Who Takes Over as Team Leader in the First ‘NCIS’ Without Gibbs? (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for NCIS Season 19 Episode 5 “Face the Strange.”]
NCIS fans have to “Face the Strange,” to borrow the episode’s title, as they enter a world in which Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is gone fishin’ and the team must move forward knowing he’s not coming back. (But Harmon continues to lead the opening credits, so not everything is changing, at least right now.) So who’s going to be in charge moving forward? It probably isn’t too much of a surprise.
But first, a quick recap of the case: a petty officer is found in the woods, poisoned, and then his body explodes after it’s been loaded into the NCIS van. Though they initially think he might have been a suicide bomber, it turns out that he and his partner were just hacking the lottery. He’d also hacked medical records for a mafia kingpin, who was targeting the stenographer in his case. The petty officer was just the guinea pig, and the bomb had been attached to his pacemaker. Such is the case for the stenographer, but Dr. Palmer (Brian Dietzen) removes it in time.
Despite that explosive investigation, the focus, especially for Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), is very much on the state of the team going forward. Could they have kept Gibbs from leaving? Who’s going to be team leader? “Face the Strange” confronts those issues head-on.
Missing Gibbs
Sure, Gibbs was suspended, but they’d assumed he’d come back — and Torres isn’t handling the fact that he isn’t too well. “How could you leave Gibbs behind?” Torres asks McGee (Sean Murray). “I didn’t leave him behind. He wanted to stay,” McGee tells him. “He seemed happy.” Happy meaning? “It felt kind of private,” McGee continues (and we love that, given his and Gibbs’ long history) but does offer, “I think he probably hasn’t been this OK in a long time.”
Vance (Rocky Carroll) is also the target of Torres’ ire. Gibbs moved on, the director says. “And you let it happen,” Torres argues. “I know that Gibbs is a father figure to the team, and it’s hard when a father leaves, especially perhaps for you,” Vance says, which does not go over well.
Cliff Lipson/CBS
Torres isn’t the only one hurting after Gibbs’ departure. For Palmer, however, he’s just the latest in a string of people who have left this year, including his wife (who died of COVID) and Bishop. That’s why he’s upset about losing the old NCIS van and so eager for Ducky (David McCallum) to return permanently. (“It’d be different, which would be different,” Palmer says of Gary Cole’s Parker possibly taking over as team leader.) But Ducky knows it’s time for him to retake his rightful place as NCIS historian. “Yesterday is over, sad as that may seem, but change is the essence of life,” he says. Palmer knows that, but “this feels like a death.”
Ducky misses Gibbs, too, but he’s not dead, and from what he hears, “it sounds as if he’s starting to live life again, possibly for the first time since losing his family. If that is the case, I don’t mourn his departure, I’m grateful for it. Our pain is a small price to pay for his peace.” It’s a great moment considering Palmer didn’t get a farewell moment with Gibbs like almost everyone else did in “Great Wide Open.”
Who Will Lead the Team?
To the agents’ surprise, Vance has offered the job of team leader to Parker, who turned it down. The director ropes him into helping with the case, even as Parker complains about missing a Simon & Garfunkel reunion concert for most of the day. Knight (Katrina Law) doesn’t seem to have a problem, given that she never actually worked with Gibbs, and points out that Parker is experienced and a solid agent. But Gibbs’ desk isn’t even cold yet, Torres protests.
Cliff Lipson/CBS
He thinks McGee should take over, and Vance does say he “did more than consider” the other agent for the job, refusing to reveal any more. And it seems that Parker is Gibbs’ choice after making an impression on him in Alaska. (Honestly? Could it have been any other way? The new team leader has to have Gibbs’ approval.)
So why did McGee turn down the offer to be the team leader? He claims that the “job wasn’t what I thought it would be — not nearly as fun, hours were even worse, don’t get to go out in the field as much, plus there’s all that paperwork.” But Parker doesn’t buy that, nor does Torres, who was listening at the bathroom door to their conversation. When McGee calls him on that eavesdropping, Torres tells him not to change the subject. “What subject, that I don’t want to be team leader because I’m not Gibbs?” McGee asks. “No, you’re not Gibbs, but you’re Timothy freakin’ McGee,” Torres argues. “You’re a cyber ninja. When people shoot you, you keep on coming.”
But that gets to the heart of the matter. “Yeah, except it was Gibbs who shot me, twice,” McGee reminds Torres. “He put two bullets through me, and you know what, it saved my life. Hurt like hell getting shot but I can’t imagine what it felt like pulling that trigger. Who could do that? Could I do that?”
Cliff Lipson/CBS
As Torres sees it, the fact that he’s asking that question is why he should be leader. But “I don’t want to be the guy that can pull that trigger, OK?” McGee says. “If there’s anything I learned from Gibbs, it’s that this job is all-consuming. It completely consumes you. You know what the guy had to do to escape? He had to go to Alaska. I got a family, Nick, that can’t be me.” That’s something Torres can respect, and it’s something the audience needs to hear to understand why McGee’s not taking over.
So does that mean Parker is? He basically does the job in this episode, leading the task force on the case due to his knowledge of parts of it. Then, near the end of the episode, Vance calls him out on the fact that there isn’t a Simon & Garfunkel reunion tour. “I just wanted to see what a regular day around here was like, and I was told it might spook the locals if they thought I had plans to stay. Wasn’t my idea, actually,” Parker explains. He says he’ll take the identity of that person to his grave, but come on, it had to be Gibbs’ idea. So is he taking the job? Yes, and he knows that “Gibbs was a lucky man,” he tells Knight as the newest members of the team watch McGee and Torres from the stairs.
