Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from the NCIS season 21 finale.
Summary
- Jessica Knight accepts the REACT Chief Training Officer position at Camp Pendleton in California after a tumultuous NCIS season 21 finale.
- Jess is leaving the NCIS team, making her future on the CBS show uncertain.
- Actress Katrina Law's status for NCIS season 22 remains unknown, teasing a potential return.
The NCIS season 21 finale was quite eventful for Special Agent Jessica Knight, played by Katrina Law, and by the episode's end, her future in the series became more unclear than ever. Law has starred as Jess in the CBS military police procedural show since season 18 (achieving series regular status by season 19). Jess, formerly assigned to the REACT Unit in the Washington Navy Yard, joined the NCIS Major Case Response Team following Ellie Bishop's exit. Unfortunately, Law's time on the show might be running out following the events of the NCIS season 21 finale.
All episodes of NCIS season 21 are available to stream on Paramount+.
At the beginning of NCIS season 21, episode 10, Rocky Carroll's Director Leon Vance offered Jess the position of NCIS REACT Chief Training Officer at Camp Pendleton in California after the previous Training Officer left the post. Jess had previously applied for the prestigious job a couple of years ago, but the sudden news threw her off guard, so she took some time to contemplate her future. By the end of the hour, Jess accepted Vance's offer, meaning she is officially the new REACT Chief Training Officer (on the other side of the country).
Why Jessica Knight Accepts The Role With REACT In NCIS Season 21's Finale
Jess Is Leaving The NCIS Team
After Director Vance threw her for a loop concerning the major job opportunity, Jess mulled over her options while focusing on a new case in NCIS season 21, episode 10, "Reef Madness." Three bodies were discovered onboard a decommissioned Navy ship set to be blown up and buried at sea, and while Jess and NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker (played by Gary Cole) were collecting evidence, someone locked them inside the ship. While they were stuck, Jess and Parker bonded and discussed the REACT position before Jess heroically saved them both.
The NCIS season 21 finale ended right after Jess told Director Vance, "Hell yes," regarding accepting the new job, meaning the logistics of what comes next for Jess are up in the air.
The experience (including Parker's advice and the brush with death) seemingly convinced Jess to accept Director Vance's offer. Plus, Jess' boyfriend, Dr. Jimmy Palmer, previously had a meltdown when he learned that Jess had been recommended for the position of REACT Chief Training Officer and essentially broke up with her. So, even though he later apologized, Palmer's outburst certainly helped Jess make her decision. However, the NCIS season 21 finale ended right after Jess told Director Vance, "Hell yes," regarding accepting the new job, meaning the logistics of what comes next for Jess are up in the air.
NCIS' Rocky Carroll Is Right About Hawai'i Spinoff Cancellation & Actor's Return
CBS surprisingly canceled NCIS: Hawai'i after three seasons, but that does not mean that any of the characters from the show won't be seen again.
Is Jess Really Leaving NCIS? What Katrina Law & The Showrunners Have Said
Katrina Law Hasn't Confirmed Or Denied Her Status In NCIS Season 22
Since Jess is leaving the main NCIS team to be the NCIS REACT Chief Training Officer at Camp Pendleton in California, one would think that Katrina Law is exiting the CBS military police procedural series. However, that may not be the case. Following the premiere of the season 21 finale, Law and co-showrunner Steven D. Binder were hesitant to confirm or deny the actress' involvement in season 22 during an interview with TVLine. Binder teased:
"Well, we set something up there. And I will point you to our track record where you just never know. We've had people look like they were going away, and then it turned out they weren't, and then we had people who just disappeared, like Gibbs. So I will say this: We do aim to please, and we think the audience will be satisfied with where they see this go."
Meanwhile, when Law was asked whether she would return for NCIS season 22, she said:
"Hmmm…. Better tune in for that season opener!"
NCIS season 22 is slated to premiere in fall 2024 and maintains its Monday timeslot at 9 pm ET.
NCIS
*Availability in US
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NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Special Agent Alden Parker, a quirky former FBI agent who solves his cases with calm professionalism and sharp, sarcastic charm, leads the NCIS team, which includes NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate with a knack for computers who has now graduated to senior field agent; the charismatic, unpredictable and resilient NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres, who has spent most of his career on solo undercover assignments; and sharp, athletic and tough NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, a formidable REACT agent who specializes in hostage negotiations and high-risk operations. The naïve Jimmy Palmer is assisting the team, who graduated from assistant to fully licensed medical examiner and now runs the morgue; and forensic scientist Kasie Hines, Ducky’s former graduate assistant. Overseeing operations is NCIS Director Leon Vance, an intelligent, highly trained agent who can always be counted on to shake up the status quo. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.
- Cast
- sean murray , Wilmer Valderrama , Katrina Law , Brian Dietzen , david mccallum , Mark Harmon , Rocky Carroll , Gary Cole , Joe Spano
- Release Date
- September 23, 2003
- Seasons
- 22
- Franchise(s)
- NCIS
- Creator(s)
- Donald P. Bellisario , Don McGill
Source: TVLine
