TVLine has made a compelling case for potential returning cast members in an homage to the late David McCallum on CBS’ long-running series NCIS. As the show gears up for its 21st season in February 2024, it faces the challenge of not having any original cast members left, considering technicalities such as Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen joining in later seasons.
Speculation about a tribute episode for McCallum’s character, Dr. Donald Mallard, has led to discussions about who should be included. Calls for Mark Harmon (Gibbs) and Michael Weatherly (DiNozzo) are prevalent, but bringing back characters, especially those absent for years, poses challenges. Harmon, for instance, would require dialogue and screen time to update on Gibbs’ reclusive life.
Weatherly and Cote de Pablo (Ziva), who haven’t shared a scene in over a decade, would demand storytelling attention if they returned. Fans invested in the Tony-Ziva dynamic would be eager to know about their atypical family unit, particularly concerning their daughter Tali.
The potential reunion could easily spiral out of control with numerous characters vying for attention. Balancing the storytelling and addressing the updates on each character’s life poses a significant challenge for any hypothetical homage episode.