NCIS Stars Break Down Jess & Jimmy's Relationship Status After Season 22, Episode 4: "Gently Closed For The Moment"

2 hours ago 2
NCIS

4

Sign in to your ScreenRant account

Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer and Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight in NCIS

NCIS season 22, episode 4, "Sticks & Stones" officially resolves Jimmy Palmer and Jessica Knight's relationship issue, and Brian Dietzen and Katrina Law break down their decision. CBS' police procedural isn't exactly known for its romances, as it has botched its fair share of romantic pairings in the past. This is why seeing Palmer and Knight maintaining a healthy adult relationship had been a refreshing change. Sadly, the NCIS season 21 finale altered the course of their story, as they were essentially forced to split due to Knight moving to Camp Pendleton.

That didn't work out, and now, she's back at Navy Yard, prompting an awkward conversation with Palmer, which Dietzen and Law break down in a new interview with TV Insider. Before the talk, NCIS season 22 was dancing around the matter, but they needed to address it sooner rather than later. Ultimately, they decide that while they still love each other, it's best to remain separated as they work on themselves. The good thing is, that both actors agree that this isn't the end of the line for Palmer and Knight's relationship. Read what they have to say before.

Brian Dietzen: While a decision is made between the two of them, I don’t think that there’s anything that’s said within there that slams the door shut on anything or establishes anything firmly in cement—because Steve, as Katrina was saying, is just a damn good writer and he’s also very smart about storytelling, and let’s leave some doors open on what may happen, but also what may not and see how it grows from there and how these two can continue to have a lot of great scenes together and see where their relationship grows from here because they’re going to be seeing each other every day at work. And what does that evolve into?

Law: I think that Jimmy and Knight’s relationship is so special, and like you said, we did get to see a couple of beautiful moments of how they functioned as a couple. And I think one of the key things that was said during that conversation was, “I love you.” “I love you too.” Jess put her heart on her sleeve for a moment and said, “Do you want things to change?” And I think she was basically kind of asking, “Do you want to try this again?” And then with Jimmy basically being like, “I’m not the guy for you right now. I can’t give you what you want.” And then Jess having to concede on that, “I can’t give you what you need either right now.” I think there’s still—I don’t think there was a door slamming. I think it was just gently closed for the moment.

But I think the cool part is that we have several episodes where you do see Jimmy and Knight together in the same room, and there are some moments where all of a sudden you can see Knight’s interest is sparked where she’s like, “Oh, that was kind of nice. That was a little hotness there.” And so there’s definitely still chemistry and love and I think an underlying desire to want to get back together between the two of them. So I think you’re going to see that no matter where our characters go in the future.

Dietzen: I think that it kind of comes back to that saying, if you love something, let it go. And then if it’s meant to be, it’ll come back. So I think they’re putting that ideology to the test.

Why It's Best To Keep Knight & Palmer Apart In NCIS Season 22

Knight & Palmer Have Different Goals In Life At This Point

With just 4 episodes in, NCIS season 22 has been quite busy for the MCRT. After bringing back Knight from Camp Pendleton, the team has dealt with an agency mole, an unexpected death that threatened international relations, a haunted missing mystery murder, and more recently, the brink of World War III. Knight and Palmer's relationship woes are difficult to prioritize at this point, so it's great that NCIS is able to find a solution for it without totally walking back on their split. This would have further worsened the backlash on their break-up, considering how unnecessary it was.

Dietzen and Law's comments about this separation not being the definitive ending to the pair's romance give a glimmer of hope that perhaps someday, they can find a way to try to be together again — whenever that may be.

Knight and Palmer are able to properly lay out the reasons why they can't simply get back together despite their mutual feelings for each other. They want different things in life right now, and it's okay to let them pursue their individual goals. Dietzen and Law's comments about this separation not being the definitive ending to the pair's romance give a glimmer of hope that perhaps someday, they can find a way to try to be together again — whenever that may be. For now, this is the best resolution that NCIS could have offered in what is a complicated situation.

Our Take on Knight & Palmer's Relationship Decision In NCIS

Knight & Palmer Need Their Time Apart

Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight and Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer in NCIS

Admittedly, it's such odd timing to resolve Knight and Palmer during what is the most nerve-wracking episode of the season thus far. It's curious how the outing could have gone if Parker and the team had them for help. However, NCIS could not afford to prolong the issue, especially since both Knight and Palmer had been plagued with questions about the matter.

Mark Harmon as Gibbs and Pauley Perrette as Abby in NCIS

Related

NCIS Subtly Reveals How Much Gibbs Really Needed Abby 12 Years Before They Met

Somehow, the NCIS franchise is able to show how much Gibbs would rely on Abby in the flagship series, 12 years before they actually shared the screen.

This is also a good way to build back up the pair's romance — something that the show didn't have the luxury of doing since they were quick to decide about being in a relationship. Now, NCIS can focus its time on other storylines, including its big Timothy McGee problem.

Source: TV Insider

The cast of NCIS season 20 walks forward above show title in promotional poster

NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Special Agent Alden Parker, a quirky former FBI agent who solves his cases with calm professionalism and sharp, sarcastic charm, leads the NCIS team, which includes NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate with a knack for computers who has now graduated to senior field agent; the charismatic, unpredictable and resilient NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres, who has spent most of his career on solo undercover assignments; and sharp, athletic and tough NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, a formidable REACT agent who specializes in hostage negotiations and high-risk operations. The naïve Jimmy Palmer is assisting the team, who graduated from assistant to fully licensed medical examiner and now runs the morgue; and forensic scientist Kasie Hines, Ducky’s former graduate assistant. Overseeing operations is NCIS Director Leon Vance, an intelligent, highly trained agent who can always be counted on to shake up the status quo. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.

Cast Sean Murray , Wilmer Valderrama , Katrina Law , Brian Dietzen , David McCallum , Mark Harmon , Rocky Carroll , Gary Cole , Joe Spano

Release Date September 23, 2003

Seasons 22

Writers Donald P. Bellisario

Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario

Creator(s) Donald P. Bellisario , Don McGill

Read Entire Article