Emily Wickersham Reacts to ‘NCIS’ Fan Response to Her Return as Bishop
NCIS fans got quite the holiday gift with its Season 23 fall finale: the return of a fan-favorite character. Viewers were happy and excited to see what’s next after Emily Wickersham‘s shocking appearance as Ellie Bishop at the end of the episode, though she’s not just here for a visit.
Knight (Katrina Law) had been itching to get an assignment as part of her new role with NCIS Elite, and it was at the end of the episode, “Heaven and Nature,” that Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) called her to let her know she had her first target: Bishop. Because of that, no one else could know, including Knight’s partner, Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), Bishop’s former partner and love interest. What Knight didn’t know was Bishop was watching the team at the cemetery — for Parker’s (Gary Cole) mother’s burial, after he got closure on what happened to her and who Lily is — but it was unclear if she was there watching Knight knowing she was targeting her or just looking at her old team.
Wickersham was certainly feeling the love from fans after her return, and on Thursday, December 18, she shared a screenshot of their messages along with her own written over it to her Instagram Stories. “All these comments are so sweet!” she wrote.
Emily Wickersham/Instagram
The official NCIS Instagram also, following the episode, shared a video of Wickersham on the show’s set, in Kasie’s (Diona Reasonover) lab. “SHE’S BACK,” is written across the post. See it below.
View this post on Instagram
When it comes to bringing back familiar faces, “you’re always wondering, do they want to come back? Do we want them back? We wanted her back, and once we started hearing that she might be interested, we were like, OK, well, we can start really seriously thinking about the things that we’ve been doing,” executive producer Steven D. Binder told TV Insider. “And one of the things that’s going on with the show is we’re exploring some relationships between our characters and some interesting mixing and matching. And we thought bringing Bishop in for Torres at this particular moment would upend an apple cart that’s coming down the pike after this episode airs and put a very interesting spin on it. Plus, he never got the closure that he felt he needed. And it was an abrupt departure. I think the details of it, why Bishop did what she did, become a little more clear in this episode, but he’s a fully-fledged human and this is a moment that he’s been wanting to have and we were happy to finally have an opportunity to give it to him.”
Wickersham was last seen on NCIS in the Season 18 finale, and at the time, Bishop had to leave as a disgraced NCIS agent and only told Torres she’d be gone “too long.” Now, she’s back, and still “in that same world,” Binder said, teasing, “She’s been in a very serious life-or-death situation. She’s seen some very scary stuff and some very hairy stuff. She’s not the same person that [she was when] she left. She is a very different person. The world has beaten her up, and maybe a little too much, let’s put it that way. So, friends are enemies, enemies are friends in the world she’s in, and that’s how she views the world now, I think. And when she comes back, to people who were previously her friends, we may have to wonder where her head’s really at.”
Are you happy to have Emily Wickersham back as Bishop? What are you hoping to see next? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS, Midseason Return, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 8/7c, CBS
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V
She should come back full time . Jimmy and Knight should also re-kindle the relationship
11
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P
I would love to have her back. But not as a baddie.
9
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C
Disappointing. Not a fan. Never found her believable as an agent. She was more interesting and believable as a computer nerd. Katrina is much better than Emily. Would have loved to see Tony and Ziva return. Have seen every episode of this show, but doubt I’ll bother following in the future.
6
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W
I admit, wasn't a fan at first. She sort of grew on me when her character attitude settled down and she became a team member. I think it would be nice if she had guest appearances like Mike Franks in the future. The team has moved on from her absence and her return on occasion would liven it up again. Especially since she and Torres were a thing.
6
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B
I love it. I thought the Ellie character had a lot of growth potential. However, there have been some rumors that she may be killed off after her story arc. THAT would NOT be satisfactory.
6
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G
No no no! I quit watching ncis when she came on the show!
5
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S
Not really unless it is an arc and then leave! I like the characters that exist on NCIS now.
4
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M
I like her but I would love to see Tony and Zeva back also. I hate their show was cancelled.
3
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B
Would love to see Ziva back, but couldn't stand Tony. Was so glad when he left. He was such a womanizer, could have been better. I also don't care for Torres. The longer he's been on the show, the more I can see Fez.
1
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S
Would ❤️ love it. Great actress.
3
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C
Was happy when she left. Obviously hasn't had able to afford a haircut since then.
2
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D
A big no! Of all the characters on NCIS, she is definitely my least favorite.
1
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D
Love seeing her come back. Looking forward to her story and how it will affect others on the show. I really enjoy the cross overs and seeing how each person got where they are.
1
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D
I cannot understand why people like his character, Tony, its very cringe, and most likely wouldn't be on television today..especially after the #MeToo movement.
He had to know Ziva's every movement, especially on who she was with and what she was doing. That's not love at all.
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K
Three letters: YES!!
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S
Ellie Bishop is back. Fantastic. I hope FOREVER.
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V
I have watched NCIS since day one and I do like her I do miss my GIBS
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D
I don't want Knight and Torres as a couple!
It would hurt Jimmy and it would be stupid. It would look like Knight was jumping from team member to team member, not a good look.
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M
Bishop can do alot better than Torres! He's in love with himself. He's a self- centered egotist who like DiNozzo thinks he is God's gift to women!
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G
Well Ellie wanted to be Ziva, well now she had a taste of it and didn't like it. Oh well what's that saying? Be careful for what you wish for.
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T
Would love to see her back full time!!!
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B
Love her. Also this ncis original needs a kick in the pants. ORIGINS IS THE BEST SHOW ON TV
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R
hellyeah I'mglad she's back. the OSU cowboys have gone downhill since she left.
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