Either crime dramas find a way to sign on Jennifer Esposito, or she seeks them out based on her extensive filmography. From her various appearances across the Law & Order universe to being part of the ensemble in Paul Haggis’ Crash, to her recent guest starring role as CIA director Susan Raynor in The Boys, Esposito seems to enjoy being part of law-enforcement projects. In 2016, she joined the cast of the ongoing police procedural NCIS. But, like all the original cast members, Esposito said farewell to the long-running show.
Following the departure of Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo in NCIS Season 13, a spot was left open on the Major Crimes Response Team (MCRT). Instead of just filling it with one agent, the NCIS Season 14 premiere introduced two new characters to join the team: Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres and Esposito’s Alex Quinn. They brought a new dynamic to the team with their unique work experiences — Torres as an undercover agent and Quinn as an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Instead of the traditional four-person MCRT, there were five agents. NCIS seemed to be moving in an exciting new direction that it needed after beloved characters Tony and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) left. But while Valderrama has stayed with the show since then, Esposito quietly exited at the end of Season 14 without a proper sendoff.
How Did ‘NCIS’ Address Alex Quinn’s Exit?
Along with her expertise as a FLETC instructor, Quinn was given an emotional backstory that audiences could relate to. NCIS Season 14, Episode 20 introduced her mother, Marie Quinn (Mercedes Ruehl), who was experiencing Alzheimer’s. Gibbs, being the kind boss that he is, allowed Quinn to take time away from a case to help her mother as she kept forgetting the death of her husband. Quinn seemed to be managing, but as Marie’s condition worsened, she decided to move in with her mother. It’s always nice when NCIS brings in the team’s family members for an episode because it takes a step away from the procedural nature and shows off the characters’ home lives.
The NCIS Season 14 finale saw Quinn answering two mysterious calls, but nothing was revealed about them as Esposito left the show before the Season 15 premiere. In an interview with Parade, co-showrunner Frank Cardea said the storyline with Quinn’s mother is “going to consume a little of her time,” implying there were plans for Quinn. In NCIS Season 15, Episode 1, Torres mentions that Quinn took a leave of absence to care for her mom, seemingly implying the calls in the Season 14 finale were related to her mother’s health. In Deadline’s exclusive report, Esposito shared that working on NCIS “was a great experience. I could not have asked for a better opportunity than to work with the NCIS cast and producers.” While it seemed like she had a good time, her NCIS exit is definitely not one of the best sendoffs for a TV character.
Quinn Could Return to the ‘NCIS’ Franchise
Alex Quinn (Jennifer Esposito), Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham), and Gibbs (Mark Harmon) looking at a screen in NCISImage via CBS
Out of all the NCIS series regulars, Esposito had the shortest tenure on the show, appearing in only 24 episodes. Unfortunately, Esposito left the show just as Quinn’s storylines started to get interesting. But the NCIS creative team has brought back characters before, even from the dead, so though she hasn’t been mentioned since the Season 15 premiere, it’s possible that a former main star like Esposito could return in some capacity if she’s interested.
Even though Quinn had a close work relationship with Gibbs, who has since exited NCIS, she also built bonds with Torres, Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), and Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen). If Torres were to lead an NCIS spinoff, Quinn showing up in that series would be a fun way to reunite the two agents. With NCIS Season 23 officially confirmed and nearing the 500-episode mark, it could be another opportunity to see former cast members return for a special episode.
