‘NCIS: New York’ Premiere: Nick Convinces Sam to Join Team — But Will He Stay?

“Come home,” Nick (Scott Caan) appeals to Sam (LL COOL J) at the end of the NCIS: New York premiere, which sees the agent formerly on the Los Angeles team return to the Big Apple to investigate when he receives word of a friend’s death. Obviously Sam says yes — there wouldn’t be a show if he didn’t — but does that mean he’s staying? TV Insider spoke with LL COOL J, Caan, and showrunner Byron Balasco about just that. Warning: Spoilers for the NCIS: New York series premiere ahead!

In general, NCIS: New York is pretty much what you expect from this franchise as it establishes the new team in the premiere. It has fun team dynamics, action (the team gets down and dirty in an extended sequence involving all of them to save a kidnapped young woman), cases, and heart. Oh, and a dog. And NCIS‘ Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) videos in for a quick chat to help with the case.

When the episode begins, Sam’s doing the kind of work (black ops) he’s been doing lately in Dubai and ignores a call from a friend, Jack Halloway. By the time he calls him back, he’s dead. Yes, there’s a conflict of interest, but Sam’s determined to investigate to prove it wasn’t a suicide, and the New York field office’s boss, Robyn (Jennifer Beals), agrees to let him, partnering him with Nick. Sam is right, and his friend was murdered because of a smuggling operation off his boat that his first mate was involved in.

Then, at the end of the episode, Nick tells him that he has a good team, but they could use another member: “This is where all the action is. We need big Sam Hanna. New York City needs big Sam Hanna. You really don’t think about coming home? I don’t believe that.” But in Sam’s mind, “I’m a stranger now.” Nick can relate a bit; he did everything he could to not follow in the footsteps of his family into fire or police, went into finance, but lost everything. He was miserable and running, “from myself, from family, from loss, from everything, most important, from the responsibility I had to the people and places that made me. It felt too big. This is my home. This place, this means something to me, and I know it means something to you.”

Sam asks why he wants him there, and Nick explains that he respects him, thinks he’s the best at what he does, and wants to work with the best. And with that, Sam agrees to stay, but…?

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“Sam didn’t go into it with any preconceived notions. We’ll see what happens. And there’s no guarantee he’ll stay,” LL COOL J pointed out to TV Insider on the NCIS: New York premiere red carpet. “We’re just getting started. So I think as you watch it unfold, you’ll see. So, it’s to be determined. It’s still TBD.”

Caan told us that at one point, the ending for the premiere was going to be slightly different. “We pitched this idea that he says no in the pilot and that we just keep going with that. So I was going to have a bunch of different versions of trying to get him to stay,” he shared. “But we got him.”

So, what were those pitches? “I mean, we got food, tall buildings, culture, anything you could want. That’s it. Why would you go anywhere else?” said showrunner Byron Balasco.

The premiere also introduces the rest of the team: Addy (Jacqueline Byers), who’s helping Wyatt (Shane Harper) get over his failed engagement, and tech specialist Sean (Devin Druid), whom Robyn is trying to help get some “points” on the board since he’s working there under a deal that keeps him out of prison for hacking the police pension fund (even though he didn’t steal anything).

“Sean is our wayward son that we want to show him the light.  He’s sort of been a little disaffected. Maybe he thinks the system’s broken and it’s not working for him. But with enough time with the team and showing him that his good works have an impact, it sort of brings him into the light a little bit,” Balasco shared. “There’s a really great sort of coach-player relationship between Robyn and Sean.”

But Sean’s not exactly deferential to Robyn like he should be a boss. Druid explained that’s due to his experience (or lack of it) in the workforce.

Michael Greenberg/CBS

“I think he’s definitely never been in a proper workspace before. I think he also comes from a generation where what he does, he has such a specific relationship with his work, with the tech world, with the internet, and with also the justice system and systems of power in general. And the way that he kind of folds into this group is a way where he kind of continuously does get away with things,” he said. “So he’s never really held accountable to not be deferential. But there is something about Robyn that I do think appeals to him that he kind of maybe sees that she could maybe see something in him. And so maybe she’s somebody worth not ruining a relationship with.”

What did you think of the NCIS: New York premiere? Let us know in the comments section below.

NCIS: New York, Tuesdays, 9/8c, CBS