NCIS already has the perfect replacement for Jessica Knight, but it would have to happen under a specific condition. Knight’s position on the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) hangs in the balance after she accepted a promotion at the end of the NCIS season 21 finale. The promotion would award Knight the title of REACT Chief Training Officer at Camp Pendleton, sending Jess to the other side of the country, far away from the rest of the cast of NCIS at the Washington D.C. office.
If Jess does decide to go, her decision will break up her current team, comprised of Alden Parker (Gary Cole), Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderamma), Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover), Dr. Jimmy Palmer, and NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll). It could also break up her current relationship, considering that the news has caused conflict between Jess & Jimmy. If Jessica Knight does depart the Washington D.C. office, her role will naturally require a suitable replacement in NCIS season 22.
Sam Hanna Would Need To Come As A Package Deal With Special Agent In Charge Jane Tennant.
A lot of names have been thrown around to replace Jessica Knight if she commits to the REACT Chief Training Officer position offered to her by Vance, including Sam Hanna. It wouldn’t be the first time that rapper, record producer, and actor LL Cool J took on a new NCIS series. The character was originally part of the cast of NCIS: Los Angeles, staring opposite characters like G Callen (Chris O’Donnell), Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) and Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen).
If Sam Hanna joined the Washington D.C. office, it would be important that he came as a package deal with Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey). Not only do the agents have excellent professional chemistry, but Tennant would also bring a balance to the team if Hanna, another male agent, was brought in. After the cancelation of NCIS: Hawai’i, this dream duo could take on the flagship MCRT together.
Why It’s Complicated For Sam Hanna To Fill Jessica Knight’s Role Alone (& Why Tennant Helps).
It’s complicated for Sam Hanna to fill Jessica Knight’s role, because the role changing hands continues a 19-year legacy for the NCIS franchise, which has been passed down between strong female characters since its onset. The special agent position was originally filled by former Secret Service Agent Caitlin “Kate” Todd (Sasha Alexander), who joined the team in the first episode of NCIS. She filled the role until the end of season 2 when she was shot in the forehead by Mossad Agent Ari Haswari (Rudolph Martin).
After Caitlin Todd’s shocking death, season 3 opened with a continuation of the case, and saw the introduction of Ari’s half-sister, Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), who would ultimately kill Ari. After avenging Kate’s death in an effort to save Gibbs, Ziva earned the trust of the team and officially took Todd’s place. Then, when Ziva David left NCIS, Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham) took over for David, and although she wasn’t the instant spark that Ziva was for the team, she became her official replacement. The role passed hands again when Knight took over for Bishop in season 19.
Although Hanna is certainly qualified for the job, Jane Tennant would need to come along with Sam in order to balance out the lack of a strong female lead that would otherwise replace Knight. Jane Tennant can’t take over the role herself despite being the best Jessica Knight replacement, because it would cause her character to be demoted, and the Agent in Charge deserves better than that, especially after the cancelation of her show.