Overview
- The fall finale set the stage for a former team member to reenter the narrative, priming the next episode to confront the surprise.
- Showrunner Steven D. Binder said the creative team had discussed the idea for about a year, with execution shaped by the actor’s timing and location.
- Binder described the character as hardened by years of perilous undercover work, hinting at possible wrongdoing with motives left intentionally ambiguous.
- The return is designed as a short run centered on a single episode, with no official plans to extend it, though future appearances remain possible.
- NCIS resumes after winter break on February 24, 2026, as strong online reactions highlight audience enthusiasm for the storyline.