NCISseason 23’s primary storytelling focus is exciting, but it might not be enough to save the show. TheNCISfranchise has become massively popular with over 20 years of running time, but the show has changed significantly since it began in the early 2000s. The iconic show has even developed severalNCISspinoffs, not changes are not necessarily good.
NCISseason 23will continue several stories thatNCISseason 22 started, like the fallout of Parker’s father’s death, Carla’s betrayal, and the new tension between Palmer and Knight. More than that, it will look more closely into the characters. The change could bring new love to the show, but it could also contribute to its declining ratings and ultimate demise.
NCIS Season 23 Will Further Lean Into Personal Storylines
The MCRT Will Be In The Foreground Of NCIS
NCIShas often focused on explosive storylines and intricate crimes, with the MCRT working together to solve their difficult cases. However, the show has not had as much of a large focus on the characters themselves. While personal storylines have always been in the background, the cases have always come first. This will change inNCISseason 23 asNCISshowrunner, Steven D. Binder, has said thatNCISwill become a “character-forward show,“as revealed inTVLine. Read his full quote below:
We really want to get toeverybodyin a big way. I know people always say, ‘I watch the show for the characters’ — that was always our thing — and I really want to make this a character-forward show in a way we haven’t seen before. So, if you’re invested in these people, this is going to be the season for you.
Binder’s comments point to a larger trend in theNCISuniverse, which has featured more character-centric plots. These types of stories have been especially noticeable in theNCISprequel,NCIS: Origins, which has looked at the personal lives around a young Gibbs while he worked at NIS in the early 1990s. The upcomingNCIS: Tony & Zivaspinoffalso points to the growing trend of focusing on characters over cases. As such, Binder’s desire to changeNCISseason 23’s format does not come out of nowhere.
Character-Centric Plots Are Great, But Those Aren’t What NCIS Season 23 Needs
NCIS Needs To Bring Back Tense Cases
In recent seasons,NCIShas done a decent job with personal arcs, especially regarding Knight and Palmer’s relationship as well as Parker’s mystery with his mother. However,NCIShas seriously been lacking compelling weekly cases. Many of their cases have seemingly followed a pattern, which can get tiring after a while. Their more recent cases are also much more tame compared to some of the ones fromNCIS' earlier seasons, which had higher stakes involved.
The most comparable case inNCISseason 22 to the ones in its earlier days has been Carla’s betrayal, but that was just one instance of many. As a result,NCISseason 23 may need to put a pause on the personal arcs and instead bring back the tense casesthat used to shake up the MCRT on almost a weekly basis. Or, at the very least, the writers and showrunners should try and come up with the perfect balance between them to not only create compelling stories for the characters but also have dramatic cases throughout the season.
What NCIS Season 23 Can Do To Save The Show From Further Failing
NCIS Could Learn From Its Past
Recently,NCIShas seen a decline in ratingscompared to some of its earlier seasons, and it could be due to a number of factors. With increased competition with other series and streaming services,NCIS' status as a legacy show might not be enough to maintain its popularity.NCISseason 22 even had its lowest-rated episodeever, in a surprising development. However, there are several things the police procedural could do to save itself.
With increased competition with other series and streaming services,NCIS' status as a legacy show might not be enough to maintain its popularity.
Doing compelling cases again could be one way to fix the show, but bringing back a notorious villain might be the best solution.NCISseason 22 introduced Carla Marino and showed how far she was willing to go to be the best and season 23 should continue to develop this storyline.NCIS' most terrifying villainshave always added an intense appeal to the show as they have brought out the best qualities of the MCRT. Continuing this trend inNCISseason 23 with Carla could then be the key to saving the show’s sinking ratings.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
