Jessica Knight’s potential replacement at NCIS is becoming clearer, with a twist. Amid a relatively subdued NCIS Season 21, CBS opted for a quieter finale with “Reef Madness.” The case was straightforward, focusing on Alden Parker and his team responding to the discovery of bodies aboard a ship destined to become an artificial reef. It lacked the creativity and excitement of earlier season highlights, such as NCIS’ 1000th episode, but the personal challenges faced by the agents made the episode compelling.
Parker faced a near-death experience, recovering by the episode’s conclusion, which sets the stage for ongoing mysteries in NCIS Season 22. Meanwhile, Jessica Knight grappled with a significant career decision: accepting the position of Chief Training Officer for the REACT team at Camp Pendleton. Her potential departure from the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) leaves an opening that NCIS could fill strategically.
Jane Tennant Emerges as a Strong Candidate
With Knight potentially moving to California, the idea of bringing in Jane Tennant from the recently canceled NCIS: Hawai’i emerges as a logical choice. This transition would avoid introducing a completely new character, leveraging Tennant’s established presence and connections within the NCIS universe. It also offers continuity for Tennant’s story post-NCIS: Hawai’i, despite its unresolved cliffhanger involving Maggie Shaw.
The Challenge of Transitioning Tennant
However, there’s a notable hurdle: for Tennant to join Parker’s team, she would need to be demoted from her role as Special Agent-in-Charge of the NCIS: Hawai’i Field Office to an NCIS Senior Field Agent. This shift is significant given Tennant’s leadership background, but it could be a necessary adjustment to continue her narrative effectively, especially considering the unresolved storyline from NCIS: Hawai’i.
If CBS and the NCIS franchise opt to keep Tennant’s storyline alive without reviving NCIS: Hawai’i, integrating her into the main NCIS series represents a practical solution. It honors her character’s evolution while facilitating a seamless transition for the team dynamics.
