Is It Time for a New Romance on ‘NCIS’?
Opinion
For the most part, romance has taken a backseat to the cases on NCIS, but should that change in Season 17?
While Rule 12 (“Never date a coworker”) does tend to rule out the possibility of one between teammates, it has been bent and broken over the years. (Gibbs did just burn Rule 10, so who’s to say another won’t suffer the same fate?) And the series has teased a couple possibilities between coworkers in recent seasons. It may just be a matter of “going there,” deciding to have another (very) slow burn like Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) or choosing to let the potential for more fizzle out.
In fact, NCIS may be trying to foster vibes similar to those with “Tiva” with Bishop (Emily Wickersham) and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama). Fans kept waiting for something to happen between Tony and Ziva after the partners shared some more than friendly stares and moments, but it wasn’t until she was leaving and then presumed dead that anything truly happened. (Tony would then go on to leave to raise the daughter Ziva never told him they had together. But with Ziva now very likely alive, their relationship status is up in the air.)
While there has been a flirtation between Bishop and Torres, it also seems like every time they take a step forward — say, meeting up after a hard day at work — it’s completely forgotten by the next episode. And that may be for the best, for both agents involved.
(Michael Yarish/CBS)
Both have some growing to do individually. Plus, Bishop hasn’t had the best of luck with love; her marriage fell apart when her husband cheated, and her boyfriend was killed before he could become her fiancé. While that could change with Torres, it does sometimes feel like the show may bring them together simply to introduce a romance between coworkers. There’s too much waffling on the matter to take anything between them seriously, at least not yet.
But they’re not the only potential match at NCIS, though one of the other agents has had a much rougher go at relationships than Bishop. Gibbs (Mark Harmon) had a brief entanglement with Jenny (Lauren Holly) when they worked together before she became NCIS Director, but like all of his relationships after Shannon, several of which we’ve seen onscreen, it was never going to work out.
Now it seems like there may be something between him and Jack (Maria Bello), though both have boatloads of issues they need to work through. Jack all but admitted that she wants to open up to Gibbs in a session with Grace (Laura San Giacomo) in the penultimate episode of Season 16, but for her sake, we’re not quite sure if we want that relationship to happen. Just look at Gibbs’ track record.
That being said, Jack may also be Gibbs’s best chance at a relationship at this point. She’s willing to open up to him, and if there’s anyone he’s going to open up to (besides Ducky), she may be the best bet. If we can see those two work through some of their issues beforehand, they might have a shot at making things work.
(Monty Brinton/CBS)
But even if that does happen, it’s likely that the most successful (and in many ways prominent) relationship of the series will remain McGee (Sean Murray) and Delilah’s (Margo Harshman), and that may be because she only recurs. (She’s been in 14 episodes since Season 11 and only one in Season 16.) Through them, we’ve seen that agents can have a family — they’ve gone from dating to living together to getting engaged to getting married to having kids — but it’s not the same as showcasing a relationship between coworkers, like one of these potential romances would do.
Or like the spinoff NCIS: Los Angeles does with Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen), who have shown that there is a place for romance in the franchise. It may not always be pretty and there have been some hiccups, but overall, they’ve shown that partners can work together and date successfully. (The couple even got married in Season 10.)
So is it time for NCIS to follow in those footsteps and introduce a relationship between team members or at least a significant new romance for one of the team?
Why not?
We’re not saying we need to see it onscreen all the time, or even as often as Kensi and Deeks’ on NCIS: LA, but it is time to explore the lives of the agents on Gibbs’ team outside of work. It’s also time to stop teasing those two potential romances and make a decision one way or the other. “Tiva” was drawn out for much too long and really didn’t amount to anything onscreen. The last thing NCIS needs to do is do the same with another relationship.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
However, we do ask one thing if NCIS does go in this direction, with any of the characters: Let’s not kill off another loved one?
NCIS, Season 17 Premiere, Tuesday, September 24, 8/7c, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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R
Jack and Gibbs? Jack is not a redhead. All of Gibbs wives have been redheads. Why change?
Bishop and Torres? I will spend each episode wondering when and what will happen to Torres given Bishop's history with relationships.
Leave the relationships out of it.
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O
Gibbs deserves better than Jack. She is to bossy. This would be another round of season's 9 mistake (Dr.Samatha Ryan). If there should be any one in a relationship, with Jack, it should be Vance.
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O
No and No. Bishop deserves a lot better than a Tony wannabe. Don’t even know why Jack is on the show, she adds nothing.
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O
You are so correct about Jack. She constantly running around, and in to everyone else's business. This is one character that needs to go.
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O
No. It's a network procedural, not a CW rom-drama. Keep that relationship melodrama crap out of NCIS. Keeks from NCIS LA barely worked and that is only because it is used as a source for comedy, not melodrama, and it still got old after a while. As it sits now, NCIS is already near overload with drama from the -- I think mistaken -- decision to burn Rule 10. Any more drama is going to push the show too far away from what has made it popular all these years, a team of interesting characters working together to solve Navy related crimes. If all you care about is relationship nonsense, then go watch CW or Lifetime or whatever, leave NCIS alone.
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O
The "rules" is what has made Gibbs. Leave them alone.
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R
Ugh. This show doesn't do personal relationships well--at all. Not to mention, since this is a show about people doing a particular job, I want to see them DO THEIR JOB. Leave the personal stuff out of it. Stick to what you're good at-- solving murders. Although even a casual observer can see that there are hints about a Torres/Bishop thing already. As for Gibbs... since Jack is a totally pointless, useless, superfluous character, I say forget she ever existed and get rid of her.
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B
Personally, I think "Jack" is the best character addition they've made since Kate died. (Ziva included.) I think it's time Gibbs found happiness again now that he's coming to terms with his past.
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O
Jack is NOT good for Gibbs.
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O
Are you missing all of the chases, investigating, and being a team too? My family has quit watching because the last two years is not NCIS material. If season 17 does not get better I will be shutting off the tv. It would not matter which character was brought back.
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C
CBS’s NCIS can make both pairs happen. No. 1 continued objective is the series would still be itself. It would just let some of its character actually have a life (in addition to their work). All NCIS would have to do with establishing the pairs, as couples, is to not follow the footprint of the late CBS drama series Scorpion by turning it into a soap opera. In fact, don’t show love scenes. Just establish them as respectfully appreciating their relationships, that we viewers continue to buy into them, and these couples are looking forward to their future while still focused on their work. A key reason why Tim and Deliliah are a success is that they work at the same place. These characters do unique work. They don’t succeed in romances outside of their work. It’s just how it goes on NCIS.
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R
Bishop and Torres? Absolutely .. pair them up and then ship them to Siberia FOREVER.
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P
I’m all for a Gibbs and Sloane relationship. They have a great vibe together and it could be the one that will last! As actors, they play well off each other. Redheads haven’t worked, maybe this blond will!
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O
YUCK! The best person is Vance. Gibbs deserves better than Jack. I still can't figure out what her job is, other than the court jester, that runs around, and has her nose in everyone's business. This was NOT one of the better characters that was added to the show.
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