Expanding the franchise appears to be worth it, as <em>NCIS: New York</em> brings back the classic charm that made the universe so beloved. While CBS’s fall 2026 lineup is dominated by returning shows, the Eye Network has a few new shows in their slate as well. As interesting as Eternally Yours and Cupertino are, arguably the most anticipated of the bunch is NCIS: New York — the latest effort from the long-running franchise to further flesh out the universe.

Spearheaded by LL Cool J, who is reprising his role as Sam Hanna, he gets a new partner in Scott Caan’s Nick Schaeffer. Rounding up the cast is Jennifer Beals as Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Robyn Wells, Jacqueline Byers as Addy Ross, Shane Harper as Wyatt Sellers, and Devin Druid as Sean Sullivan. CBS sent the pilot of this exciting new release, which establishes the series’ future by laying the foundation of the New York-based team and how Sam gets entangled and eventually joins them.

Having been on the air for over two decades, the NCIS franchise is no stranger to successfully launching offshoots. However, as the years pass by, it also goes through countless changes. While that’s not exactly bad, there’s definitely interest in the earlier years of the universe, and that’s something that NCIS: New York is trying to fill in.

NCIS: New York Feels & Looks Different

From the get-go, NCIS: New York already looks different than its peers. Aside from the ambitious opening sequence, which sees Sam in an overseas operation, once he lands in New York, the series immediately makes the most out of its backdrop, with the team’s investigation taking them to various spots in the city. When the project was first announced, it was unclear if it was going to film on location, as the flagship shoots in California even though it’s supposedly set in Washington DC. The decision pays off immediately, as NCIS: New York quickly separates itself from the rest of the universe. It’s a throwback to the days when CBS had the flagship running alongside its Los Angeles and New Orleans spinoffs, yet each one of them had their own unique flavor.

Past the aesthetic of NCIS: New York, the way the new Navy Yard office operates makes it clear that it will have a different flavor than anything currently in the interconnected franchise. It’s grittier and more hands-on. While Timothy McGee and the rest of the MCRT’s criminal busts are quieter but more suspenseful, Sam’s new team takes on bad guys in a more straightforward, almost playful way. The bar raid in “Pilot,” even though only involving LL Cool J’s returning agent, Nick, Addy, and Wyatt, felt like a tactical team on the move. It’s curious if this will be the route of NCIS: New York moving forward or if it will be a mixed bag of cases. In any case, the opening mystery for this new launch does a great job laying the groundwork for Sam’s homecoming while also introducing his new team.

CBS’s New York Spinoff Is The Return Of Classic NCIS Charm

Before specifics of the spinoff were revealed, NCIS: New York‘s announcement was met with some pushback. Some major gripes had something to do with LL Cool J’s return in light of other offshoots’ cancellation, not to mention Caan being recast from Hawaii Five-0’s Danny Williams to Nick. Eventually, it was revealed that CBS specifically wanted both actors to lead this new series, and “Pilot” effectively explains why in a couple of ways. For starters, having someone as recognizable as LL Cool J makes it easier to market the show. Aside from attracting a wider audience, those who have been invested in Sam’s story since NCIS: Los Angeles are likely to check out this new show at least once. Having a legacy character return also allows this series to have built-in lore to explore despite being new.

Secondly, Caan’s return and recasting is immediately justified in NCIS: New York‘s premiere. CBS needed someone to complement Sam’s personality, and this new launch had its work cut out for them considering his great partnership with Chris O’Donnell’s G. Callen. The actor’s chemistry with LL Cool J is promising thus far. The pair’s banter is top-notch and reminiscent of the witty back-and-forth that earlier NCIS shows excelled at. Nick’s welcoming demeanor towards his new partner is refreshing. It’s great that NCIS: New York moves away from the bickering dynamic between partners that has been done countless times before.

All in all, NCIS: New York opens with a strong enough pilot that effectively addresses urgent concerns plaguing it. With all story explanations and character introductions now out of the way, all it has to do is maintain what it has started to prove that it has legs to last.

NCIS: New York season 1 airs every Tuesday at 9 PM ET on CBS.