However, recent promotional images for the season 22 premiere, titled Empty Nest, confirm that Jessica Knight will indeed return. While the extent and duration of her involvement are still unclear, it appears her expertise in high-stakes situations will be needed right away. According to the episode’s logline, the team is searching for a missing undercover agent in the middle of a hostage crisis—just the kind of scenario where Knight excels.
Fans had speculated for months that her departure at the end of season 21 wasn’t permanent, and comments on Reddit’s r/NCIS show they weren’t convinced that she was gone for good.
In an interview with TV Insider, NCIS executive producer Steven D. Binder shared more details about Knight’s return. Season 22 picks up a few months after her move to the West Coast, and both Knight and Palmer are adjusting to their new lives. Binder revealed that Palmer is now back in the dating scene, adding more drama to the situation. Knight’s involvement in a hostage situation will also force her and Palmer to confront their unresolved issues.
“It’s months later,” Binder said. “Knight’s on the West Coast, and they’ve settled into the new normal of not being together. Jimmy is dating, and we’ll learn a little about that. In the premiere, Knight faces a serious problem involving her skills as a hostage negotiator, which leads to an unfinished conversation with Jimmy.” He hinted that the tension between them will continue into episode 4, when “World War III” starts brewing.
Binder also shared that both Law and Dietzen were consulted before their characters were split, hinting that more drama awaits when season 22 kicks off.
NCIS is available for streaming on Paramount+, with the new season premiering on October 14.
