Summary
The 15 best episodes ofNCISacross its 21 seasons comprise unique qualities that make them stand out. With an institutional presence on network television that spans over two decades,NCISoffers many episodes to choose from. Whether it’s stories driven by Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs or developments under the leadership of former FBI agent Alden Parker, narratives whereinthe cast ofNCISexperience profound personal and professional development are the best.
It could take years to watch the entireNCISseries, so episodes that allow viewers to get to the hearts of the characters more quickly are instrumental. Before moving forward intoNCISseason 22, indulging in bygone narratives can make the viewing experience all the more complex. Whether watchingNCISfor the first time or the umpteenth time, these episodes are sure to stand out.
How Long It Would Take To Watch All Of NCIS
With its 21 seasons, NCIS is one of television’s most substantial scripted shows. Watching every episode would be a serious investment of time.
15"SWAK"
NCIS Season 2, Episode 22
“SWAK” is one of the best episodes ofNCISbecause it’s a harrowing episode for Tony. When Tony opens an envelope delivered to him at NCIS Headquarters that was"SWAK"or"sealed with a kiss,“Tony inhales an unknown bioweapon. Testing ultimately revealed the substance to be bubonic plague, and it’s uncertain whether Tony will survive.
“SWAK” is Kate’s penultimate episode as a series regular. Ari murders her in the following episode,NCISseason 2, episode 23, “Twilight.”
While grueling for Tony, who must fight off the disease, the episode is also elemental to Tony and Kate’s relationship. “SWAK” reveals how Sasha Alexander’s Kate really feels about Tony, despite her constantly antagonizing Michael Weatherly’s character. Kate pretends that she has also contracted the plague and puts herself in danger so that Tony doesn’t have to quarantine alone.
14"Bête Noir”
NCIS Season 1, Episode 16
“Bête Noire” is a grippingNCISepisode and the first of its kind in the series. In “Bête Noire,“a Mossad double agent named Ari Haswari infiltrates NCISvia autopsy by hiding inside an incoming body bag. He holds David McCallum’s Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard hostage with his assistant Gerald while he attempts to collect evidence on his friend Qassam.
NCISseason 1, episode 16, “Bête Noire,” explored the team’s"bête noires,“or nightmares.
Ultimately, Kate is involved in the conflict when she comes down to the autopsy unit to deliver the requested evidence in Abby’s place. Ari takes Kate as a hostage, and he begins a fixation with her that plays out in later episodes. Ultimately,NCISantagonist Ari Haswarikills Kate in theNCISseason 2 finale by shooting her in the head with a sniper rifle.
13"Kill Ari Part II”
NCIS Season 3, Episode 2
“Kill Ari Part II” concludes a double featureNCISepisode that introduces Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David characterto thesharedNCISuniverse. Ziva appears in connection to her half-brother, Ari Haswari, and works alongside the team, but she does not inherently trust them and vice versa.
When Ziva learns that Ari has betrayed Mossad, she follows him to Gibbs' basement, where he plans to murder Gibbs. Ziva shoots Ari in the head, saving Gibbs' life and avenging Kate’s death. By shooting her half-brother to protect NCIS, Ziva gains the team’s trust and ultimately joins as their Mossad liaison officer.
12"A Thousand Yards”
NCIS Season 21, Episode 7
“A Thousand Yards” was a momentous episode for the series withinNCISseason 21.It was the1000th episode ofNCISacross the franchise, including the Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Hawai’i spinoffs. The story paid off a case that was as old as the series itself, revisiting the events of the series' opening episode, “Yankee White.”
The episode takes a harrowing turn when a woman connected to the former case shoots NCIS Director Leon Vance in the back with a sniper rifle. While Vance recovers, McGee takes over as NCIS director, and Leon’s son, Jared, helps NCIS put the pieces together. Ultimately, the episode is a beacon for the entireNCISfranchise and poignantly articulates its core values in a flashback monologue that Vance delivers to his son.
