NCIS Preview: Gibbs' Shooting Triggers a 'Fundamental' Tonal Shift for Series 

vet Michael Weatherly wouldn’t be the first to suggest that the CBS drama’s May finale perhaps didn’t leave

guessing as to the fate of team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who in the closing moments got shot — twice — by a terrorist network’s very young recruit.

“I don’t think anyone thought that was going to be Cliffhanger of the Year, because

he’s coming back,” DiNozzo’s portrayer told TVLine earlier this week. “It’s more about

he comes back, how that impacts the team, and what the ramifications are.”

Rocky Carroll, who plays Vance, echoes that viewpoint, while raising another provocative question: “It’s funny, because people say, ‘If Gibbs goes, so goes the show. So he’s

Because make no mistake, that second bullet from The Calling’s Luke hit Boss

. That was no through-and-through, no mere flesh wound. (“He got

,” Carroll asserts.) And Season 13 will pick up on Sept. 22 mere moments after that gun shot, with no less than Alan Harper aka Jon Cryer ultimately summoned to save the day, as a badass Navy surgeon.

,” Brian Dietzen observes. “He’s going to be doing his darndest to save Gibbs’ life!”

Six thousand miles away in D.C., meanwhile, Palmer, Bishop et al are “scrambling, trying to make sure everything’s OK, that Gibbs is solid,” Emily Wickersham reports. “We’re also trying to put a stop to [the larger terrorist threat] as soon as we can. The kid is stopped, but The Calling is no joke.”

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Yet even in success, there may be limits to what Cryer’s Dr. Taft can pull off. “It’s going to be interesting to see what the hell happens with Gibbs this year, because that’s the type of thing that can change someone pretty significantly,” Dietzen notes. “Getting shot by a child is pretty nasty, and pretty momentous. But this season our writers have pulled together one of their most cohesive plans in a long time.”

And where might that plan take the original NCIS team?

“I think what we’re going to have this year,” Weatherly ventures, “is a fundamental shift in the show — and that’s a fascinating thing to see,” 13 well-watched seasons in. “I don’t want to give away too much, but I think the audience will respond with great interest to some of the tonal changes.”

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There may be changes in responsibility within the big orange room, as well, depending on Gibbs’ condition coming out of the delicate surgery. “This plotline could serve a lot of purposes,” Carroll hints, “and really allow the characters to kind of come into who they really are, or who they’ve been working toward becoming.” Citing McGee, for one, as a “computer geek” who evolved into “a  very good agent,” he says, “All of those things are going to come into play, all spawned from Gibbs being shot.”

McGee himself, Sean Murray, joins in the tease-filled chorus, warning, “A lot of people are going to be surprised by what’s coming up.

“A lot of older shows tend to figure out where their ‘safe place’ is and stay there,” the actor continues. “We, though, like to keep things moving, so this is going to be a

, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

I’m practically jumping up and down in my chair! It’s definitely a brave thing for a show to do at this age and I can’t wait for it to get started. Thanks for all the quotes from Michael, Rocky, Emily, Sean and Brian.

I’m with you. I can’t wait to see what they have planned for Season 13. Everyone in the current cast has the chops to pull off anything. Kudos for changing things up this late in the game.

Yes this sounds awesome. Can’t wait either

But haven’t they always said there will be a shift, yadda, yadda, yadda, and then a few episodes in everything goes back to normal. Not holding my breath.

I’m with you, too! I love that we’ll see some changes in tone this year. We got a preview of that in the slightly harder edge to the last 3 episodes of season 12. And even earlier last season with Parental Guidance. I love how the actors are chiming in with enthusiasm. It sounds like they’ll have some fun with the changes in dynamics. Every actor likes new challenges and shaking things up will bring that. I’m very excited! Bring on Season 13!

My one question and comment is what it has been for the past 2 seasons. WILL COTE BE RETURNING AS A REGULAR, OR NOT? If not none of all the garbage you have been talking about is just that GARBAGE, and I will no longer be interested in NCIS or any of its counter parts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Well then good bye and good riddance. The show is more than one cast member and if you are just watching for Cote then clearly you are not an NCIS fan.

What is so difficult to understand that Cote made a choice for herself. Not for her ungrateful “fans” who quite frankly don’t act like they care about her at all, just a character she played. She might show up as a guest star and then again she might not. But all of this feet stomping and tantrum throwing the last two years makes the BBC crowd look like petulant children that had their toy taken away. You don’t want to watch it, that’s your choice, just don’t expect the entire fandom to feel the same way despite what a small minority on facebook wants to think.

Very much looking forward to this new season and what is to come with everyone, INCLUDING Bishop.

These are probably the same people who are determined that Emily Prentiss has to return to Criminal Minds.

I’m sorry all your NCIS related articles seem to come down to this, Matt.

Right?? It’s like we can’t even get through ONE article about NCIS without having to hear about Ziva from some fan that just won’t get it through their heads that she’s gone!!

They should have just killed her like they did Kate, then that would shut up any return crap these nuts keep spitting out.

….yeeeeeeeah, if you haven’t heard anything within the last

two years that stated she would definitely return as a regular, that should’ve probably given you a massive clue regarding the answer to your question by now.

You need to chill,and get an intervention pill. Cote will never be a regular because she doesn’t want to be a regular any more . Your lack of respect for her decision is disturbing.

Wow, what a mature and rational comment. You do the fans, and Cote herself, proud!

