SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers from NCIS Season 23, Episode 10.

NCIS surprised fans when Emily Wickersham reappeared as Ellie Bishop in the Season 23 fall finale. The spring premiere, appropriately titled “Her,” serves up pretty much everything that CBS viewers expect from bringing Bishop back into the fold. That means the episode is largely predictable, but that also makes it satisfying.

This series has a knack for resurrecting old characters, as one would expect from a TV show that’s been around for almost two dozen seasons. “Her” relies on the tried and true formula of making a former main character seem like they’ve become a bad guy, and it hits all of the required story beats that go with that plot. But NCIS never fully convinces the audience that Bishop has turned sides. After all, if she did, then writer Christopher J. Waild would be depriving viewers of the charmingly emotional scenes between the team that they’re excited about.

“Her” is wisely centered on Bishop and Nick Torres, given that they were romantically entangled before her departure. Wickersham and Wilmer Valderrama get several extended scenes together—ensuring that fans of that ship have more than enough to enjoy. Torres is understandably upset with Bishop, yet the relationship between the characters never fully wavers, even when she has him tied to a chair. And none of the other main characters feel like they seriously doubt Bishop’s claims of being set up, despite her tranquilizing Timothy McGee and escaping from MTAC. It’s clear what the script wants fans to think, but that isn’t stronger than the family vibe NCIS has consistently cultivated.

In fact, longtime viewers will likely have figured out the real culprit from the first, pre-credits scene. Waild’s script is another example of the habit of TV dramas needing to find some fourth-act surprise. When one of Bishop’s team members appears to die in a bomb blast, it’s pretty clear that character will resurface later on. The moment of death is too easy to second-guess. That doesn’t mean the conclusion to the story is bad; it’s satisfying to watch, just not surprising. Even the villain’s motives are as common as they come: she got more money to work for the other side.

Wickersham carries the day by playing a little bit of everything, from angst in her scenes with Valderrama to an excellent fight sequence between her and Katrina Law (because who else but Jessica Knight to come to Torres’ rescue). She saves the best for last, when Bishop leaves again to chase the remainder of the conspiracy and asks Torres to go with her. NCIS viewers are aware he won’t—since Valderrama isn’t leaving the show—but they can feel the emotion between the two characters as they share a goodbye kiss. Waild attempts to convince fans that Bishop has married another teammate, but that falls flat too because they know the longtime producer won’t deprive them of the hope that Bishop and Torres still get some kind of happy ending.

That’s the strength and the weakness of “Her.” Waild gives the NCIS fanbase everything they want, clearly understanding them and their hopes for Bishop’s return. But because of that, anything that deviates from those ideas doesn’t gel together. Other shows have been more successful at faking out their audience. Yet one gets the sense that NCIS isn’t so much trying to surprise fans as it is wanting to tie up loose ends, and in that sense this episode is a complete success. It even leaves the door open for Bishop to make another return someday.

NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Photo Credit: Courtesy of CBS.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.