‘NCIS’ is the gift that spin-offs keep on giving

More than 20 years have passed since then NCIS Debuts as a backdoor pilot I – The genre of criminal investigation series has never been the same either.

NCIS First debuted in 2003, followed by Mark HarmonLeroy Jethro Gibbs and his band of rowdy and slightly green Navy investigators—including Michael WeatherlyAnthony “Tony” DiNozzo and Sean MurrayTimothy McGee – They find justice and answers for those killed in the armed forces or affected by crime.

Although there have been many personnel changes in the past two decades, including Weatherly’s exit in 2016 and Harmon’s departure in 2021, NCIS For crime lovers, this remains a gift from a show – one that keeps on giving.

Of course, derivatives NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawaii Each has its own course, but the flagship series is strong in early 2025, and its spin-off games are even stronger. (new orleans Ending in 2021, Los Angeles 2023 and hawaii 2024. )

NCIS Entering its 23rd season in the fall of 2025, all American fans could celebrate, and they did.

The fall TV slate also includes new seasons of two beloved spinoffs, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydneyas well as new iterations of familiar faces in the universe: NCIS: Tony and Ziva.

“NCIS”

It can be said that 2025 is a year full of wealth NCIS What fans say is an understatement. NCIS Inside Alden Park’s (Gary Cole) As a child, her mother died and laughed at Agent Ellie Bishop’s (Emily Wickersham) is mysteriously returning to the show — and the season isn’t even over yet.

“We’re in our 23rd season and, you know, we’re still trying to do different shows instead of trying to do the same old thing,” Murray, 48 Exclusive story US Weekly November for the OG series. “We’re trying to bring new things into it. I think that’s one of the reasons I never get bored here.”

Murray, the only original NCIS actor still on the shownoted, “We’re always looking for interesting angles and different perspectives on things.”

Murray’s partners currently include Cole, Wilmer Valderrama, hurricane katrina, Brian Dietzen, Rocky Carroll and Diona Lisenoverand also keeps fans coming back for support.

NCISHowever, spin-offs have proven to be an equally valuable part of the series’ success in recent years.

“NCIS: Sydney”

NCIS: Sydney Premiering in 2023, it is the first international version of the show. With female agent Michelle McGee (Olivia Swann), fans are transported into a completely different world of problem-solving with the helm.

McGee with fellow Australian Federal Police (AFP) Jim “JD” DempseyTodd Lasance), allowing the audience to transport them while also wondering how they work side by side with so many cultural differences.

As season three begins, fans are finally getting to know the complex characters that make up their team and the wild adventures that could happen in the Outback and beyond.

“What’s important to the characters is that things from the past are going to haunt us. And there’s an overarching conspiracy that’s connected to McGee in some way,” Swann, 33, Exclusive story us The evolution of the current season in October. “It’s very, very interesting and very complex. We’re upping the ante in a way that I didn’t even think was possible. There’s more action, there’s more drama, there’s more fun.”

She joked, “It’s just a fun, crazy ride where we’re hanging out with this family that was discovered and these misfits are just trying to keep people safe.”

Swann added that the writers have really done a great job this season. “We have a treasure hunt. We have alien abductions in the Outback,” she promised. “We have a podcast cold case from years ago. We have a nanotech assassin. We have explosions.”

“NCIS: Origins”

NCIS: Sydney It’s not the only spin-off to improve the game’s performance in the new 2025 season. NCIS: OriginsIt’s actually a prequel series set to premiere in 2024 that doesn’t shy away from drama, romantic entanglements or high-stakes cases, and launched its second season earlier this year.

NCIS: Origins Follow young Gibbs, by Austin StowellHe began his career in the 1990s at NIS (formerly known as the Naval Service of Investigation) in Southern California. His career with mentor Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) begins after Gibbs’ wife and daughter are killed during his overseas trip – OG NCIS Fans already know everything.

However, in season 2, lingering romantic feelings between the two Gibbs and partner Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino) became the main focus at the end of season one after she was nearly killed in a car accident.

Although the series follows NCIS Cannon – so fans knew Gibbs would Married four times in total ——The audience can’t help but support Lala and Gibbs are coming to an end. The desire for the entire series to change its trajectory in some way speaks to the power of the performances on this show and how beloved these stories are among fans.

“While we can’t show that love, we can show the subtleties of wanting someone and how it affects every aspect of your life, through work, career and personal life,” Molino, 33, Exclusive story us In October, when asked about Lara and Gibbs’ future. “You just want to prove them wrong or make them proud.”

“NCIS: Tony and Ziva”

In September, Paramount+ joins NCIS Legacy and Premiere NCIS: Tony and Ziva. If you’ve been playing the OG series since day one, you’ve probably already guessed what this spin-off is about. Tony DiNozzo (Weatherly) and Special Agent Ziva Davidpablo hills) and their stories after leaving NCIS.

in their time NCISthe two fell in love, and after Ziva was presumed dead in an explosion at her Middle Eastern home, Tony discovered they had a daughter named Tully. Ziva’s death causes Tony to quit his job in Washington, D.C., to take care of Tully and find out who hurt his true love.

NCIS Fans eventually learned that Ziva was still alive, but they didn’t learn about Tony and Ziva’s missing years until the show on Paramount+. Creative derivatives include Flashback to 2020-2025 The story follows the couple as they get back together, separate, raise their children together, and then reunite to protect their daughter Tully from the looming threat of modern Paris.

NCIS: Tony and Ziva Was Canceled in December It’s just one season later, but for fans of the couple, it finally gives us answers — and for that we’re so grateful.

“Obviously, the real connection between them comes from these very tender and very flirtatious moments that they have,” said De Pablo, 46. Exclusive story us In October, Ziva and Tony bonded ahead of the series finale. “Of course, there are very sexy scenes when they’re about to enter the apartment and so on. As a fan, you have to see that to understand the payoff at the end. So I think those flashbacks work really well.”

Fans can expect more new episodes as 2026 approaches NCIS, NCIS: Sydney and NCIS: Origins It’s worth looking forward to – and if we’re lucky, there will be more spin-offs. But now, we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this team is alive and well.

NCIS, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney It returns on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm ET on CBS.