Unless you’re new to this subject of discussion Gloria I will put this in a a way a primitive bonehead like you can understand COTE DEPABLO WANTED AND CHOSE TO LEAVE NCIS before you say your well rehearsed line of they should have offered her more money or givien the time she wanted I ask you,do you know his for a fact did Cote tell you this herself while you went clubbing together? no? then shut up I dont what awful thing has happened to your life Mommy and daddy could be ignoring you the bullies at school are giving you problems or if you didn’t drink coffee this morning I don’t judge. But belittling other people’s interests especially for a show you just so you can get some sick twisted sense of pride is utterly sad.

the only GARBAGE is your disturbing mentality that you and the few cote fans believe you are homoring Cote by talking smack to the cast crew and people who work on a show just to get by. Honestly Cote would be horrorfied by the stuff you said in her name. People like you are the GARBAGE.

Oh, please – you don’t think she knows EXACTLY what they’re saying and doing? By her own words, she checks social media every morning.

Not necessarily – she said she checks the “Internet” every morning. Thank goodness the Internet is made up of more than social media and fan sites – or it truly would be a cesspool — to use Ducky’s word.

Point taken, Lindylou. I thought she said she checked social media, but I was mistaken.

I still think she knows, but that’s just my feeling/opinion on it.

I’m sorry, have you been in a coma for the past two years? Up your meds, the hamster is skidding off the wheel again……

Your question has already been answered, Cote is not coming back as a regular anytime soon. If she ever does return to the show, TV|Line will report on it. If you don’t like the answer, feel free to stop watching the show and continue living in the past. Unless someone is holding a gun to your head forcing to watch this ‘garbage’ as you so eloquently put it.

de Pablo has said in several interviews that she has had enough of the level of commitment required in filming a show like NCIS with 24 episodes a year. After giving 8 years of her life to us/NCIS she has chosen to move on to do some of the new, different and interesting things that she wants to do with her career, so she will not be returning as a regular.

And, no, you don’t have to continue watching the show if you no longer enjoy it without her character, nor do you need to waste your time following the show on social media any longer.

Would you like some cheese to go with that w(h)ine?

The husband feels NCIS has gotten lost, over the years, wandering away from the team and teamwork emphasis. He feels NCIS-LA has retained the mood, much better. I am not interested in plotting that has the kid, actually, the one that shot Gibbs. CBS suits, you have your warning from some of your viewers, here.

You mean one of their fans. Do not presume to speak for others. Doubt that Luke will be a factor ongoing. It’s what he did to Gibbs that will be . I

Sorry for the misunderstanding, meaning my husband and I as the “some of your viewers”. I should have said a couple of viewers. ooops

NCIS has grown stale for me over the past few years and I’ve grown to love NCIS LA a lot more than NCIS. I love the chemistry and banter among the NCIS LA cast. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for NCIS this season and if it will feel less stale to me. I do love Mark Harmon.

The whole teamwork emphasis was lost many seasons ago with the emphasis on pairing two particular characters together all the time, and with one of the ‘team’ so obviously not wanting to be a team player.

It’s not back to where it was originally but there has been far more of a team feel to the shows in the last couple of years.

And I can understand that certain storylines might not appeal to you, there have been a number of recurring storylines that they have used in the past, that I have found to be rather boring, but there is always something with this show of interest in every episode.

It sounds like things may be changing in several ways this season. I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Haven’t been happy with the show being so overly focused on Gibbs as if he was the only cast member the last few seasons. Even during the early seasons when it seemed like most of the cast got a ‘one and done’ ep once a year where they were the focal point, it seemed the show did a better job of showcasing all of the team’s talents and importance than they’ve done of late.

Here’s hoping that the quotes aren’t just TCA ‘lips service’ and that there is a lasting change.

No, no, no, no, no. Don’t want tonal changes. Want ‘safe place’.

Bring it on, I’m really looking forward to season 13. :)

We really don’t want to lose Gibbs. Gibbs goes we go!

If this means that the show plans to sharpen the focus and get back to the more classic NCIS roots, then great. But it seems to me the show has already suffered a huge “tonal change” since Gary Glasburg took over, taking the focus off the team and putting it on a never-ending parade of guest stars, dulling the once-sharp dialog, and making Gibbs distant and dismissive where his team is concerned. I’m trying to stay positive, because I love the show and cast, but so much damage has been done to the characters already. And I really hope they have more in mind for Tony this season than having a falling out with Gibbs and Jimmy. I’ll keep an open mind and wait and see.

The husband has been sooo tired of the terrorist threat plots for a long time. I’m tired of hearing him gripe. Can’t we, please, have NCIS back the way it used to be?

‘Tired of hearing him gripe’ just like were tired of hearing pissy and dissatisfied viewers like you who still watch regardless of claiming to no longer like it. Also I find it funny you always say these thoughts of your alleged husband, we know this is just you whining.

Dean, this is your last warning: DIAL IT DOWN. –Mgmt.

The interesting story in all this is Gibbs got duped! By a kid no less. Surely that will factor into his mental recovery. Over the years we have seen Gibbs not always make the best decisions with whom to trust. I think this will lead the show back to its core focus. Crimes, and who better to lead the team but Tony. Gibbs told Jenny once When DiNozzo ready for a team we

What did Gibbs say to Jenny, “…ready for a team we…..???” Don’t stop there. Now I need to know about NiNozzo.

The quote from the episode ‘Singled Out’ (when Jenny offers Tony Rota and tries to get Gibbs to stop being an ass towards him) is “Oh trust me, when DiNozzo thinks he’s ready for his own team, you’ll know about it. Hell, the whole world will know about it!” I hated that line, and disliked Gibbs and the rest of the team in that episode for several reasons.

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