NCIS is the perfect crime show that has many heartbreaking moments, along with good ones. It's got a great combination of seriousness, comedy, and lightheartedness. But with a show that's been on for 22 years, the cast will inevitably part ways. When Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) departed the show, some big shoes were left to fill. Who could take over for such an influential and hilarious character? The same can be said for when Ziva David (Cote De Pablo) left. She was a badass and got the job done with such style. She and Tony are such a power couple that it's hard to imagine how the show would continue. Another memorable departure was Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), who was integral to the crew with her smarts and kindess. Even when Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander) was killed, it left a hole in audiences' hearts. She was only there for two seasons, but she made an impact. When NCIS hit its 19th season, the show concluded the time of the core character Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), and there wasn't a dry eye on set when he was filming his farewell to NCIS.
Jethro Gibbs Says Farewell in "Great Wide Open"
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The episode in question is Season 19, Episode 4, "Great Wide Open." Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster because this one isn't missing any stops. It starts with everyone looking for Gibbs after he steals FBI agent Parker's (Gary Cole) car and runs away with the suspect, who later ends up dying – but not because of Gibbs. It turns out everyone knows where Gibbs is except the FBI and Parker. Gibbs and Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) are in Alaska working on a case to stop the evil corporation Sonoma, which plans to destroy the environment with their new project. Though fake tests "prove" the environment will be untouched, a journalist wrote an article about how they definitely would be killing the entire ecosystem and has evidence to prove it. But, she, along with several others, has been murdered over this situation, and no one knows where the article is.
Ducky (David McCallum) is reunited with Dr. Palmer (Brian Dietzen) after not seeing him for a while, and that's when Ducky discovers a QR code that links to the missing article, stating that Sonoma Corporations will destroy the environment. They also find a statement signed by Sonia Eberhart (Valarie Pettiford), the CEO of Sonoma, saying she knew about the whole thing. Then, Parker finally tracks them down. But the catch is that Gibbs told Parker where to find him to prevent the Feds from thinking he was running. Parker arrests Gibbs, but Gibbs and McGee convince him not to and instead help stop Sonia before it's too late. Of course, he agrees, and together, the three of them capture her and find her accomplice for hiring the hit man to kill the people who got too close to finding out the truth.
It really is Gibbs' last hurrah in the series, as the previous episode and this one both lead to this tantalizing arrest. It is not only memorable because Gibbs exits the series working on a case of this caliber, but also due to the way he approaches his work. Viewers are once again reminded of the strength of his morals and the lengths he would go to deliver justice. He breaks laws and puts himself in danger, but it is worthwhile to him as he is doing the right thing. It also demonstrates his close relationship with McGee. Worried about McGee getting an aiding and abetting charge, Gibbs insists that McGee arrest him. After much debate, McGee agrees and takes him to Parker. To everyone's surprise, Parker undoes the handcuffs after researching Gibbs and his supposed line crossing. It also helped that an old friend, Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano), vouched for him. Gibbs is free to go after this heart-racing case and his altruistic displays of sacrifice.
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But Gibbs shares one final scene with McGee, giving the character an emotional departure. They're fly-fishing together, enjoying the scenery and each other's company as Gibbs gives McGee a pep talk he'll carry the rest of his life. Gibbs got to see McGee grow from probie to senior field agent and encourages him further before they go their separate ways, saying, "You're getting there. You just gotta find your rhythm. Your rhythm, not mine." It's so satisfying to get approval from mentors, especially after all your hard work, which is absolutely true for McGee, who has worked tirelessly for NCIS. Gibbs finishes his pep talk with, "Be patient. It's about progress, not perfection. Once you know the basics, the rest just comes from inside."
Gibbs gives McGee his final and most heart-wrenching goodbye, saying, "I could not have hoped for anyone better to watch my back for the past 18 years than you, Tim," before wrapping him in a hug and telling him he loves him. McGee reciprocates with tears in his eyes and heads for the plane, taking him back to NCIS headquarters. This scene hit Sean Murray hard, as he and Mark Harmon enjoyed working together. During an interview with TV Insider, Murray recalls looking around when they were fly-fishing, and there wasn't a dry eye in sight, so he knew they were doing something right. When the audience watches this episode, there isn't a dry eye there either.
In the same interview with TV Insider, Murray also describes this as "one of [his] best memories of this show." Mark Harmon has been a staple in the series since the beginning, and McGee has been there almost from the start, so having these two finish on such a tender and heartwarming scene is the perfect full-circle moment. It encapsulates the significance of their relationship on the show, especially considering the profound simplicity of the scene. Compared to the tumultuous cases and dizzying action they have seen together, the visual of the two of them standing next to the vast horizon and peaceful valley is the ultimate closure for them and us.
"Great Wide Open" Is a Great Big Tear Jerker
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That wasn't the only part of the NCIS episode with teary eyes from the audience. The entire episode is chock-full of emotional scenes where Gibbs gets sentimental with his friends. You could tell Gibbs knew he might not return after the mission. That and the giant hole he left in his basement from the boat. The way the episode is set up with everyone's flashbacks makes it seem like they knew it was goodbye. Gibbs gave everyone a pep talk before he left, like Nicholas Torres (Wilmer Valderrama). Gibbs checks in with him to make sure he's alright and tells him he's doing a good job. Although they haven't been working together as long as some other people, it was still a heartwarming moment where Gibbs showed how much he cares.
