NCIS has had quite the ride on Netflix so far. Seasons 1-11 left the platform at the end of June 2024, only for seasons 16 and 17 to be added, leaving fans scratching their heads. Then, in January 2025, seasons 1-5 made a comeback, leaving us hoping for more consistency.
This fall brings two more seasons of the show on the platform. And while some are still missing, the story is far from over.
What are NCIS seasons 18 and 19 about?
Season 18 is the shortest one, with only 16 episodes. The reason for that was the COVID-19 pandemic. For Special Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon), this season focuses on a side investigation into a drug ring supplying opioids. This leads to Gibbs being suspended by director Vance (Rocky Carroll) and launching an undercover investigation with the help of journalist Marcie Warren (Pam Dawber, Harmon's real-life wife). During the season finale, Gibbs stages his own death in a boat explosion, leaving his team and viewers wondering what'll be next.
Some of the key investigations of the team this season include a body found in the NCIS HQ basement, an ancient treasure hunt, and a plunge into Agent Torres' (Wilmer Valderrama) past.
Season 19 ties up loose ends in the first four episodes, with the team tracking and taking down the supposed serial killer Gibbs has been investigating with Marcie Warren since Season 18. NCIS season 19, episode 4 is the last one featuring Gibbs, as he leaves for Alaska. Alden Parker (Gary Cole) joins the team as their new leader, but has trouble adjusting. Though, as later seasons show, Parker proves not to be a copy of Gibbs but rather finds his own leadership style.
The team investigates a terrorist attack that brings a crossover with the NCIS: Hawaii team and a bioterror attack. Amid all this, we get to see glimpses of Agent McGee's (Sean Murray) family life, how Torres deals with people who keep walking out on him, and Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and Agent Knight's (Katrina Law) budding romance.
Both seasons start streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, Oct. 1, according to What's on Netflix.
NCIS main cast changes through seasons 18 and 19
NCIS has had its share of cast changes over the years. Season 18 is the last one in which Maria Bello as a series regular. Her last appearance in her role as Dr. Jack Sloane is in episode 8, "True Believer". The season finale is also Emily Wickersham's last episode as Eleanor Bishop, after eight years on the show.
The last two episodes of NCIS season 18 also give us the first look at Katrina Law as REACT team agent Jessica Knight.
NCIS Season 19 brings a major change to the main cast: Mark Harmon's departure after 19 years on the show. While Gibbs steps away from the present-day story, the spin-off series NCIS: Origins explores the story of young Gibbs and his father in a way that stays true to the canon.
This season is also the first with Katrina Law as a series regular in her role as Agent Knight and the one that introduces us to Gary Cole as Alden Parker, former FBI Agent and the team's new leader.
Where to watch the missing NCIS seasons?
Paramount+ remains the go-to streaming service for those who want to continue watching seasons 20-22, as well as viewers new to the series and looking for a way to bridge the Netflix gap between seasons 5-12. NCIS season 23 starts on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
NCIS fans have plenty to look forward to with seasons 18 and 19 landing on Netflix this October. With their major cast changes, these two seasons mark the end of an era for the show. And while not every season is in one place, that doesn't stop NCIS from being one of the most enduring TV crime dramas of our time.
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