NCIS season 17: Five interesting moments from Lonely Hearts

5. Where has Director Vance been and what is his future with NCIS?

Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) does not make a physical appearance in this week’s NCIS episode, but he was briefly talked about. While learning more about the dating app that this whole episode revolves around, Bishop is shocked to find Vance’s dating profile. The odd part isn’t that Vance is attempting to date again, it’s moreso the way he’s going about it that caught us off guard. And his not being in the episode at all prompts a natural question about his overall place in the show.

NCIS is not afraid of eventful departures. Over the years, we have seen climactic exits from Jenny Shepard, Abby Sciuto, Dr. Mallard, Tony DiNozzo, and Ziva David. So not seeing Vance this week is a possible sign that we might see less of him, or maybe at some point not see him at all.

There’s been a rocky relationship between Vance and NCIS fans, but he ultimately earned their respect and appreciation.  He’s been in the NCIS director’s office for over ten years now, which is longer than his predecessors Thomas Morrow and Jenny Shepard. We have also seen him take part in many interrogations, field work, fights and even shootouts—not typical for the director of NCIS!

As realistic as NCIS can be, it’s hard to believe that the director of any military investigative unit can be out of the office for long periods of time like we’ve seen Vance. It makes you wonder how the day-to-day operations of the agency are getting done. And now he’s MIA for a week. Is this random absence from Vance just a coincidence, or starting to prepare us for an eventful parting of ways between him and NCIS?

Vance has been a completely different person since the death of his wife in NCIS season 10. Although he has dated since becoming a widower, it hasn’t amounted to anything serious. But he’s been more focused on things outside the office, like his children and trying to date again, than he has been in seasons past.

That makes it at least a reasonable possibility NCIS season 17 is the final season for Leon Vance. But whether or not that actually is the case is something we probably wouldn’t know until much later in the season.

What do you think the future holds for Director Vance on NCIS? Will we continue to learn more about Gibbs in the rest of the season? Share your thoughts about this episode in the comments below.

NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.