1 ‘NCIS’ Cast Member Agreed That ‘if Gibbs Goes, so Does the Show’

‘NCIS’ once teased sending off Mark Harmon’s Jethro Gibbs early

Before his recent departure, the fate of Harmon’s character hung in the balance after the show’s season 12 finale. Longtime fans might remember Gibbs being put in a situation that could’ve spelled tragedy for the agent. But despite the suspenseful cliffhanger, most believed Harmon would return. Including his castmate Michael Weatherly.

“I don’t think anyone thought that was going to be Cliffhanger of the Year, because obviously he’s coming back,” Weatherly once told TV Guide. “It’s more about how he comes back, how that impacts the team, and what the ramifications are.”

Some fans protested that if Gibbs did theoretically leave the series, NCIS wouldn’t be the same. Actor Rocky Carroll, who played Vance in the show, agreed with the sentiment that Harmon’s Gibbs had to return.