11"Yankee White”
NCIS Season 1, Episode 1
In the series opening episode,the original Major Case Response Team characters investigate a murder aboard Air Force One. The episode hones in on Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The character and several others, including Tony, Abby, and Ducky, were initially introduced in abackdoor pilot forNCISonJAG,the 1990s legal procedural.
After his team responds to the call about a dead Navy Commander, Gibbs and his team fight with the FBI and Secret Service to investigate.The episode introduces Caitlin Todd, who initially works for the Secret Service until she reports that her boss fired her at the end, at which point Gibbs hires her. The episode establishes who NCIS is and how they operate, laying the foundation for the franchise.
10"Call of Silence"
NCIS Season 2, Episode 7
“Call of Silence” is a standoutNCISepisode because it contains different layers of complex military connections. The episode encounters a World War II veteran who presents himself to Gibbs at NCIS Headquarters to be arrested for murder. While he can’t remember the details, the Medal of Honor recipient,Corporal Ernie Yost, believes he murdered his best friend.
Charles Dunning, a famous actor and decorated World War II Army veteran, portrayed the character. Dunning had received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. Gibbs and the team take special care of Yost’s case, ultimately helping the war hero remember that he was acting in the highest regard.
9"Heartland"
Season 6, Episode 4
“Heartland” is a complex and compelling episode because it further unravels the character of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The team leader must reckon with his unresolved past when a case leads the MCRT to Gibbs' hometown of Stillwater, Pennsylvania. There,Gibbs reunites with his father, whom he hasn’t spoken to in nearly two decades.
The episode debuts legendary actor Ralph Watie as Jackson Gibbs, father to Harmon’s character. It establishes crucial details in Gibbs' timeline while repairing a significant relationship that had gone wrong. “Heartland” features critical flashbacks to Gibbs' past that portray how he met and fell for his future wife, Shannon Gibbs.
8"Great Wide Open"
NCIS Season 19, Episode 4
“Great Wide Open” will forever be a memorable segment ofNCISbecausethe episode bid farewell to the central Leroy Jethro Gibbs character.Mark Harmon departedNCISin season 19, citing that his time on the series had expired. The episode witnesses Gibbs following a case to Alaska, where he ultimately stays after finding peace in the"great wide open."
It’s a critical episode for the series because it signifies Mark Harmon’s departure fromNCISafter nearly two decades as its poster man. Harmon’s character was quintessentialNCIS,and there was no certainty that the series would survive without him. Ultimately,the episode facilitated Gibbs' replacement, FBI agent Alden Parker, portrayed by Gary Cole, who has been successful in the role.
7"Life Before His Eyes"
NCIS Season 9, Episode 14
In “Life Before His Eyes,” a troubled man shoots at Gibbs in his favorite diner. While the verdict of the bullet hangs in the air,Gibbs' life flashes before his eyesas time stands still. Gibbs' current reality comes to a pause, and suddenly everyone in the diner is his most significant friends, family members, and colleagues – some living, some not. He interacts with them as a way to process his life experiences.
The episode is essential to Gibbs' character development because it explores all his most significant relationships in real-time. The narrative explores Gibbs’s inability to save characters like Kate and his wife and daughter, Shannon and Kelly.“Life Before His Eyes” explores the Butterfly Effect, creating a picture of what would have happened had major moments in Gibbs' life played out in different ways.
6"Hiatus Part II"
NCIS Season 3, Episode 24
“Hiatus Part II” is easily one of the best episodes ofNCISbecause it is emotional for the Leroy Jethro Gibbs character. After experiencing an explosion on a Navy ship,Gibbs is in critical conditionand suffering from a coma. When he wakes up in “Hiatus Part II,” the last thing Gibbs can remember is the murder of his wife and daughter and ultimately avenging their death.
AfterNCISseason 3, episode 24, “Hiatus,” Gibbs briefly retired, leaving hisNCISfuture in the balance.
Viewers watch as Gibbs puts the pieces of his life back together. It’s emotional to watch Gibbs not wanting to remember his life as a Special Agent – desperate to have his past restored, with his wife and daughter in it. Gibbs physically and mentally battles the amnesia he faces, with “Hiatus Part II” showing the Gibbs character in an entirely new light.
