‘NCIS’ season 11 spoilers: Official details on finale, Ralph Waite tribute

The bad news for “NCIS” fans today is that there is no new episode of the show on. “Shooter” is the next installment, and it will be used to help kick off sweeps next week. Expect a big hour there for Pauley Perrette’s character of Abby, but we will have a little more news on that soon enough.

Today, the focus is on the season finale airing on May 13, which is an episode that has seen a great deal of revision since it first started to be discussed in the writers room. The plan was changed for it to be a tribute to Ralph Waite after the actor behind Jackson Gibbs (and so many other great characters) passed away, and our understanding is that the show kept part of what the original story for the episode was, while at the same time adding a new layer to give Jackson and Ralph a proper farewell.

The finale’s title is appropriately “Honor Thy Father,” and you can seen the synopsis for it below:

“The NCIS team investigates whether a fire on a U.S. Navy ship that served as a secret detention site for indicted terrorists was accidental or an intentional diversion for an escape … Meanwhile, Gibbs travels to his childhood home following news of his father’s passing.”

We feel already like this is going to be an emotional episode, and one that qualifies as something you have to watch live. There has been so much investment into the Gibbs character and the connection with his father, you want the episode to be done right. That’s why we’re thrilled that Gary Glasberg and company made the decision to touch on Waite’s death with such an important episode rather than one you would have to wait months down the line for.

What do you think about the premise of the episode? Share your thoughts below, and to get more on the current state of the “NCIS: New Orleans” spin-off, head over to the link here. There is also weekly news available to you via email over at our newsletter page.

Photo: CBS