NCIS showrunner Steve D. Binder has addressed Katrina Law’s future on the show. Nearly a month after the season 21 finale aired, Binder was asked about her character Jessica Knight’s arc following her acceptance of a job at Camp Pendleton.
Speaking to TV Line, Steve commented on Katrina’s status and whether she will officially depart in season 22. “Well, you know, we’ve set something up there, and I will point you toward our track record where ‘You never know,’” he said.
“We’ve had people look like they were going away and then it turned out they weren’t, and then people who just disappear like Gibbs.”
“I will say this: We aim to please, and we think the audience will be satisfied with where they see this go,” Steve continued. “Sometimes that satisfaction is bittersweet and sometimes it’s just pure joy. You’ll have to wait to find out which one it’s going to be.”
Fans of the show will remember that in the season finale, Jessica was offered a new job as Chief REACT Training Officer by Director Leon Vance, which she gladly accepted. Unfortunately, her decision didn’t sit well with her boyfriend, Dr. Jimmy Palmer, who was hesitant about a long-distance relationship.
Ready to move to another coast, Jessica’s conversation with Jimmy seemed pretty conclusive, fueling speculation that Katrina Law will hang up her badge. But, of course, this is NCIS, and nothing is ever simple.
Last month, Katrina hinted that she will appear in season 22, with her character’s future to be determined in the next installment. “Guess we gotta wait for CBS FALL,” she penned on Instagram. “Until then..catch up on @ncisverse on @paramountplus. Thank you all for a wonderful season.”
Addressing Jessica’s decision to take the job at Camp Pendleton, Katrina has also said it was the right choice for her character.
“I think that at the end, Jessica has to take this position because she knows deep down this is what she wants,” the actress told TV Line.
“She wants a career, she’s very ambitious, and to her, a long-distance relationship isn’t the end of things. At the same time, maybe it is, if it doesn’t work out. She has to move forward and see where these things lead; she can’t settle into something she knows will ultimately make her angry and have regrets.
“And I think Jimmy’s in the same place — he had a chance to basically say, ‘Please don’t take this job,’ and he didn’t. He instinctively knows that Knight needs to do this, and then they can see where they are after.”
So, when can fans tune into the 22nd season of NCIS? While an official release date has yet to be announced, the show has historically returned in September, so we’re hoping to find out what’s next for Jessica Knight in just three months.
