Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Prime Cut” are ahead!
The penultimate episode of NCIS Season 21, titled “Prime Cut,” aired recently, blending investigation with personal subplots. Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres and Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight ventured to Texas for their latest case, while Sean Murray’s Timothy McGee and Margo Harshman’s Delilah Fielding-McGee tackled a kitchen remodel back in Washington D.C. The episode offered a standard plotline but infused a new twist with its Texas setting, sparking a desire for more diverse locations in the series.
The Case in Texas
This week’s victim was Marine Captain Tom Riley, presumed dead two years ago in a San Diego ship crash. In reality, he survived, adopted the alias Tom Wade, and settled in Farnsworth, Texas. There, he worked at the Firecreek cattle ranch owned by the influential Bannon family and had a secret relationship with Jackson Bannon, the patriarch Carl Bannon’s son. Despite his troubled past, Tom sought redemption by assisting at a local church.
Trouble brewed when Tom uncovered meth smuggling hidden in cattle carcasses at the Bannon ranch. His investigation led him to a Bannon-owned meatpacking plant in D.C., where he was tragically murdered and dismembered. Initially suspecting Carl Bannon, Torres and Knight eventually identified another ranch employee running the drug operation independently. The episode culminated in a thrilling horseback chase, with Torres apprehending the culprit.
A Change of Setting
Much of the episode unfolded on the ranch in Texas, providing a refreshing departure from the typical Washington D.C. backdrop. While NCIS may not regularly globe-trot due to its characters’ base and production constraints, this episode highlighted the allure of on-location shoots. It echoed the engagement of past travels, like Leroy Jethro Gibbs, McGee, and Alden Parker’s Alaskan adventure. Imagining future episodes in cities like New York, the Pacific Northwest, or the Midwest is tantalizing.
Potential for Travel Episodes
Introducing more travel-centric episodes could invigorate other facets of the NCIS franchise. With CBS recently canceling NCIS: Hawai’i after three seasons, integrating characters into the main series through travels, perhaps to Hawaii, could sustain fan interest. This concept extends to characters from spinoffs like Los Angeles and New Orleans, and the possibility of crossovers with NCIS: Sydney adds further intrigue, given its Season 2 renewal.
Looking Forward
As NCIS embarks on Season 22 with production on track and renewed enthusiasm, the prospect of more diverse locales is promising. For those eager to revisit past travels or explore new ones, streaming NCIS on Paramount+ remains a convenient option.
In conclusion, “Prime Cut” delivered a solid episode that benefited from its change in scenery. Here’s hoping NCIS continues to explore fresh locations in future seasons, injecting renewed excitement into its enduring narrative.