NCIS Season 22: Low Ratings for “Sticks & Stones” Don’t Reflect Fan Opinions
With nearly 500 episodes under its belt, NCIS has had an impressive run. But even this long-standing favorite occasionally experiences a dip. Season 22, Episode 4, titled “Sticks & Stones,” garnered 4.76 million viewers, marking one of the lowest viewership counts of the season, according to Programming Insider. Despite this, the episode isn’t necessarily “bad” — other factors may explain the numbers.
The episode’s logline reads:
“After receiving intelligence on deadly threats to multiple locations that could lead to a catastrophic war, NCIS is called in to try to neutralize the danger.”
While it received modest IMDb audience scores (7.5/10), its viewership lagged behind other episodes. For comparison, Episode 1, “Empty Nest,” drew 6.42 million viewers with a similar audience score (7.8/10). Meanwhile, Episode 2, “Foreign Bodies,” is the lowest-rated on IMDb (7.4/10), despite higher viewership. Episodes like “In From the Cold” and “Knight and Day,” both scoring 8.0, performed well, indicating that “Sticks & Stones” did enough to keep fans engaged.
The low ratings may have more to do with timing than content. The episode aired the Monday before the 2024 U.S. General Election, a high-stakes race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Many viewers likely opted to take a break before tuning into election coverage the following day.
Additionally, this marks the first full season since the 2023 writers’ strike, which disrupted network TV schedules. Yet NCIS remains a fan favorite, with upcoming episodes, including a holiday special, expected to bring in more viewers.
This minor dip is hardly a concern for a series with such a loyal following. NCIS Season 22 episodes are streaming now on Paramount+, and fans can look forward to more updates from Collider.
