‘NCIS’ season 14 premiere: What should happen
We would argue that it has been a few seasons now that we’ve went into a season of “NCIS” with as much uncertainty as we’ve had this time. Season 11 was the last time we felt so unsure on the future of the series as we do know; it’s only fitting that both anxieties are do to cast changes. Last time, we knew Cote de Pablo was leaving; this time, we know that Michael Weatherly is already gone.
Do we think that there is still a ton of talent aboard this series? Absolutely, but the further challenge now becomes figuring out a way to introduce the new faces in a way that feels appropriate to the world, and also making them interesting enough so that even the fans who love the Anthony DiNozzo character still want to watch. In trying to figure out what should happen next, much of it has to be done through that particular lens.
Where we left off – Season 13 of course concluded with Tony’s departure, a move brought on by realizing that he had a daughter with Ziva that he never knew about previously. Most of the story was constructed around that, though we did also meet Clayton Reeves and Tess Monroe, two characters who could be a part of the story to come.
What should happen – With Monroe not returning (Jennifer Esposito is replacing Sarah Clarke in a new role), part of the challenge for the premiere will be introducing her and also Wilmer Valderrama’s new character. If we were the writers, we’d recommend scaling the getting-to-know-you scenes over several episodes, that way you still have enough time to include some of the traditional “NCIS” cases that the majority of the fans watch for. It’s a mistake to overwhelm viewers with any one thing, so you do have to exercise some patience and ensure that you don’t get ahead of yourself. Keep the tone of the show the same, and take your time finding ways to implement the newcomers. Look at Aisha Tyler on “Criminal Minds” last season for a great example of how to handle new faces.
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