Understand all of Gibbs’ rules NCIS And what they mean is essential to know Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Mark Harmon played the character for nearly two decades on the series, using the rules to help establish his character and how the Naval Criminal Investigative Service operated. Gibbs’ rules begin the series NCIS Season 1, Episode 1, “Yankee White,” one of the best episodes of NCIS. The special agent-in-charge uses them to give Sasha Alexander’s newly minted Caitlin “Kate” Todd the lay of the land when investigating on Air Force One.
Gibbs’ rules are necessary For the original Major Case Response Team Leader in NCIS. These rules are the quickest way for Gibbs to relay critical information in the shortest amount of time. While many of Gibbs’ rules dictate crime scene management, later rules feel more personal. in NCIS Season 3 Gibbs said he had about 50 rules, but more of Gibbs’ rules were revealed until Mark Harmon exited NCIS In season 19. The list expanded in about 100 rules, but it must be completed. Some of Gibbs’ rules still need to be discovered since Gibbs did not divide his code chronologically.
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Rule #1
Never let suspects stay together.
Gibbs revealed rule #1, “Never let suspects stay together,” in NCIS Season 1, Episode 1, “Yankee White.” Gibbs said the rule to Kate on Air Force One after she held a group of airline staff for questioning in the same room. Gibbs has an alternative rule #1, “Never screw over your partner,” What Jenny Shepard said to him in season 4, episode 14, “Blowback.”
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The NCIS Franchise acknowledged two Rule #1’s in NCIS Season 8, Episode 11, “Ships in the night.” When you break rule #1, “Never let suspects stay together,” To get a confession, McGee clarified that there was more than one primary rule. NCIS Executive producer Shane Brennan revealed that this is because three of the rules Gibbs has are from Mike Franks, and the rest are his own, which is why there are two Rule #1s and Rule #3s.
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Rule #2
Always wear gloves at a crime scene.
Gibbs also reveals rule #2, “Always wear gloves at a crime scene,” To Caitlin Todd in “Yankee White” on Air Force One. After someone ended up helping the president on his private plane, Kate got involved in the NCIS investigation because she was with the Secret Service. While Gibbs initially told Kate the rules so she could cooperate in the investigation, the knowledge came in handy when Kate later joined Gibbs’ team after she was fired from the Secret Service.
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Rule #3
Don’t believe what you said. Double check.
Rule #3, – Don’t believe what people tell you. is the final rule Gibbs imparts to Kate during the opening episode of NCIS. The first three rules in “Yankee White” helped establish the ethos of the whole thing NCIS Franchise. Tony also reveals an alternative rule #3, “Never be unreachable,” to Ziva in NCIS Season 3Episode 13, “Deception.”
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Rule #4
The best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself.
Jenny Shepherd recited rule #4, “The best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself,” to give in NCIS Season 4, Episode 11, “Blowback.” The director also gave two corollaries to this rule: “The second best way to keep a secret, say one person,” And “There is no third best.” The rule elicited a strong delivery from Shepherd, who knew Gibbs personally and had a more intimate understanding of his rules.
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Rule #5
Do not waste well.
Gibbs revealed rule #5, “Not good,” in NCIS Season 8, Episode 22, “Baltimore.” The episode explores Tony DiNozzo’s background as a Baltimore homicide detective and reveals how Gibbs and Tony began working together in NCIS. Gibbs’ precursor to revealing Rule #5 to DiNozzo told him, – You are fine. Tony was Gibbs’ second-in-command until Michael Weatherly left NCIS In season 3.
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Rule #6
Never say you’re sorry.
Gibbs repeated Rule #6 throughout the series but gave it an official number NCIS Season 7, Episode 12, “Flesh and Blood.” Gibbs says “Never say you’re sorry” To his protégé, Anthony DiNozzo, who was familiar with Gibbs’ rules. in NCIS Season 3, Episode 23, “Hiatus Part I,” Tony explains to Shepard that Gibbs took the signature rule from “The prince himself,” Meaning John Wayne.
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Rule #7
Always be specific when you lie.
Gibbs said rule #7, “Always be specific when you lie,” in NCIS Season 1, Episode 23, “Reveille.” He recited the rule to Kate when she came to meet him for coffee near the end of the series’ freshman season. The rule told Gibbs’ agents to be thorough when making their covers.
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Rule #8
Never take anything for granted.
Abby revealed rule #8 in NCIS Season 3, Episode 10, “Probie.” After Abby told McGee that the eighth rule of the code would save him, Ziva, Tony and McGee tried to find the rule. The moment indicated that remembering and following Gibbs’ rules was just as important to the team as it was to Gibbs. An alternate rule #3 is given in NCIS Season 9Episode 21, “Rekindled,”: “Never assume.”
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Rule #9
Never go anywhere without a knife.
