As NCIS prepares for its highly anticipated season 22, fans are abuzz with speculation about who might replace Agent Jessica Knight. In the season 21 finale, Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) accepted a promotion to become the new REACT chief training officer at Camp Pendleton, necessitating her departure from the team and her partner, Jimmy Palmer. As Jessica adjusts to her new career path, the question remains: who will step into her shoes?
Given the recent cancellation of NCIS: Hawai’i, there’s speculation that Agent Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) could be a strong candidate. Sam, a seasoned member of NCIS: Los Angeles for all 14 seasons, demonstrated his versatility by seamlessly transitioning into NCIS: Hawai’i. With no current projects lined up, LL Cool J could potentially fill Jessica’s role with ease.
However, this move would mark a departure from NCIS’s tradition of featuring a female lead on the team. Since its inception, NCIS has prominently showcased strong female leaders such as Caitlin “Kate” Todd (Sasha Alexander), Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham), and most recently, Jessica Knight.
To maintain a robust female presence, another possibility could be bringing over Agent Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) from NCIS: Hawai’i. With Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) potentially taking time off due to injury, Jane could temporarily step into a leadership role within the team. This dual approach would leverage Sam Hanna’s expertise while ensuring continuity of a strong female character presence.
Could these shifts bring two popular NCIS: Hawai’i characters into the fold of NCIS? Fans eagerly await season 22 to see how these potential changes unfold.