Long-time fans of <em>NCIS</em> need to be ready, as the show is about to drop the biggest heartbreak it has had in years. The TV institution is still on its extended winter hiatus after going off the air back in December 2025. With NCIS season 23 delivering one of its strongest runs in its new era, the bar for the latter half of its year is high, and from the looks of it, CBS has several tricks up its sleeves for what’s next for the MCRT.

Having been a network TV staple since 2003, NCIS has been through several iterations, which helped in making sure that it stays relevant throughout its run. Mark Harmon’s exit was arguably its biggest blow, considering that he had been the face of the series for almost two decades. Several years after that, NCIS is nearing its final phase of rebranding. However, before it can finalize it, the procedural is set to break the heart of its massive fan-base.

NCIS Season 23 Brings Back Bishop (But She Isn’t Staying)

As set up in the NCIS season 23 mid-season finale, Ellie Bishop is about to reunite with MCRT for the first time since Emily Wickersham’s exit at the end of season 18. She was the last main character that has yet to be involved with the franchise again, since Harmon is producing and providing the narration for NCIS Origins. Unfortunately, because of her job as an undercover agent, she will be the target of Jessica Knight’s ELITE team, convinced that she somehow turned.

Not much is known about the specifics of Bishop’s predicament, but previously-released promotional materials for NCIS season 23, episode 10, “Her,” show her having an emotional reunion with her former co-workers — Timothy McGee, Jimmy Palmer, Kasie Hines, and most importantly, Nick Torres. Seeing her spend time with all of them again after all these years will definitely be a treat, with some theories even positing that this might lead to Bishop and Torres finally fulfilling their romance that was cut short by her departure.

Unfortunately, that isn’t happening. As confirmed by showrunner Steven D. Binder, Wickersham is only confirmed to appear in just one NCIS episode, with no guarantee of later involvement. The story of “Her” will definitively be resolved at the end of the hour, with no chance of Ellie staying behind, let alone rejoining MCRT. Because of her job, she also can’t just pop back in anytime, making it impossible to maintain any kind of relationship with Torres — even if they still love each other.

Why Bishop’s Return Is Worth The Heartbreak In NCIS Season 23

Somehow, Bishop’s NCIS return is more heartbreaking than Ziva’s return from the dead, simply because when Cote de Pablo came back, she left MCRT with the goal of reuniting with Tali and Tony DiNozzo Jr. This time, Wickersham’s character is leaving the people she loves the most, including Torres. Going through that again after her initial departure will definitely bring back some old wounds, especially if they are not properly attended to.

That said, the heartbreak is expected to be worth it if not necessary. It’s no secret that one of the most divisive plots in NCIS‘s history is the way Bishop was written out. Granted that it made sense in terms of what she was set to do next, but the way the show came about with the story felt rushed and uncharacteristic. She hurt people she loved and trusted for years, with no plans of even saying goodbye to them when she left. Now, CBS has a chance to fix that by coming up with a better separation between her and MCRT.

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