to be honest. When NCIS premiered in 2003, did you really expect it to be a hit? and And 22 years later, an entire franchise has been built around it?
“JAG” was a success, but “NCIS” has exceeded even the wildest expectations for a spinoff, becoming a cultural juggernaut that shows no signs of slowing down.
Can you imagine a TV series lineup without at least one version of NCIS? That’s impossible when you consider the possibilities of decades-long running entertainment and on-demand viewing.
So, what makes NCIS so successful? We have some ideas.
Gibbs: A man whose eyes said more than most people say in their speeches
Even years after stepping down as team leader, Leroy Jethro Gibbs remains the backbone of NCIS. There’s a reason this character gets the prequel treatment – he’s an iconic character.
Gibbs’ rules have become a cultural lexicon in their own right, but he says as much with his eyes as he does with his words.
The man barely talks, but when he does, you know he means business. Mark Harmon’s use of the less-is-more approach works like magic. Without his performance, Gibbs as we know him would not exist.
Gibbs may have always had a poker face, but you never questioned the emotions brewing beneath the surface. A quick nod or a stern look will get everyone in line.
You might be wondering if NCIS could survive Harmon’s exit, but the show doesn’t lose its edge in his absence.
The story still continues firmly. Harmon remains a fixture behind the scenes, and even though he’s not the face we see on NCIS, we can still feel Gibbs’ presence in every episode.
Unlikely family dynamics
You don’t have to be ashamed to admit that aligning yourself with the NCIS team is your guilty pleasure.
Mysteries are being solved all over TV.
Creating dynamic relationships on screen is like lightning in a bottle. You can have the most talented actors and the best writers, but relationships can fall apart.
The jokes on NCIS are amazing and the agents are unique.
Whether it’s Tony DiNozzo calling McGee “McGeek” or his countless other nicknames, or Abby Sciuto’s goth forensic scientist vibe, these agents never let themselves be deadly serious The job changes their personality.
They feel like a family, albeit a dysfunctional one. They work hard and play hard, teasing each other like children while hunting down the killer. Sounds like home, right?
Every time a character leaves, the audience is disappointed and they think, “Now this simply doesn’t work. But every time, NCIS proves us wrong.
New faces like Torres and Knight have successfully integrated into the team without feeling like knockoffs. Even Gary Cole’s Alden Parker doesn’t try to take Gibbs’ place.
NCIS has the unique ability to leave its past behind while still feeling familiar. Maybe it’s because the past is never forgotten, just like family.
Balancing intensity and humor – a lesson on how to laugh after a murder
Murder is a hard thing. No one wants to be murdered, but even solving these problems takes a little getting used to. Laughter helps.
NCIS has a knack for making us giggle immediately after exploring a gruesome murder scene. Telling jokes, nerdy habits, or vague historical facts during an autopsy may sound offensive, but these survival strategies work both on and off screen.
“NCIS” strikes a near-perfect balance between dark crime drama and light-heartedness that keeps viewers from getting hung up on the story’s murky details.
Without this perfect blend, a rotating cast, and a tight grip on the past without losing sight of the future, “NCIS” might have grown stale, or worse, too heavy to watch on repeat.
But NCIS never forgets to have fun. One minute they’re uncovering a terrorist plot, the next Torres is being mocked for his ridiculous undercover disguise.
This humor makes the show feel like a comforting old friend. No matter how serious things get, there is always laughter waiting.
Ridiculous (not a show. a case!)
Well, some crimes are… let’s say, there.
I mean, how many terrorists target Navy personnel? Don’t we know if this is even a thing, let alone one that spans 22 years and an entire series?
But NCIS has a way of making tall tales personal. The stakes are always high, and as ridiculous as it may seem at times, we give it our all.
Like many other successful suspense dramas, solving the why and how of a crime is as important as solving the who. Using this criterion, NCIS is able to weave in larger, multi-season plots, such as an ongoing terrorist threat or a complex political conspiracy.
Sure, some of these cases may lack credibility, but the team keeps us invested. The feeling of family makes us forget we are watching a program and become immersed in the larger story.
Watch comfort TV when life gets too real
Comfort may not be the first word for a crime show, but for many, NCIS is just that.
It’s so satisfying to hang out with characters you’re familiar with as they successfully take bad guys off the streets (and water) and put them behind bars.
The cast and story may change, but in a world in chaos, the reliability of these crime-solving characters to solve problems before the end puts “NCIS” at the top of the list of cozy TV shows.
It’s not high-concept television, and it won’t win any awards for groundbreaking storytelling. But it’s this show that gives us an hour a week where we feel like everything is going to be okay.
Sometimes that’s what we all need.
