Jessica Knight’s real fate in NCIS season 22 is hinted at by a largely overlooked Katrina Law detail. CBS’ premier procedural show is showing no signs of slowing down, starting with the Major Case Response Team’s (MCRT) return for new episodes this fall. Despite the end of its notable Stateside spinoffs such as NCIS: Hawai’i, and previously NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans, the flagship series thrives, surviving countless character departures. That being said, it may be looking at a big change moving forward, considering the way the NCIS season 21 finale ended.
Despite a shortened year, Alden Parker’s MCRT dealt with so many issues. Aside from their weekly cases, almost every member of the squad experienced their respective crisis. On top of that, the franchise also celebrated NCIS’ 1000th overall episode, which was a celebration of the ever-evolving universe. By the time the year ended, the police procedural didn’t go overboard with a complicated case. Instead, the NCIS season 21 finale was intriguing because of how it set up the future, which included the end of Knight’s stint with the MCRT as she accepted her dream job with REACT.
Katrina Law Represented NCIS Season 22 At CBS’ Fall Schedule Celebration Event
Law Could Have Skipped The Event If She Isn’t Coming Back For NCIS Season 22
While Knight did accept Director Leon Vance’s job offer despite her previous skepticism, it doesn’t guarantee that NCIS season 22 will really get rid of the character. The show has a history of fake exits throughout its time on the air, and it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that this may also be the case. That said, one solid indication that the character isn’t permanently leaving MCRT is Law’s attendance at CBS’ New Fall Schedule event back in May. The function was to celebrate the announcement of the network’s 2024-2025 primetime lineup at Paramount Studios.
If Knight was leaving MCRT, Law could have skipped the aforementioned event. While the majority of NCIS’ main cast was in attendance, it didn’t seem like it was mandatory for them to be involved in since Wilmer Valderrama wasn’t present during the occasion. The actor had been in the police procedural for far longer as Nick Torress, and there has been no indication that he is leaving NCIS anytime in the near future. If Law’s time with the show was only up until season 21, she could have skipped it altogether without spoiling the finale, which aired several days later.
Why It’s Unlikely That NCIS Season 22 Is Getting Rid Of Knight
Knight Is A Valuable Member Of NCIS’ MCRT
Beyond Law’s attendance at CBS’ New Fall Schedule event, there’s also no strong reason for NCIS to get rid of Knight at this point. She has been a valuable addition to MCRT, especially on the heels of Ellie Bishop’s controversial NCIS exit. She is capable, skillful, and has strong ties to the agency, considering her familial connections. From the moment she started helping the team with their cases, it was clear that she was a great fit. It would be unwise for CBS and the writers to write her out, considering all of these.
Knight as a character is great. However, aside from her professional contributions to MCRT, her romance with Jimmy Palmer is also a strong argument against her supposed departure. NCIS lacks any proper romance — a void that it was able to fill with Knight and Palmer’s relationship. It would be a massive waste to not continue their dynamic.