At long last, Ellie Bishop is returning to NCIS and Emily Wickersham has opened up about what made her come back to the role!
The last time NCIS fans saw Ellie Bishop, the former NSA analyst was giving a steamy kiss to Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) before going on a secret mission for the CIA. That was back in 2021, but Bishop will be coming back in the March 3 episode.
Speaking to TV Insider, Wickersham related what made her decide to return to the role after almost five years.
“They just asked me back, and it was nice because it’s such a familiar place for me, so I was really excited. I think storyline … To be honest, I’ve been busy with kids, so I have not watched the show really at all recently. So I don’t exactly know how it came to be on their end, but I was really excited, and I think when Bishop left the show, there were so many unanswered questions that this will — I don’t know if this will necessarily answer any of them for the fans, but I think it’ll be like a nice little reunion.”
Of course, it won’t be a pleasant reunion at first. Bishop is wanted for cyberterrorism and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) has been assigned to bring her in. The preview images show Bishop with a tied-up Torres, hinting things are going to get complicated.
Wickersham indicated that, like herself, Bishop has been through a lot of changes in five years and that will come up in her performance.
“It’s funny, it’s like life imitates art and art imitates life, and it was great to step back into her shoes. I love playing this character so much, and I love that she’s changed so much, as I have. I’ve been through a few battles. I have children now, and my life has totally changed from when I was on the show. And Bishop also has just been through such a change since leaving NCIS, and we don’t exactly get into totally what it is — we skirt it — but she’s seen some stuff, some stuff that she had not seen when she was working at NCIS. So that was cool to come back with that baggage, this new Bishop, this almost… I guess I don’t want to say darker, but just baggage.”
Wickersham hinted there will be fallout from Bishop’s return as she left so much up in the air with Torres, McGee and Kasie. And yes, that will include the kiss as she praised the connection between Bishop and Torres.
We’ll have to wait and see just how Bishop’s return unfolds yet it’s wonderful to see her back and Wickersham sparking NCIS back up!
NCIS season 23 returns Tuesday March 4 at 8/7c on CBS.