The NCIS franchise, renowned for its longstanding tradition of location-based spinoffs, is embarking on a fresh narrative trajectory with the introduction of two groundbreaking series: NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva. Departing from its 15-year tradition, NCIS: Origins delves into the backstory of former Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed by Mark Harmon. Meanwhile, NCIS: Tony & Ziva reunites fan-favorite characters Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) and Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), exploring their lives post-departure from the flagship series.
This shift marks a significant evolution for the franchise, which recently celebrated its 1000th episode, solidifying its status as a mainstay on television for over two decades. While NCIS: Origins will premiere alongside the flagship series on the CBS fall television schedule, NCIS: Tony & Ziva promises to offer fans a deeper insight into the lives of two beloved characters.
The decision to deviate from the location-based spinoff tradition, which began with NCIS: Los Angeles in 2009 and continued with spinoffs set in New Orleans, Hawai’i, and Sydney, signifies a departure from the norm. NCIS: Hawai’i, despite its brief run, now holds the unfortunate distinction of being the shortest-lived NCIS show in the franchise’s history, following in the footsteps of NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles, which concluded in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
While NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva are lauded as expansion series for their focus on original cast members and storylines, the true expansion of the NCIS universe occurred with the introduction of new NCIS offices. These locales introduced some of the franchise’s most memorable characters, such as Special Agent Kensi Blye from NCIS: Los Angeles and Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant from NCIS: Hawai’i. Additionally, both series were home to beloved characters like NCIS Senior Special Agent Sam Hanna, contributing to the rich tapestry of the NCISverse.
As the franchise enters a new chapter with NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, fans can anticipate a fresh perspective on familiar faces and the continuation of the compelling storytelling that has defined NCIS for over two decades.