Rule #9, – Never go anywhere without a knife. Came up a few times over the 21 seasons of NCIS. The rule has been paramount for Gibbs since he was a gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps. Gibbs knew the value of self-defense firsthand and instilled in his team to have multiple ways to defend themselves.
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Rule #10
Never get personally involved in a case.
Tony established Gibbs’ Rule #10, “Never get personally involved in a case,” in NCIS Season 7, Episode 21, “Obsession.” In the episode, Tony admitted to Gibbs that he broke the ruleAgain, to which Gibbs agreed, saying, “That’s the rule I’ve always had the most trouble with.” Moreover, in NCIS Season 16, Episode 13, “She,” Gibbs does away with the rule by physically burning it in his fireplace.
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Rule #11
When the job is done, walk away.
Gives Rule #11, “When the job is done, go away,” come in NCIS Season 6, Episode 24, “Semper Fidelis.” Gibbs reminds Tony of the rule at the end of a case, and the protégé quotes it back to Gibbs. This rule is important for the characters as NCIS agents since the cases can be physically and mentally exhausting. It is essential that the characters can separate from their work at the end of the day.
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Rule #12
Never date a co-worker.
Gives Rule #12, “Never come with an associate,” came in NCIS Season 1, Episode 15, “Enigma.” Special Agent Kate Todd was still with NCIS then, and she reminded Tony of the rule while they sat in the bullpen. The series narrowly avoids the rule, with NCIS Play the relationship between his leading characters to avoid workplace gray areas, like Tony and Ziva. NCIS Romance.
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Rule #13
Never, ever involve a lawyer.
Gibbs rule #13. “Never, ever involve a lawyer” was initially recited by Tony In NCIS Season 6, Episode 7, “Collateral Damage.” Tony said the rule and followed it by saying that Gibbs has seven rules involving lawyers And that none “Be beautiful,” But #13 is the one “Umbrella rule.” Gibbs’ cautious attitude toward lawyers is rooted in three divorces that gave the special agent-in-charge a lot of experience with legal professionals. This rule is revisited in NCIS Season 7, Episode 24, “Reign Fifty-One.”
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Rule #14
Bend the line, don’t break it.
Gibbs’ rule #14, “Bend the line, don’t break it,” came up NCIS Season 11, Episode 4, “Anonymous Was a Woman.” This rule was emblematic of Gibbs’ entire approach to police work. Gibbs often worked outside the lines to follow the spirit of the law Rather than his letter, but ultimately, he was a professional who held a position at NCIS for decades.
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Rule #15
Always work as a team.
Gibbs’ Rule #15 was another installment of the Special Agent-in-Charge code mentioned and quoted by NCIS Director Jennifer Shephard. in NCIS Season 5, Episode 5, “Leap of Faith,” Jenny asked Gibbs, “Gibb’s rule number 15 is not always work as a team?” Jenny and Gibbs were once intimately involved, so you know the rules have another meaning – he taught them to her in the 1990s when they were partners.
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Rule #16
If someone thinks they have the upper hand… break it!
Gives Rule #16, “If someone thinks they have the upper hand… break it!” came in NCIS Season 8, Episode 24, “Pyramid. It’s not surprising that Gibbs has this rule in his repertoire, because he’s a man who likes to have the upper hand (and usually does). NCIS’ Concession, for many years, relied on Gibbs’ ability to stay one step ahead of almost anyone.
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Rule #18
It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
Director Jennifer Shephard reveals Gibbs’ role #18, “It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission,” in NCIS Season 3, Episode 4, “Silver War.” Shephard and Gibbs have known a thing or two about forgiveness over the years since they were once in an intimate relationship. When Jenny revealed the rule, Gibbs replied, “Oh, that’s really nice, using the rules I taught you against me.”
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Rule #20
Always look below.
Gives Rule #20, “Always look down,” was revealed in NCIS Season 12, Episode 17, “The Cunning Dodger.” Rule #20 is a practical guideline for NCIS agentsWho have to investigate a crime scene for the sake of their own lives. For example, there was a bomb strapped to the underside of a car that could easily have been missed, but by “look down” Lives were saved.
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Rule #22
Never, ever both give in to interrogation.
Gives Rule #22, “Never, never both gibs in interrogation,” Appeared in NCIS Season 4, Episode 10, “Smoked.” Ziva wanted to talk to Gibbs, but Tony said the rule to warn Ziva of a line they shouldn’t cross. Bothering Gibbs during an interrogation or otherwise interfering is treated as a sensitive issue throughout the series.
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Rule #23
Never mess with a Marine’s coffee if you want to live.
“Never mess with a Marine’s coffee if you want to live,” Gibbs’ rule #23, is introduced in NCIS Season 2, Episode 9, “Forced Entry.” The rule, which helped regulate the Marine Corps and special agent-in-charge, came early out of necessity. A black coffee a day (or several) from his favorite shop fueled Gibbs’ police work for years.