NCIS season 15: Why Duane Henry won’t be in every episode

Duane Henry is a series regular on NCIS; yet, there are only so many episodes in which he appears. This is something that certainly may raise some questions, especially in terms of why and if there was a way for him to appear in more. This is something you see often with many shows these days, and there is even an industry term for it: Fractional. They are set for a specific number of episodes, and therefore there are ones where they are written out. Willa Holland on Arrow last season is a great example of that.

When it comes to Henry and his role as MI6 agent Clayton Reeves, there is actually a logical, story-based reason as to why you don’t see him more. That’s something that he explains in an interview with Parade within the context of if there will be more room for him this time around:

“It’s not so much room and number, it’s just about the character and what the stories are trying to portray. Obviously, it’s got to make sense. You can’t underestimate the intelligence of the audience, and the audience knows I’m an international agent and I won’t always be involved in domestic cases. Therefore, I won’t be in every episode.”

Consider it a gift whenever Henry shows up — we certainly do! Our hope is that there will be some epic two or three-part stories that will require his help for a significant period of time and he can stick around and spend time with the team. He brings with him such a different vibe than what anyone else has, and we do appreciate some of the chemistry that he has with some of the other cast members. Reeves can be funny at times, but also exceptional at his job.

What we do know about season 15

Based on the information that’s out there, the premiere episode will pick up in the aftermath of Gibbs and McGee being trapped in South America and then flash forward so that we can still continue to see them in that position months later. One of the priorities is going to be trying to find a way to rescue them and beyond that, see if they can get integrated into the team once more.

Of course, there’ll continue to be challenging cases and Maria Bello will be turning up in episode 4 in order to assist. That’s someone new that both Henry and the remainder of the team can build a relationship with. Who knows? Maybe there are even some preexisting bonds there that are not entirely clear to anyone else right now.

What do you want to see on NCIS season 15…

…And how much of Duane Henry do you want? Be sure to share now in the comments below! Also, be sure to visit the link here to see some of our other recent coverage on the show. (Photo: CBS.)