But aside from the goodbye to McGee, the next emotional goodbye on the roster had to be with Ducky. It wasn't a long scene, but it packed a punch. Ducky told Gibbs he was worried about him, and Gibbs said he'd be okay. They hugged, but not just any hug, a hug you give someone special, a longtime friend. That's when Gibbs says, "You're a great friend," which, for two men who don't share their feelings often, is saying a lot. They've known each other for so long, and you can tell their friendship was genuine at that moment. Jethro Gibbs left a hefty hole within the NCIS crew. Although it's nice to see his name under the producer title in the credits, the show would not be the same without the fearless leader we had all come to know and love. He was tough, but he knew how to care for his agents and show it in unconventional ways.
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Gibbs and McGee have worked together for nearly 20 years and have definitely seen different sides of one another. They've been prisoners, survived a helicopter crash, and put numerous criminals behind bars with vastly different skill sets, so seeing their last scene together really tugged on the heartstrings. Plus, they've been through so much, both personally — Gibbs even opens up to McGee about his war experiences, which for Gibbs is a lot — and on missions. A great example is when McGee's communications went out; the only way for Gibbs to stop McGee from getting blown up was to shoot him. It's a brutal way to be saved, but the sharp-shooting Gibbs knew what he was doing, and it takes a lot of trust to let someone shoot you. They've dealt with the death of their co-workers like Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander) or Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) and managed to come out on the other end, however much they might be hurting on the inside.
Not all their memories are dark and sad, however. Some of them are downright hilarious, like when Gibbs starts calling McGee "Elf Lord" after hearing about how he likes to play video games, or when Gibbs gives McGee a head slap and then smiles when no one is looking, or even Gibbs' disdain for technology while McGee is a technological whiz. It makes for some great comedy, especially in the early seasons when Gibbs can always be seen smashing his cell phone and then asking McGee to fix it. From probie to senior field agent, McGee and Gibbs have been through it all and have developed a relationship others can only dream about, which makes their moment in "Great Wide Open" hit that much closer to home.
Why Did Mark Harmon Decide To Leave 'NCIS?'
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After devoting nearly 20 years of his life to the show, not only as a primary cast member, but as a producer as well, Harmon's exit was a shock to many people. He explains the rationale behind his decision to leave on The Kelly Clarkson Show, talking about how the long and arduous years had impacted him."I think for the longest time, I was just tired."He explains. "Part of taking the job [involved] being home, with a young family, not traveling so much doing movies. The first day, we worked 22 hours. So I thought, 'That's not exactly what I thought this was going to be.' But we had a lot of days like that in the first four years."
Though it was heartbreaking to see the face of the show leave, you can't help but love Harmon more when you find out the lengths he went to ensure the longevity of the series. He recalls negotiating his contract to leave toward the early end of Season 19, so the series could have more time to play around with new dynamics and storylines for the rest of the episodes. This gave them a greater chance to be renewed, as they had time to prove the show could go on without Harmon. If Harmon had left towards the latter end of the season, their renewal may have been threatened if CBS couldn't see how the show would continue without this staple character.
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Mark Harmon Leaves 'NCIS,' but Jethro Gibbs Returns in 'NCIS: Origins'
While Harmon has permanently left NCIS, this is not the last time we will be acquainted with the infamous Jethro Gibbs. In October 2024, the spin-off show NCIS: Origins aired its first episode, re-introducing the younger version of the iconic character, this time played by Austin Stowell. The prequel series takes us back to Gibbs' early years from when he was kicking off his career at the fledgling office, back when it was still called NIS in 1991. Despite the amount of precious time we have spent with Gibbs in the flagship show, much of his backstory, particularly this period, hasn't been delved into. This not only gives creative freedom to the team, but also excites us as we gain intimate insight into the past of one of our favorite characters — not to mention get to reunite with him after his bittersweet departure.
Though Harmon is not planning to return to the original show, he does make cameos in Origins, which is a treat for everyone involved. The first time he makes a cameo in the premiere, it is a full-circle moment, as it was almost as emotional on set as it was during his final scene. Co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North talked to TV Insider about seeing Harmon return to the set for the first time in ages. “That was really special, that moment, especially when he put on his boots," says Monreal. "I think when he put on his Gibbs boots, David and I looked at each other, and it was just an unexpected surge of emotion for us both." Once again, it is a testament to how ingrained Harmon was to the series and franchise, as both his departure and brief return elicit such an emotional response from everyone.
Gibbs has almost become synonymous with NCIS, so it is no wonder that he can incite these bittersweet feelings for the crew and for audiences. From his heartwarming relationship with McGee to his beautiful character arc on the show,there are so many reasons to want to continue to hold onto such a compelling character. While the teary-eyed departure from NCIS is firmly set in stone, we can rejoice that we are able to revel in more of Gibbs' adventures in Origins, even if he is not necessarily the same character we recall. But it is exciting to watch him grow into the fearless leader we have all learned to love and cherish.
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