NCIS Season 23 has officially changed the game. The fall finale delivered one of the franchise’s most jaw-dropping cliffhangers in years – and it centers on Jessica Knight and the unexpected return of Ellie Bishop.
In Episode 9, “Heaven and Nature,” Knight finally receives her first NCIS Elite assignment from Director Vance. Her mission? Track down a wanted fugitive. The twist comes when she sees the target’s photo – it’s Eleanor Bishop, her former teammate.
Moments later, viewers learn Bishop is already watching Knight and the team from afar at Parker’s mother’s funeral. Whatever she’s involved in, Bishop is clearly ahead of the agency – and possibly aware she’s being hunted.
Why Is Bishop a Fugitive?
Bishop left NCIS in Season 18 after staging her own disgrace to go undercover with a CIA operative tied to Ziva David’s past. Her exit was messy and unresolved, unlike many other NCIS departures. Now, Season 23 suggests her undercover work may have spiraled into something far more dangerous – or far more complicated.
It’s still unclear whether Bishop is truly a cr1minal or operating in another deep-cover mission. But NCIS history suggests her actions may ultimately be for the greater good.
