In the NCIS Season 21 finale, fans saw Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight leaving the team to become Camp Pendleton’s REACT instructor, but she isn’t gone for good. As Season 22 kicks off next month, Jessica’s departure sparks a “chain reaction” that affects the entire team. Showrunner Steven D. Binder revealed that six months after the Season 21 finale, the team has scattered: Timothy McGee is pursuing a deputy director role, and Nick Torres is deep into another undercover mission. This leaves Parker (Gary Cole) walking into an empty bullpen, feeling the absence of his team.
While this isn’t the first time the NCIS team has faced changes, it’s tough to see Parker working solo at the start of Season 22. However, he won’t be alone for long—Parker heads to California for a case and reunites with Jessica. Although she seemed confident about her new job, Jessica may be second-guessing her decision, especially after leaving her boyfriend, Jimmy Palmer, behind. Binder teased that their conversation will happen “under the worst circumstances possible.”
If Katrina Law remains a series regular, it’s likely Jessica will return to Washington D.C. and rejoin the team. But for now, expect the characters to go their separate ways, at least for the early episodes of Season 22. Binder also hinted at more mysteries, romance, and “fun and unusual” pairings, including exploring the mystery of Lily, the girl Parker saw while hallucinating.
NCIS Season 22 premieres Monday, October 14, followed by the prequel NCIS: Origins, which focuses on Leroy Jethro Gibbs in 1991. Episodes will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.
