NCIS’s 1,000th Episode Pays a Sweet Homage to Show’s History
By Movieguide® Contributor
The 1,000th episode of NCIS aired last Monday, and it paid respect to the characters and moments that made such a massive milestone possible.
The episode centered on why the NCIS agents do what they do. While the answer may seem obvious, it becomes a little more complicated when considering the danger they put themselves and their families in. This is highlighted from the beginning as director Vance visits his wife’s grave in the opening scene.
Not even a graveyard is sacred ground for NCIS’s opponents, as Director Vance was shot (nonfatally) by a long-range sniper to start the episode.
As the agents investigate the shooting, they come upon a sniper nest with a note telling them to “enjoy the show,” immediately followed by three explosions around the city that targeted people or places affiliated with NCIS.
Clearly under attack, the NCIS network weighs in on how to respond. This brings NCIS: HAWII’s Tenant and NCIS: LOS ANGELES’ Blye into the picture as they offer advice to the main-base agents.
The episode continued with more threats hitting NCIS, but they ultimately allowed the team to track down the perpetrator, a woman dating Director Vance’s younger son. The danger, however, is not cleared, as she reveals that her plan was to take down Air Force One.
The NCIS agents rush to the airport to notify the president’s plane, but the Secret Service doesn’t believe that the plane is in any danger. The agents end up blocking the plane on the runway, forcing an evaluation of the plane’s systems to be run.
With the case closed, the episode ends where it started, with the question of why the NCIS agents do what they do. Director Vance explains to his son that the danger he puts himself and their family in every day is necessary to protect the men and women who serve this country. They serve to be a light in the darkness.
During this speech, the show pays homage to its past, running through scenes and images of the most notable moments in its history. These are not limited to just NCIS, as the spinoff series’ defining moments were also recognized.
While the episode may not have delivered highly anticipated cameos from past characters like some fans hoped, it did provide an honoring remembrance of the show’s history. The many Easter Eggs hidden throughout connected fans old and new, drawing an audience of 6.7 million viewers.
Movieguide® previously reported:
As the NCIS franchise reaches 1,000 episodes, actor Wilmer Valderrama reflected on how the show got to where it is today and why he believes it remains relevant.
“I mean, it’s crazy to be at the tail end of [1,000 episodes], not the tail end, the last half of that, right,” Valderrama told CBS News. “You gotta pay tribute to the original cast that started this thing, you know, all the way from Mark Harmon, starting in JAG, right.”
“JAG had two episodes at the end of JAG, those last two episodes served as kind of like a semi-pilot for NCIS,” he explained. “Then, you know, they come full circle. Mark Harmon leads this beautiful ship and creates something very different on television, an acronym where people are like, ‘What is NCIS?’ And then now it’s undeniabl[y] one of the most recognizable letters you could see. And, you know, a thousand episodes later and it’s not slowing down. It’s still the number one show.”
