NCIS said goodbye to Gibbs in last night’s episode, and fans are shocked. But was it the most shocking exit in the near 20 years the show has been on TV?
It was certainly surprising to see Gibbs go so early in the season. In the episode, Gibbs and McGee headed to Alaska where Gibbs decided he wanted to stay. This was a way for Harmon to say goodbye to the show. Now, the team will have to continue on without him.
Any fan following behind-the-scenes NCIS news probably isn’t too surprised at the news. It’s been rumored that Mark Harmon wanted to leave the show, but eventually agreed to a handful of episodes in season 19. Still, it was hard to predict he’d leave the show so swiftly.
If you weren’t following NCIS news, the exit probably came as a huge shock. It’s hard to say what exit has been the most surprising over the years, but it would be hard to argue that any exit other than Harmon’s caused a bigger shakeup. Harmon has led the show for almost 20 years.
An ‘NCIS’ Executive Producer Gave Fans a Glimmer of Hope in a Recent Statement
Executive Producer Steven D Binder said in a statement that not all hope is lost for Gibbs. It does, however, look like he’s gone for now. It appears Harmon still remains an executive producer of the show even after leaving.
“As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years…never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out,” he said in a statement.
Nobody has officially said whether or not Harmon will appear in future episodes.
While every fan may have an opinion on the show’s most shocking exit, Mark Harmon’s exit is a jarring one. The show has already lost so many key characters like Ziva, Tony, and Abby. Now, with Gibbs gone, the show almost feels completely different than how it was when it started in 2003.
Now, we’ll have to wait and see if the show will survive Harmon’s exit. NCIS has dominated the ratings for years, ranking in at the #1 most-watched scripted drama in the world for years. But with its main character gone and a ton of unfamiliar faces on the cast, the ratings going forward may show whether or not the show has a leg to stand on.
If you want to see how the team handles Gibb’s exit and where the show will go from here, you can tune in on Monday nights at 9/8 Central.