And with that, the episode ends with “Changes” by David Bowie playing. Things certainly have changed at NCIS. What did you think of the first episode without Gibbs? Was it too strange for you to keep watching? Did Parker win you over? Let us know in the comments below.
NCIS, Mondays, 9/8c, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
I love Gibbs and Mark Harmon, but Gary Cole totally crushed it as a new leading character. Totally enjoyed his first episode last night (without Gibbs). Thanks to the writers and Cole and the other actors, it was one of the best in a long time!
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B
I have always loved NCIS! Mark Harmon was always great in his part as Leroy Jethro
Gibbs. That being said, Mark is 70 years old and would like more free time with his family and to do other things! Shooting NCIS takes very long hours to film. It is also physically demanding! This was Mark’s choice…he was not pushed out. Let’s wish him
The best! They have left the door open for him to come back for a few episodes If he wishes. Regarding Gary Cole I thought he was great. I really feel he will do a great job.
The transitional episode was done very well also. I have to say I was impressed! I will continue to support NCIS and the whole NCIS team! Hopefully we will have many more years of NCIS in the future! Great Cast! Great Show!
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G
You do know the girl playing Marcy is his real life partner Pam Dawner
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P
I enjoyed the episode thought Gary Cole as Parker did a great job Cole is a pro I have liked him in everything he has done. Mark Harmon has left the building wants to go part time we will see him again down the road. Harmon wanted to leave get over it people.
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J
Oh come on, McGee has acted as team leader often enough in the past, it's not a new thing.
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P
I like Gary Cole and enjoyed a new Respect for the way it was handled change is not as least good but I think this works
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G
I like Gary Cole. I think the show was a nicely done transition for the characters and the audience. I am more thrown by the lack of a new episode next week already.
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O
The first episode without Gibbs was interesting. Liked it more than I thought I would. The show this past year was definitely showing that Mark Harmon was ready to leave, so at least it was done in an okay way. A lot of the "magic" of the show has been gone for a while, but with an open mind, maybe that magic will be back, but in a new way. There's been a lot of changes this past year, but I think the viewers were being prepared for it for quite a while. Will definitely give the change of characters a chance, I think I'll still like the show and most likely will continue to watch. Also, lol, it just dawned on me that "Bishop's" replacement is "Knight!"
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O
He’s ok. But No one can replace Mark Harmon. But as long as he keeps making appearances from time to time. I will still be a loyal fan
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P
I’ll watch again
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G
I don’t want Gibbs to leave! They are trying to replace him with someone that resembles him, even sounds like him, but they can’t replace Gibbs!
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B
Gary Cole is a great actor and I think he will do a wonderful job, I just hope Mark Harmon pops in here and there.
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P
Great episode👍
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G
Don’t care for the actor playing Parker at all. Maybe it should be a woman. How about Tammy from NCIS New Orleans!!
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C
I don't like Gary Cole. I've seen to many of his shows where he plays EVIL people. Guess my brain has been scared by that but would like anyone more than him. Also, on new NCIS Hawaii, that woman leading the team has absolutely no personality. She's to stiff.
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G
I forgot that they changed to Monday and missed the whole episode! Thanks for the recap. Not sure I'm gonna like NCIS without Gibbs.
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G
Going to miss Gibbs and change is inevitable but why not bring Tony back as team leader
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O
Because Tony is too busy being "Bull" on his own series....
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O
As always, the show was topnotch again. This newest episode was as well-developed as all the previous ones have been. Yes, I miss Gibbs and Bishop just like the "team" does, but the show held together well and I look forward to future episodes. The new team players are doing an excellent job!
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C
NCIS without Gibbs isn't NCIS. Don't think I will watch it after all these years, been a fan from the first episode! Sad.
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O
I liked the show and think that Parker will be an excellent leader for the team. Sorry to see Gibbs go, but it was to be expected. Understand Mcgees' concern for not taking the lead spot. Will continue to watch the show. I always loved it.
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O
I've been watching since day one.i miss Abbs Kate Tony and yes even Bishop.It will take time to get used to new characters and I hope story lines don't get too wierd.Itll be interesting.Good luck Parker.
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R
They should bring back Anthony Tony Dinozzo as team leader.
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O
Nobody time to call it quits
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G
Your taking all the great actors and actresses out of it. NCIS was my favorite show but it don’t think I’ll even record it if I’m doing something else. I probably will wind up stop watching it. I used to like criminals minds and law and order. But I haven’t watched even 1 of them shows. I’m not interested in them. I love blue bloods and Chicago PD and I’ll just watch reruns of them. NCIS will not be on for long just wait and see.
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R
Without Gibbs NCIS will go down in flames.
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P
I will miss Gibbs but the show must go on I love NCIS we’ll still see Gibbs time to time
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G
Torres is such a nag now... shut up....
Ducky has such class.....
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O
reat Episode
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G
Bad choice, I will stop watching
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C
I don't much care for NCIS with Gary Cole. I hope they don't renew it next year. Too many people have left and the ones who take there place don't impress me.
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