NCIS season 16: Should Sean Murray return as Tim McGee?

Earlier this week, CarterMatt published a piece talking about the somewhat-uncertain future of NCIS at CBS. While it seems assured that the long-running procedural would be renewed for another batch of episodes, Mark Harmon has yet to ink a new contract. It seems as though keeping him in some capacity is imperative to the future, so we’ll see what happens in that regard.

Related: Mark Harmon’s contract is up – what does that mean for future?

Today, we’re casting the focus on another key player who is very much integral to the show in their own right: Sean Murray. With Pauley Perrette departing, there aren’t too many other actors remaining who were around from the first season. Technically, Murray wasn’t a regular until season 2, but he’s been with the show for so long that it’s really quite hard to remember that. He’s an NCIS staple, he’s likable, and he brings a little bit of that everyman charm to his scenes out in the field as well as in his personal life. He’s not the strongest or the fastest agent, but he uses his mind and his social skills often to take down the bad guys. McGee’s relatable, and we feel like watching him evolve over the years has been one of the biggest thrills of the show for us. If Gibbs ever did resign for whatever reason, he’s probably the best candidate to replace him.

Based on what was reported back in 2016, Sean Murray signed a contract for NCIS seasons 14 and 15, but at present, his future (like Harmon’s) is unclear. Should he return? It feels like bringing him back should be a given for CBS for so many reasons:

1. He’s popular – With there being so many relatively-new members of the supporting cast, in between Torres, Bishop, Reeves, and Sloane, you want to keep a constant. McGee fills that role. You know him and you love him.

2. The show can’t afford to lose another familiar face – We’re still reeling from losing Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, and it’s going to be tough seeing Perrette go. Losing another series staple could cause there to be some more struggles on the show.

3. It’s a great gig for Murray – While we know that there are probably a lot of episodes that blend together over time, there’s a chance to flex a lot of different muscles working on NCIS. You’ve got comedy, drama, and even a little romance with McGee and Delilah. There’s also enough of a break to either relax in the summer or take on a movie gig if he wanted.

Do you want to see Sean Murray return to NCIS for season 16? Be sure to share in the comments below! Also, like CarterMatt on Facebook for some more news on NCIS whenever you want. (Photo: CBS.)