello inked a three-year deal to remain with the show through until the end of its seventeenth season.[4] Production began in July 2017 with the rest of cast members returning.
Showrunners Frank Cardea and George Schenck (in their first full season at the helm) wanted to focus Season 15 around a "good mystery and more stand-alone episodes than two or three-parters."[5] However, they noted that they wouldn't shy away from multi-part episodes if the story was deemed worth it. This season included a three-episode arc revolving around serial killer Gabriel Hicks, the episodes being: "Burden of Proof", "Keep Your Friends Close", and "Keep Your Enemies Closer".
As to Quinn's departure, Special Agent Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) stated in 15:1 ("House Divided") that Quinn is now on leave taking care of her mother; this coincides with a running story-arc her character had maintained for some time. The specific turnover point between Quinn & Sloane's characters occurs at the end of 15:4, when Bello's character premieres. In another central casting announcement, TV Line reported on October 4, 2017, that founding NCIS actress Pauley Perrette would be leaving the role of "Abby Sciuto" after the conclusion of season fifteen.[6] Perrette's final episode was episode 22, which aired on May 8, 2018.[7] Also, in this episode, Duane Henry (Clayton Reeves) was written off the show.
NCIS was renewed for a sixteenth season on April 13, 2018, following a deal with Mark Harmon to return for an additional two years.[8]
The team continues their search for Gibbs and McGee two months after they went missing fighting rebels in Paraguay; Vance and Torres are summoned to a congressional hearing regarding the fallout from the Paraguay mission.
NCIS investigate the body of a murdered Navy lieutenant, who disappeared over a year ago; Gibbs and McGee must pass a psych evaluation to official resume working.
In the midst of a storm that has shut down Washington, DC, and knocked out power, the NCIS team investigates the kidnapping of a sailor, which sends Torres and Bishop out to sea to track evidence.
Note: First appearance of Maria Bello as Jacqueline Sloane. She is credited as a "Special Guest Star."
After Reeves sees his friend get kidnapped, the NCIS team discovers the primary suspect disappeared two days ago with confidential military information. Also, a photo from McGee's teenage years becomes a popular meme.
Note: Maria Bello (Jacqueline Sloane) is added to the opening credits.
After a petty officer is found murdered, McGee spends hours on a victim's ham radio trying to locate a key witness. Also, Palmer asks co-workers to donate to a charity that builds playgrounds for kids of all abilities.
Convicted felon Gabriel Hicks swears that NCIS framed him for murder a decade ago, so Gibbs begins his own investigation starting with a new autopsy by Ducky. They quickly determine two serious issues: the killer was left-handed while Hicks is right-handed; and there was a mysterious witness who was never found. Senior FBI Agent Fornell (Joe Spano) joins the team, since he was the lead investigator in the original joint FBI and NCIS case, but only to convince Gibbs that Hicks is lying. When the witness is found, Gibbs learns that not only was Hicks not the person they saw, but Fornell found her at the time and buried this evidence to convict Hicks. Forced to choose between destroying his friend's career or keeping an innocent man imprisoned, Gibbs reveals the evidence and Hicks is released. Gibbs later discovers that Hicks is in fact ambidextrous, meaning he played them all.
After voices inside a woman's head lead her to the body of a contractor suspected of corruption, the team is requested to use her to figure out what happened only to find she may be hiding more than she realizes; McGee and Delilah disagree about finding out their child's gender.
Things gets more complicated when the arms dealer shows up at the same hospital Delilah and McGee are in, and its up to McGee and Emergency Room Guard Morgan Cade (Dan Lauria) to keep everyone safe.
Sloane and Torres are on assignment protecting a senator (and one of Gibbs's friends) in Afghanistan, but it is called off early when his son suffers a damaging fall. Sloane and Torres attempt to get the senator back to the U.S. as safely as possible, but due to the congressman’s continual interference in the hope of getting there faster, the group end up stranded in the desert after driving through a minefield on the wrong route, with insurgents in the area and life-threatening injuries. Now they must try to survive long enough to find a way to reach help while trying to get back before the son dies. Various parts of Sloane's past start to reveal themselves as she recovers something she left behind on a previous visit.
When bodies start dropping around them, Torres tries to convince Bishop that before they call for help, they need to keep their heads down to find out who the head of the drug ring is, which reveals new sides of them to each other.
A Navy Lieutenant JAG lawyer that appeared to have a happy life is found dead by her parents in an apparent suicide. Capt. Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux) helps in the investigation.
Sloane continues NCIS's investigation into serial killer Gabriel Hicks. The episode ends in a cliffhanger, as Hicks's lawyer’s car is blown up, leaving Sloane in the middle of the road, unconscious.
