NCIS Season 22 has set the stage for Timothy McGee’s exit from the MCRT with the return of a peculiar antagonist. Although Sean Murray’s character wasn’t a member of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ initial JAG team, he now holds the title of the longest-serving active member of the squad based at the Navy Yard. Regrettably, his prospects for a viable future within NCIS are quite restricted.
Following Gibbs’ retirement in NCIS Season 19, McGee emerged as the obvious candidate to lead the MCRT. Having been part of the team for the longest duration, he was also a direct protégé of the cherished leader. It was clear that McGee had the capability to fill the gap left by Gibbs.
However, that did not come to fruition, as Gary Cole’s Alden Parker took over instead. For what it’s worth, Parker stands out as an exceptional leader. Gary Cole portrays a character that is quite distinct from Mark Harmon’s Gibbs, which has allowed the show to progress at a faster pace.
However, this situation has left McGee in a predicament where his future within the team remains uncertain. Regrettably, he may find himself with no option but to depart from MCRT if he aspires to advance in his career.
NCIS Is Uncertain About McGee’s Role
Following Gibbs’ retirement, McGee was presented with the opportunity to lead the MCRT, but he declined the offer at that moment. He conveyed to Nick Torres, who was furious about his colleague’s choice, that he had no interest in the position.
Taking on the role would mean spending additional hours away from his family and handling an increased amount of paperwork. At that moment, McGee’s decision made perfect sense. He relished his time on the field, a sentiment he reiterated in NCIS Season 22.
Yet, as time passed following that first choice, he began to seek opportunities for advancement in his career. It was disclosed that he had applied for the position of NCIS’ Deputy Director — a role that had seldom been featured in the series.
In Season 22 of NCIS, there was little focus on McGee’s attempt. Right from the beginning, the CBS police procedural disclosed that he was unsuccessful in securing the position, which ultimately went to DOJ Inspector Gabriel LaRoche.
Nevertheless, this development initiated a year-long storyline where McGee began to suspect that his new superior was actually a mole. This provided McGee with a personal mission in NCIS season 22.
It served as a distraction from the reality that he lacked a compelling future, especially with LaRoche securing the only position available for promotion without cutting ties with MCRT. In a way, it also maintained the hope that if his adversary was found guilty, he might still have a chance at the job.
Unfortunately, the conclusion of NCIS Season 22 cleared LaRoche of any wrongdoing, leaving McGee’s year-long storyline unresolved and without any benefits for him. To make matters worse, his struggle with the lack of a future in the MCRT continues.
Fletcher Voss Is The Ideal Choice For Tim McGee To Exit MCRT
Even though NCIS Season 21 had considerably fewer episodes because of the dual Hollywood strikes in 2023, it managed to tell a wealth of stories. In addition to Ducky’s farewell episode, which included the surprising return of Michael Weatherly’s Anthony DiNozzo Jr. for a short cameo, the season also celebrated a significant milestone episode for the franchise.
The 1000th episode of NCIS, named “A Thousand Yards,” was a nostalgic journey that looked back at the show’s inaugural case. It included numerous callbacks, especially from the flagship’s history. Yet, it also took a different turn by presenting an unusual antagonist, Fletcher Voss.
During the outing, Voss was introduced as the CEO of Bandium — the company that owns the communication app utilized by MCRT. Although he was initially portrayed as a tech genius, he surprisingly lacks coding skills.
His first appearance didn’t reveal much about him, but Voss made a comeback in NCIS Season 22 Episode 13, where he formed an unexpected friendship with McGee. This newfound friendship might be precisely what McGee requires to depart from MCRT.
Frequently overlooked, McGee is truly a tech genius. When he initially became part of Gibbs’ team, DiNozzo teased him for his nerdy persona. He possesses a keen understanding of all things tech-related, and his expertise has been instrumental in cracking numerous cases.
As NCIS evolved and his abilities grew, particularly with increased fieldwork, this aspect has not received much attention in recent times. Given his new relationship with Voss, McGee is poised to transition from MCRT to Bandium as its newest team member. The company would certainly benefit from his expertise. Additionally, his role will still connect to his previous work.
NCIS Season 23 Must Evolve Beyond McGee After A Disheartening Recent Past
As we look ahead to NCIS Season 23, a significant question arises regarding McGee’s future on the show. It’s important to note that there are no signs suggesting that Sean Murray is contemplating departure from the series. With all original characters now gone from NCIS, he truly embodies the procedural’s rich legacy.
While it’s important to remain in the show, it shouldn’t come at the cost of character growth. Over the past few years, every character has experienced their own arcs — including Director Vance.
At the same time, Parker is poised for a significant year in NCIS Season 23. CBS needs to devise an engaging strategy for McGee’s future, whether that involves continuing with MCRT or exploring new opportunities.