21 years later, I think the pilot of NCIS is still its best episode

The NCIS Pilot celebrates its 21st anniversary, and after all these years, I still think it’s the best episode in the show. As one of the longest-running scripted shows on television, NCIS is already an institution. It has spawned several spinoffs, including A new prequel by Leroy Jethro Gibbs NCIS: OriginsAs well as Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo’s NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+. I know other shows in the NCIS franchise have their own fans, but I personally prefer the flagship series, even after more than two decades on the air.

CBS’ hit franchise recently celebrated a milestone, with NCIS‘ Overall 1000th episode. The accolade includes outings from all other shows in the universe, but the celebratory sacrifice was done by the mothership, considering that it has around 450 episodes of the scope. As someone who has watched them, I admit that not all of them are created equal. But it is inevitable, Considering the changes that NCIS faces over the years – From cast shuffling to behind-the-scenes personnel changes. of all that NCIS has aired so far, I still believe that his very first episode remains his best.

NCIS’ pilot celebrates its 21st anniversary

“Yankee White” was released on September 2004

ahead of NCIS Season 22’s premiere in October 2024, the show is celebrating its 21st anniversary since the release of its premiere episode. Debuting on September 23, 2004, NCIS Season 1 episode, “Yankee White,” debuts Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his Chief Case Response Team Based at Navy Yard. I was reminded of this milestone when NCIS‘ Official Instagram I posted a carousel of styles from said exit, and I realized that after all these years, I still think this is the best. NCIS episode.

For those who don’t know, however, before “Yankee White,” Gibbs and the MCRT first made their on-screen appearance in JAG Season 8 episodes 20 and 21, “Ice Queen” and “Meldown.” Although I acknowledge the existence of these stories, I still think that NCIS As we know it didn’t start until its actual proper premiere episode, primarily because it featured the official inaugural cast. Gibbs JAG The team looked a little different from what we eventually got in the main series because there was some cast shuffling that happened behind the scenes.

“Yankee White” has all the best elements of an NCIS episode

It represents what makes NCIS so successful after all these years

NCIS Has done many great episodes in over 20 years. That said, what I think sets “Yankee White” apart is the fact that it has all the best elements that make it the television institution it is today. For context, it features Gibbs and his only field agent at the time, Anthony DiNozzo Jr., responding to a mysterious death on Air Force One, which was part of an assassination plot against the president. The couple, with The help of the then secret agent Caitlin TodD, successfully caught the culprit just in time before he could carry out his crime.

I argue that “Yankee White” is the best representation of NCIS. For starters, it has a large chest. It is tense and keeps the viewers guessing till the end. Its stakes are also high, considering that it includes the security of the President and the attack on Air Force One. Back then, it felt like NCIS was just a fringe government agency — something that other people made fun of. Since then, doing the job and not being confirmed has become his motto, and “Yankee White” confirms that when Gibbs allows FBI’s Tobias Parnell to handle the press.

Finally, and perhaps The most important aspect of NCIS‘ Premiere is how it handles its characters. As a pilot, there is pressure on efficiently establishing his ensemble, and I knew right after watching the episode the quirks and signature traits of Gibbs’ inaugural team. The blurb is also superb, a narrative aspect that endures and arguably makes for a watchable experience NCIS So much more enjoyable even after hundreds of episodes.

NCIS’ 1000th episode pays tribute to its pilot, making it better

“Yankee White’s” case was properly closed more than 20 years later

It has been more than 20 years since “Yankee White”, and yet it was still able to be honored recently. The case was revised in NCIS1000th episode when MCRT discovered that the new threat they were facing was the daughter of the suspect in the pilot named Leonard Rich. While there was no inaugural NCIS Character who returned to help work the case, Fornell was around to provide the information about the Rich family. Apparently, after the events of “Yankee White,” the FBI’s investigation led them to discover Leonard’s manifesto, which was eventually found by Lindsay Rich.

Ideally, I would have liked NCIS’ 1000th episode to bring back someone from the team that worked on the original Rich case. Unfortunately, this was not possible, with Gibbs retired, Abby Sciuto in London, Ducky Mallard and Todd dead, and DiNozzo just returned in the David McCallum tribute outing. Nevertheless, the retroactive way of adding to the story of “Yankee White” only further convinces me that it is indeed the best episode in the show.

Source: NCIS/ Instagram