Curious World Staff
NCIS fans were moved to tears last night (Tuesday, January 4) when the midseason premiere of season 19 featured a sweet nod to fan favorite character Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Despite being 3,300 miles away from the rest of the team, the former special agent’s presence was felt strongly throughout the episode, as McGee (Sean Murray) and Palmer (Brian Dietzen) tried to figure out where mysterious $10,000 deposits into each of their bank accounts came from.
The episode, titled ‘Pledge of Allegiance,’ saw the pair informed by Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) that the money came from Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and would be used to fund their respective children’s college scholarships.
“That’s incredible, but it’s way too generous,” Palmer exclaimed, before McGee interjected: “Agreed. We’re not going to be able to keep it.”
“You can’t, after all, return it. I should know because I tried “Vance explained as he revealed that Gibbs also donated to him many years ago, when his children were the same ages as Tim and Jimmy’s are now.
“It’s all in honor of his daughter, Kelly,” he added. “He started a college fund when he was young. Gibbs never closed the account after she d1ed. In fact, he continued to add to it. So he’s helped a lot of agents’ families since then. Kelly’s children are all attending college in her honor.”
“What a legacy,” McGee exclaimed, as Palmer wished he could thank the team’s former coach “in person.”
“Well, hopefully one day you will,” Vance said with a smile.
“The ending was so touching. “Almost as good as seeing Gibbs with a smile or giving a Gibbs hug,” one pleased viewer tweeted of the scene, while another added, “What a great ending to last night’s NCIS episode.” What a great way to keep Gibbs in the story after he’s gone!!”
“Director Vance’s final line is fantastic! It gives me great hope that we haven’t seen the last of Leroy Jethro Gibbs “enthused a third, while a fourth joked that McGee should’ve gotten $20,000 because he has twins.
Check out some more touching reactions down below…
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