The upcoming season of NCIS is going to have a major impact on Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the main character played by Mark Harmon. In the season 12 finale, Gibbs was shot in the chest by a brainwashed preteen terrorist, causing him to reevaluate his worldview. Executive producer Gary Glasberg says that Gibbs can no longer rely on the idea that women and children are to be trusted, which was a key belief for him. The premiere of season 13 picks up right after the shooting, with Gibbs being rushed into surgery at a Navy hospital on an aircraft carrier. The surgery is performed by Dr. Taft, played by guest star Jon Cryer.
While the casting choice may be unexpected, Glasberg says that Taft brings cynicism, sarcasm, and humor to the role. Throughout several episodes, Taft and Gibbs will form a unique friendship as Gibbs undergoes physical therapy. This season will see emotional changes in Gibbs as he leans on his relationships in ways he’s not used to. After a four-month time jump, Gibbs returns to work with a new look and is not allowed out in the field. Agent DiNozzo, played by Michael Weatherly, temporarily steps up as team leader. DiNozzo, along with Agent Teague, played by guest star Mimi Rogers, will fly to Shanghai to take down the terrorist group that recruited Gibbs’s shooter. DiNozzo realizes that being the boss is not easy and starts to question things as he gets older. The season will explore the loneliness of Gibbs’s solitary life and make viewers question if they really want that lifestyle. NCIS returns for its 13th season on September 22 on CBS.
