Bishop’s exit from NCIS was quite dramatic. After Ziva’s unexpected return in Season 16, Bishop crossed paths with Odette Malone (Elayn J. Taylor), a CIA agent who had collaborated with Ziva on secret missions. This meeting led Bishop to leave NCIS and join Malone on covert operations. To make this shift, she discredited herself by revealing she had leaked NSA secrets, ending her career as an agent and creating space for her new, secretive work.
Given her tarnished reputation, it’s unlikely Bishop will ever return to NCIS as an agent. However, that doesn’t rule out Emily Wickersham’s return to the show entirely. Bishop could still make a comeback in Washington, D.C., to discreetly share intel or reconnect with her former teammates. Her bond with Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) ended on a bittersweet note after they kissed just before her departure, leaving the door open for a potential reunion and resolution.
While the flagship show might not be the best fit for Bishop now, there’s another possibility. With Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo set to star in NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+, Bishop could be a valuable ally for them. As a covert operative with connections to Odette, she could provide Tony and Ziva with vital intel or offer them a safe house as they navigate their own dangerous missions across Europe. Wickersham’s recent appearance on the NCIS podcast suggests she hasn’t fully closed the door on the franchise, so Bishop’s story may not be over just yet.
