NCIS season 19 introduced a brand-new love story between Jimmy Palmer and Jessica Knight for CBS viewers to enjoy. While it may have surprised some, Jimmy star Brian Dietzen has long hinted that a love story for his character was in the works.
Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) has experienced heartbreak on NCIS in recent years, after it was revealed in season 18 that his wife Breena (Michelle Pierce) d1ed of C0v1d. As season 19 began, the CBS series favorite began focusing his time on his work and caring for his daughter Victoria (Elle Graper), until his friendship with new agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) began to blossom into something more. Dietzen has teased a key moment that foreshadowed Jimmy’s ability to move on romantically ahead of the season 19 finale, and the pair have been toying with the idea of going official ahead of the season 19 finale.
When asked about the season 19 finale, which centered on Jimmy and Knight, Dietzen admitted that it wasn’t a “total surprise” that the two characters and their relationship would be explored.
“Obviously, I’ve talked with our producers and network people about, ‘Hey, could there be something between these two characters?'” Dietzen admitted as much.
He then went on to explain how an earlier episode, which he actually co-wrote, laid the groundwork for Jimmy to move on.
Jimmy and Kasie (Diona Reasonover) were exposed to a d3adly toxin in the episode in question, and the team faced a race against time to save them.
Of course, the team won and Jimmy and Kasie survived, but the ordeal hit home even more because it occurred while Jimmy was bringing his daughter to work.
“Jimmy came to the realization that he needed to move on for the sake of my daughter,” Dietzen said of Jimmy’s reaction to the ordeal.
“By the end of the episode, Jimmy hangs up his ring as a lot of widowers do, at a time that feels right to them,” Dietzen added to Entertainment Tonight, pinpointing the moment Jimmy foreshadowed his openness to find love again.
“For Jimmy, it was about a year after his wife d1ed. ‘It’s time for me to move on and be more present to my daughter,’ he said. But I believe it also allowed him to say, ‘I can find happiness again.'”
While the couple is taking it slowly as NCIS approaches its 19th season finale, Dietzen did tease that there is “more to come” in their relationship.
In fact, the NCIS star confirmed that fans would get answers in the final episode so they wouldn’t be left hanging until season 20.
So, given how many failed romances have graced the show in recent years, will fans finally get a happy ending between two of the show’s most important characters?
After all, former leading man Gibbs (Mark Harmon) failed to establish a romantic relationship before leaving – though not without trying.
Gibbs and Jack Sloane (Maria Bello) had a will-they-won’t-they relationship that lasted until her departure in season 18.
It had to end with a kiss because she had decided to go to Afghanistan to do good.
Then there’s Nick Torres’ (Wilmer Valderrama) and Ellie Bishop’s (Emily Wickersham) romance that never materialized after she left at the end of season 18.
Fans will have to wait until the season 19 finale to find out for sure, but the episode’s synopsis suggests it will be unforgettable.
According to CBS, “when Agent Parker is falsely accused of murd3r, the team risks their jobs and lives to buy time and uncover the truth.”
Will the team, however, learn some unwelcome truths about their new leading man?
Fans will also have the opportunity to meet his ex-wife Vivian Kolchak (Teri Polo) for the first time.
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