By Kayla DeKraker
In a dramatic move, NCIS just killed off one of their main characters in their 500th episode, and fans have feelings.
Warning! Spoilers ahead.
The March 24 episode saw NCIS boss Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, get shot and killed.
Carroll, who worked on the show for 18 seasons and 392 episodes, shared how he learned his character’s fate.
“[Executive producer Steve Binder] said, ‘Well, the agency NCIS, as we know it, is in deep peril, and is in danger of becoming extinct, of folding over into another agency, because there’s a nefarious character sort of working behind the scenes to sabotage the agency. And Director Vance figures out who it is, and in the process of saving the agency, he loses his life. It’s a great story. You want to hear more,’” Carroll said, recalling the conversation. “And I thought, let’s go back a bit, back up to the part where you say, in saving the agency, he loses his life.”
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“It was basically presented to me that the studio and the network wanted to do something really spectacular, really big, and something that would really send shockwaves through the NCIS fan base and the community,” he explained. “And I guess the dramaturge and the director in me, after 23 years, you’ve pretty much told every story, and a lot of them you’ve told more than once. So, when it was laid all out, and when they did tell me the whole plot line and the story, my first thought, completely candidly, was, ‘It’s actually a terrific story.’”
He added that he never expected to play Vance for 18 of NCIS’ 23 seasons.
Despite Carroll’s gracious response to his character’s death, many NCIS fans do not feel the same.
In the comment section of an NCIS Instagram post about Vance, fans shared their feelings.
“This was the worst episode ever! Had Rocky wanted to leave the series, I would have supported his decision. However for y’all to decide this would be a great climax for the 500th episode shows truly you don’t know your audience that has followed you since day one,” one person said.
Another fan chimed in, “This one really hurt the NCIS fam. I wasn’t expecting it at all and there was a lot of ugly crying. Will miss seeing Vance. He deserved to retire after everything him and his family has gone through.”
Movieguide® reviewed an earlier episode from this season, which was nominated for a Teddy Bear Award®.
The review reads, “The NCIS episode ‘God Only Knows’ is brilliantly structured, exciting, stirring, and even profound. A series of twists leads to a big twist that changes the investigation’s direction. ‘God Only Knows’ is also about finding answers to the problem of evil.”
It continues, “The chaplain character, who tries to help Agent Parker with answers, is superbly written. He has many good Christian lines to ponder. At one point, he reminds Parker, ‘I answer to a higher power.’ He also cites James 2:14, which admonishes Christians to put their faith into action. ‘God Only Knows’ is a rewarding NCIS episode with faith and values.”
NCIS has already been renewed for Season 24, so it will be interesting to see how the show moves on without Vance.
Read Next: Are You Ready for NCIS Episode 500?
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