NCIS lost its leading man in Gibbs when Mark Harmon left after 19 years, but his presence can still be felt in the most recent episode.
NCIS may have lost its star, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, in 2019, but his influence is still felt by the team.
As season 20 progressed, the latest episode, titled In The Spotlight, saw Jess Knight (played by Katrina Law) get in over her head after saving a mother and her son from a car wreck.
Despite the fact that she was unable to save the third person in the car before it exploded, her rescue mission is captured on video and goes viral, transforming her into “Wonder Woman” in the eyes of the media who want to learn more about her.
This gets old fast for Knight, especially since the case turns out to be much more complicated than it first appeared – and the woman involved in the accident disappears from the hospital.
As the team continues to investigate, Knight is benched because she is attracting too much attention.
When she is left to care for the woman’s child Adam (Elias Janssen), she keeps a low profile by going to the same diner Gibbs was known to frequent during his time on the show for his morning coffee.
Fans recognized the reference right away and were relieved that the beloved character’s presence was still felt even though he was no longer a part of the show.
“It’s great to see Elaine (Connie Jackson) back in Gibbs Diner in tonight’s episode. “Thank you #NCIS,” user @serenagarde said.
“How come Alden Parker sounds exactly like Gibbs?” @jesspolished cracked a joke.
“The team still goes to Gibbs favorite diner!” added @hcmv007. #NCIS”
The diner appears to be the ideal place to unwind, with Adam confiding in Knight about his mother and promising to keep an eye out for him.
He even plays her some of the tracks he’d mixed on his phone, which turns out to be the key to blowing the entire case wide open with evidence the team thought was lost.
When his mother is found safe (albeit after a shootout with a cartel), Adam sends her a compilation of all the news reports about her heroic efforts that saved his life.
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