One NCIS spinoff captures the spirit of Gibbs’ original team better than any other-making it a must-watch for fans who miss the early 2000s NCIS era.
The flagship NCIS series launched in 2003 as a spinoff of JAG, which introduced Gibbs, Ducky, Tony, and Abby through a backdoor pilot. When NCIS premiered, it kept most of that lineup and added Sasha Alexander as Caitlin “Kate” Todd, a former Secret Service agent brought onto Gibbs’ MCRT after “Yankee White.” That early team dynamic defined the series for years, and one modern spinoff is currently mirroring that fresh, early-team feeling
NCIS: Sydney’s Task Force Echoes the Original MCRT
Premiering in 2023 during the WGA strikes, NCIS: Sydney introduced a joint Australian Federal Police/NCIS task force. Special Agent Michelle Mackey (formerly an Agent Afloat) becomes team leader after the events of the series premiere, “Gone Fission.” She’s paired-reluctantly-with Australian Federal Police Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey, whose success with Mackey in the pilot forces them into an official partnership.
The task force also includes:
- Evie Cooper – AFP Constable and liaison
- Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson – forensic scientist
- Roy “Rosie” Penrose – forensic pathologist and retired Navy medic
- Special Agent DeShawn Jackson – Mackey’s former Agent Afloat colleague
Mackey & JD Share Gibbs’ Leadership Traits—Split Between Two Characters
Mackey, a former Marine captain with a guarded, trauma-burdened past, reflects Gibbs’ stoic side. JD, by contrast, brings warmth, confidence, and local know-how. Together, they form a balanced leadership dynamic reminiscent of Gibbs’ authority and intuition-though divided between them instead of in one character.
Blue & Roy Mirror Abby and Ducky’s Supportive Bond
Blue and Roy’s quiet friendship strongly parallels Abby and Ducky’s relationship. Both are thoughtful, introverted scientists who support one another emotionally. Their bond deepens in season 1, episode 5, “Doggiecino Day Afternoon,” when Blue helps Roy visit his wife, who has dementia-cementing their partnership much like Abby and Ducky’s steady connection in the original series.
Evie & DeShawn’s Banter Echoes Tony & Kate
Every NCIS show features a will-they-won’t-they tension, but Evie and DeShawn’s dynamic especially recalls Tony and Kate. Their playful adversarial banter feels more like sibling rivalry than romance, just as Kate frequently clapped back at Tony’s teasing. The tone is less overtly romantic than Tony and Ziva’s later chemistry and more rooted in witty back-and-forth.
What’s Next for NCIS: Sydney Season 2
Season 2 will continue developing the team as they face returning villain Ana Neimus, whose motives remain unclear. More importantly, the group will keep building trust-mirroring the early seasons of NCIS, when Gibbs’ first squad was still figuring out how to work together.
NCIS: Sydney captures something rare: the feeling of a brand-new team still finding its footing. The tension, turf wars, and gradual bonding closely resemble the energy of Gibbs’ original MCRT-something later NCIS teams, strong as they were, could never fully recreate.
