8 Characters Who Should Return in ‘NCIS’ Season 18

NCIS Returning Characters Season 18 Wishlist
Jace Downs/CBS; CBS; Sonja Flemming/CBS

As we wait for our favorite shows to return, we’re looking ahead at what we want to see when they do — and considering NCIS is heading into its 18th season, there are plenty of past characters who could make another appearance.

In some cases, like with Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano), they’re mixed up in ongoing storylines, while with others, like certain family members, it’s just been too long since we’ve seen them. And, of course, there are a couple former team members, including one we saw in Season 17, that really need to come back for a reunion.

Scroll down for the characters we hope to see again when the CBS procedural returns.

NCIS, Season 18, Fall 2020, CBS

Michael Weatherly NCIS Returning Characters Tony DiNozzo
Jace Downs/CBS

Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly)

It’s about time he returns for the first time since leaving at the end of Season 13, isn’t it? He’s called to check in, and we heard that he and the not-really-dead Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) reunited off-screen in Paris, but an on-screen update would be even better. (And if we could see the two of them together? That would be gold.) Sure, Weatherly is busy with his own CBS show, Bull, but a quick visit from Tony to see his former teammates — with or without the family, if scheduling is an issue — would be nice.

Cote de Pablo NCIS Returning Characters Ziva David
Bill lnoshita/CBS

Ziva David (Cote de Pablo)

Yes, she appeared in four episodes of Season 17 after it was revealed that she’d faked her death, but those were tied to wrapping that up. Why not have her return to see how she’s doing after she’s been reunited with her family — again, with or without them, depending on scheduling — and to perhaps consult on a case? It was entertaining to see her work with Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) again and Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham) and Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) for the first time.

Margo Harshman as Delilah Fielding on NCIS
Robert Voets/CBS

Delilah Fielding (Margo Harshman)

We should expect to see Delilah at least once; a McGee-Delilah episode planned for Season 17 will “be shot early on next year,” executive producer Frank Cardea told TV Insider. But hopefully we see the intelligence analyst more than once, not only with her family but also working with the team on a case again as she has in the past.

Melinda McGraw as Diane Sterling, Juliette Angelo as Emily Fornell, and Joe Spano as Tobias Fornell NCIS - 'Devil’s Triad'
Sonja Flemming/CBS

Tobias and Emily Fornell (Joe Spano and Juliette Angelo)

Tobias’ return is at least pretty much guaranteed with the plan to return to the case involving counterfeit opioids (on which his daughter overdosed). Hopefully while Gibbs (Mark Harmon) hunts down those responsible, we also find out how Emily’s doing.

Troian Bellisario NCIS Returning Characters Sarah McGee
CBS

Sarah McGee (Troian Bellisario)

Remember when we met McGee’s sister back in Season 4 and she clued the team in on the fact that he wrote versions of them into his book? Since then, there have been a couple instances where we thought we might see her again (like after their father died and her brother’s wedding). Why not have her pop in to visit her brother, his wife, and their kids?

Kat Hamilton NCIS Returning Characters Faith Tolliver
Sonja Flemming/CBS

Faith Tolliver (Kate Hamilton)

Now that forensic psychologist Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane (Maria Bello) has reunited with the daughter she gave up for adoption and opened up about her father, let’s see what’s next in their relationship. Have Faith spend time with the rest of the team, especially Gibbs, considering the possibility of a romance between him and Jack.

Michelle Pierce as Breena and Brian Dietzen as Palmer in NCIS - 'We Build, We Fight' - Season 18
Sonja Flemming/CBS

Breena Palmer (Michelle Pierce)

It’s been much too long since we’ve caught up with Dr. Jimmy Palmer’s (Brian Dietzen) personal life; we’ve seen the medical examiner’s father-in-law (Larry Miller) more recently (Season 16) than we’ve seen his wife (Season 12)!