Sloane determines that Gabriel Hicks, the murderer who deceived Gibbs and Fornell, killed his lawyer because she uncovered something that proves his guilt. Much to McGee’s ire, NCIS strikes a deal with Hicks' former cellmate, convicted murderer Paul Triff (French Stewart), giving him a 48-hour furlough at his former residence (now McGee's home) because in exchange, Triff would provide information that can convict Hicks.
The family starts arguing among themselves about who stands to gain the most, while NCIS suspicions quickly fall onto podcast host Whit Dexter (Jake Busey). Dexter had recently lured Ross onto his show so he could attack him with baseless conspiracy theories. However, the dead officer’s wife was having an affair with his brother, and they are revealed to be responsible. Ross, who famously was held prisoner by insurgents for five years, is struggling to come to terms with it all. This draws out Sloane's own history with captivity, forcing them both to confront their personal demons.
Gibbs and Ducky see an antique war stick on television that could be the missing murder weapon to a 16-year-old cold case. Features a guest appearance from Mike Wolfe of American Pickers.
NCIS searches for a petty officer suspected of assault who escapes when the sherrif transporting him crashes into a lake. Also, Torres works closely with Annie Barth, a key blind witness who heard vital evidence needed to solve the case.
At the end of the episode, Torres takes Annie to lunch, which seems to annoy Bishop.
A daughter begs Gibbs to investigate her mother's murder because she believes the police convicted the wrong man. Abby receives a hard-to-get reservation at a new restaurant that is cold like an igloo. The reservation is for two people, so Abby contemplates which of her colleagues to take with her; she eventually decides to bring Reeves after seeing his charity work with homeless veterans. The episode ends in a cliffhanger, with a mugger cornering Abby and Reeves in an alley, pulling a gun and demanding money. Reeves hands over his wallet, but Abby offers to help instead of giving up her purse. A single gunshot sounds.
Reeves dies from injuries sustained in the gunfight with the mugger; he instinctively protected Abby, who ends up in the hospital. The mugger was hired by Robert King (see episode 6x21 "Toxic"), who held a grudge against Abby since his arrest, and Abby privately brings him to justice. Looking over Reeves's dead body in the autopsy room, Abby vows to carry on his wish to start a charity in his native London, deciding to leave NCIS to do so.
Note: This is the final appearance by Pauley Perrette & Duane Henry as NCIS series regulars. They remain in the opening credits for the rest of the season.
353
23
"Fallout"
Terrence O'Hara
Teleplay by : David J. North & Christopher J. Waild Story by : Christopher J. Waild
While Gibbs attends the memorial service for a friend who was lost at sea, he discovers that the deceased has been hiding in a fallout shelter after his boat was attacked and he swam to shore. Meanwhile, the NCIS team has to come to terms with the reality of losing a fellow agent.
While on a blind date set up by McGee and Delilah, Sloane encounters a random man who she recognizes as one of her captors from her deployment in Afghanistan and gets arrested for attacking him. Meanwhile, the NCIS team investigates a naval destroyer for a potential bomb threat, which is later revealed to be a false report given by the captain’s son in order to spend more time with his father. Vance, Sloane, and McGee investigate the identity of Sloane’s captor, and learn that the unidentified man is Nigel Hakim (Pej Vahdat), a British humanitarian worker attached to the British embassy. After replaying an audio recording for a Marine officer who was captured with Sloane, they properly identify Hakim as the captor. While Sloane attempts to assassinate Hakim, Gibbs intervenes and offers his assistance in apprehending him. Sloane’s efforts are proven to be futile when the team learns that Hakim had already left the country on another plane. The episode ends in a cliffhanger when, unknown to the team, Hakim has already kidnapped Vance.
Reception
Season 15 was praised for its sharp cases and bringing new life into characters and series,[33] with Matt Carter of CarterMatt.com citing "the arrival of Maria Bello and the creative direction of the new showrunners; this has been the best season overall since season 10"[34] as chief reasons for this revival. Sara Netzley of Entertainment Weekly said, in reference to the positive changes, "now here's the show we’ve enjoyed for years", noting that it was "dark and twisty", giving it an 'A' rating.[35]
Season 15 of NCIS was CBS's most watched and highest rated drama on their network for another year.[36] While being the most watched drama nationally,[37] beating NBC's megahit This Is Us and ABC's The Good Doctor, it also finished as the sixth most watched television program overall for 2017–2018 season.
Home media
A DVD and Blu-ray of the fifteenth season of NCIS was announced for August 21, 2018.[38]
