There’s really only one way for NCIS to handle its Jessica Knight cliffhanger in NCIS season 22. Now that season 22 has a premiere date, significant NCIS season 21 finale events are worth revisiting. One of the most critical moments of the finale was when Rocky Carroll’s NCIS Director Leon Vance offered Jessica Knight a promotion to Chief REACT Training Officer. The job would take her to the other side of the United States. There’s an obvious route the series needs to take now that Knight said “Hell yeah, sir,” to Vance, accepting the position.
Jessica Knight plays a vital role in the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) alongside characters played by fellow NCIS cast members Gary Cole, Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, and Brian Dietzen. The final actor portrays Jessica Knight’s boyfriend, Dr. Jimmy Palmer, who didn’t take the news of his partner moving across the country very well. While Jess’ dedicated boyfriend, team members, and fans of the series will miss her, there is only one right way to continue the story of Jessica Knight in NCIS season 22.
Jessica Knight Should Leave NCIS
Katrina Law’s Character Made Her Decision
Now that the character has accepted the promotion to her dream job as Chief REACT Training Officer, Jessica Knight should leave NCIS. While she would still be part of the lore of the shared NCIS universe, her character should feature significantly less since the promotion would take her to the other side of the country. Katrina Law has established an impressive legacy as the Jessica Knight character during her relatively short-lived time with the series. Agent Knight will be remembered fondly, especially after her heroic effort in the NCIS season 21 finale.
Jessica Knight decided to pursue something beyond what her team offered after saving Alden Parker’s life. A metal beam trapped Parker while they were investigating an abandoned ship, and Jess almost lost her life trying to save him. This experience made her realize that life was short and that the moment for a higher calling was upon her. To walk that decision back now might warrant a sweet reunion moment for the team, but it would ultimately set the series back to not act on the momentum it has created and the curiosity it has planted in its invested viewers.
The Character Should Stick To Her Decision (& So Should The Series)
Jessica Knight’s Departure Is Hollow If NCIS Doesn’t Stick To It
NCIS should stick to its guns and send Jessica Knight off, or her departure arc will feel like a hollow grab for attention ahead of NCIS season 22. The story was about Jessica Knight’s vision for her future evolving. It would feel cheap to walk that back and unreasonable since the series invested time in her departure. While it would be great to see Knight stay another season, that’s not the narrative that NCIS season 21 set up for season 22, and the show needs to honor that. Knight needs to stick to her decision and commit to her promotion.
NCIS was following something he called “the Tony DiNozzo departure” with Knight’s season 21 storyline.
The series needs to do the same and bid the character farewell. In an interview with TV Line, NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder gave a detailed answer concerning Katrina Law’s status in NCIS season 22. Binder’s response was cryptic, not confirming that Jessica Knight would depart the series but strategically not suggesting that she would stay. He indicated that NCIS was following something he called “the Tony DiNozzo departure” with Knight’s season 21 storyline, wherein the showrunners ask themselves what significant thing would pull a character away from the heart of the series and then deliver that.
Jessica Knight And Jimmy Palmer Should End Their NCIS Relationship
Brian Dietzen And Katrina Law’s Characters Need Things Outside Their Relationship
With Jessica Knight’s departure, she and Jimmy must end their relationship. While it would be sad to see the couple part ways, NCIS season 21 clarified that Jessica Knight was looking for other opportunities. Jessica would be taking a step back by not pivoting in her career for the sake of her relationship with Jimmy. Even though Jessica Knight ultimately stood up to her father when he said that Jimmy was not good enough for her in season 21, episode 5, “The Plan,” there is ultimately a rift between what expectations she has set for herself and what Jimmy offers.
While it would be fun to see Jimmy follow his girlfriend to Camp Pendleton as a solution to Jessica Knight’s departure, he needs to take smaller steps. Jessica shouldn’t sacrifice a promotion that has real meaning for her. Similarly, Jimmy shouldn’t trade a sturdy future for his daughter Victoria for a relationship that doesn’t have the foundation it needs. What’s sure about Jimmy after his season 21 finale outburst is he needs time to process the loss he experienced. Jess will have more opportunities if she doesn’t take the REACT job, and it will continue to upset the couple’s balance.
How The Team Should Move On Beyond Agent Knight
A New NCIS Agent Should Take Jessica Knight’s Place
The series should continue a 19-year franchise legacy with Jessica Knight’s departure and cast a strong female lead in Katrina Law’s place. Jessica Knight has been an excellent installment of a legacy handed down since NCIS season 3. Law’s role originally belonged to Sasha Alexander until Caitlin Todd’s death at the end of NCIS season 2. The role ceremoniously changed hands to Cote de Pablo as Ziva David in NCIS season 3. Then, Emily Wickersham’s Eleanor Bishop was the link between Ziva David and Jessica Knight, filling the role opposite Tony DiNozzo and Nick Torres on MCRT until season 18.
Many NCIS characters can replace Jessica Knight, and it would bring fresh dynamics and priorities to the bullpen desks.
If NCIS executes the departure at the beginning of season 22, a new agent should step in to replace Knight. Many NCIS characters can replace Jessica Knight, and it would bring fresh dynamics and priorities to the bullpen desks. FBI Agent Rose, who presumably joined the team in season 21, episode 1, “Algún Día,” or a familiar face like Tammy Gregorio from NCIS: New Orleans, would make a great addition. What the series cannot do is make the gripping season 21 finale a cliffhanger for naught by returning Jessica Knight to the bullpen unceremoniously, as if nothing had changed.
It may be sad to bid farewell to Special Agent Jessica Knight, but NCIS has set the stage for Katrina Law’s departure from the series. It needs to stick to that. If the series wanted to provide a cliffhanger where either scenario was acceptable, it could have ended the season before she answered. Showrunner Steven D. Binder suggested that rather than “What’s it going to be?” they wanted to pose the question “What’s this look like now?” with the NCIS season 21 cliffhanger. Showrunners now need to give the audience an adequate answer to the question they asked.