Nearly two decades after its inception, the naval investigative procedural series NCIS continues to thrive, now deep within its 22nd season. Initially born as a backdoor pilot from the legal drama JAG, NCIS has evolved to establish its legacy and prominence among television franchises.
Mark Horowitz, who served as executive producer of NCIS until recently, recalled how the series was originally pitched to CBS back in 2003. The goal was to create something distinct from JAG and the established procedural format of Law & Order. Horowitz described efforts to frame the new series as "Law & Order in the Navy"—a tagline meant to capture the essence of military investigations.
Despite initial similarities, NCIS was determined not to become just another clone within the procedural genre. Co-creator Don Bellisario was particularly adamant about creating a series with its own identity. Horowitz noted, "There's a world where NCIS could have just ended up as CBS' carbon copy of the popular NBC procedural franchise, and maybe it would have still been successful, but Don wasn't interested in going down this route." Instead, the show began focusing solely on the agents and their personal connections rather than the judicial processes typical of legal dramas.
Part of this differentiation included altering elements of the show’s production. Horowitz explained, "We accomplished this through different shooting and editing styles, as well as the scripts being slightly shorter than average." These choices emphasized character-driven stories rather than the case-of-the-week format characteristic of its predecessors.
The original cast’s chemistry has played a pivotal role as well. The backdoor pilot featured several now-iconic characters, including Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo. With only Sean Murray’s Timothy McGee and Brian Dietzen’s Jimmy Palmer remaining from the first season, NCIS continually adapted and evolved with new storylines and characters over the years.
Fast forward to today, and the franchise has expanded beyond the original show. With new installments like NCIS: Sydney and the completely fresh NCIS: Origins, viewers are treated to even richer narratives. NCIS: Origins takes fans back to Gibbs’ early years at the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and sheds light on how he coped with the tragedies of his past. Characters like Mike Franks, Gibbs' mentor, and Vera Strickland, previously mentioned only once, are now being fleshed out with more depth.
One of the standout aspects of NCIS: Origins is its ability to weave together the histories of existing characters with new ones. For example, it explores the relationship dynamics within Gibbs' team, including Franks’ connections and Strickland’s complex interactions with them. Roma Maffia's character, Vera Strickland, was characterized by her strong demeanor and affinity for Gibbs. The prequel series promises to unravel the mystery surrounding these characters and their impact on Gibbs.
Gibbs himself, played both by the seasoned Mark Harmon and the younger Austin Stowell, offers opportunities to explore the backstory of how the character became the resilient agent audiences adore. This connection between the past and present enhances the storytelling and creates exciting dynamics to dissect.
NCIS’ success is not just about its current iterations, but also how it respects the established lore. The show's creators have maintained important plot threads from series lore, ensuring all new aspects remain coherent within the universe forged over two decades. The blend of retaining past narratives and forging new paths exemplifies skilled storytelling.
It’s also quite telling how NCIS continues to resonate with audiences. Season 22 is set to resume on January 27, 2024, alongside the continuation of NCIS: Origins, indicating the franchise's enduring magnetism. With spin-offs and continuing story arcs, CBS stands to keep fulfilling viewers' interests.
Overall, the milestones achieved by NCIS pay homage to its beginnings without tethering itself to them. Viewers are assured of engaging stories interspersed with the nostalgia of history. A careful balance maintained between honoring the past and innovatively paving forward keeps the audience coming back. The franchise now not only explores the present and future of its beloved characters but also dives deep, enriching their backstories, giving fans more opportunity to connect with the series.