NCIS Day 2023: What you need to know about the NCIS marathon

There is an NCIS marathon tonight, Monday, Sept. 25, in honor of the show’s 20th anniversary. What can you expect throughout the night?

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since NCIS first began? To mark the milestone, CBS is bringing us a mini NCIS marathon. We’ll get three episodes tonight, and it all starts with the first episode of the series.

The first episode isn’t technically a pilot. Remember that this series is actually a spin-off of JAG, so some of the characters were introduced there. Or at least, the setup of the team was introduced there. The first episode set up the show as we know it now, bringing us Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Kate.

We’ve come a long way since then. The only OG member of the cast left is Ducky, and we don’t see him that often. Yet, the franchise remains to be a strong one, both in terms of syndication and new episodes. So, it’s certainly a series worth celebrating tonight!

What to expect in the mini NCIS marathon tonight

The marathon kicks off with the first episode, titled “Yankee White.” This episode introduces us to the characters, with the team and the Secret Service needing to work together. Of course, the Secret Service thinks that it gets to head the investigation, but Gibbs finds a way in. That leads to him going head-to-head with Secret Service Agent Caitlin “Kate” Todd.

It’s at the end of the episode that Gibbs offers her a place on his team. Of course, she takes it, and it starts that brilliant platonic relationship between DiNozzo and Kate that no other show has really been able to bring about.

After that, we get NCIS Season 2, Episode 22. This episode puts lives on the line. NCIS receives a letter that’s sealed with a kiss, and DiNozzo is sure that it’s for him. When he opens it, a mysterious powder is released into the air, and Abby learns that it’s an altered version of the plague.

With DiNozzo and Kate potentially exposed, they’re put in a bio-hazard isolation ward. It’s up to Gibbs and McGee to track down who sent it before more letters are mailed.

The final episode of the mini NCIS marathon is the Season 19 episode “All Hands.” This is the episode that gives us another softer side of Katrina Law’s Agent Knight. She has a paper doll with her on the mission, aiming to capture photos for her niece’s class. While on the ship, the team is forced to hide when there are terrorists on board.

The NCIS marathon begins at 8/7c on Monday, Sept. 25 on CBS. Watch other episodes on Paramount+.