Season 23 of NCIS is shaping up to be a wild ride, with CBS confirming the full return of the current team—Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, and Rocky Carroll. But the biggest surprise? A key character from the past is also rumored to appear in a recurring role, and fans are already speculating it could be a long-missing link to Gibbs or even a new antagonist. While Gary Cole remains at the helm as Parker, his leadership may be tested in ways we haven’t seen before.

The show is ditching its usual time-jump trick and picking up exactly where the explosive Season 22 finale left off, which saw a devastating loss that’s expected to reshape the team emotionally. The new season promises a darker, more serialized tone—less procedural, more personal. For fans used to the classic format, this marks a dramatic shift.

Whether you’re Team McGee or holding out hope for a Tony and Ziva cameo, one thing’s clear: Season 23 isn’t playing it safe. With high stakes, evolving character arcs, and an all-new energy behind the scenes, the NCIS we knew might be gone for good—but what’s coming could be even better.