The Season 21 finale of NCIS feels more like a personal send-off for Jessica Knight. Episode 10, titled “Reef Madness,” delivers the high stakes expected in a season finale, but the spotlight remains firmly on Knight. Fans of Katrina Law’s character will find much to appreciate and contemplate as they await the Season 22 premiere this fall.
“Reef Madness” kicks off with the discovery of three bodies aboard a Naval vessel set to be sunk. However, the investigation into these seemingly unrelated murders quickly takes a back seat to Knight’s personal and professional struggles. The episode delves into her career with NCIS, her relationship with Jimmy Palmer, and her very survival, creating a tense and gripping hour that works well but leaves room for more.
The enjoyment of “Reef Madness” largely depends on how much viewers like Jessica Knight, as she is the central focus throughout. Early in the episode, Director Leon Vance offers Knight a promotion to Chief REACT Training Officer, a position that would require her to leave her current team and transfer to Camp Pendleton in California. This potential career move creates significant tension between Knight and Palmer, with other characters commenting on their relationship as the episode progresses. The core of the story unfolds as Knight and Alden Parker become trapped onboard the ship, where Knight is forced to take charge with Parker incapacitated.
Katrina Law delivers a standout performance, seamlessly navigating high-octane chase scenes, emotional relationship drama, and quieter, introspective moments with Parker. However, Knight has already been at the center of several major episodes this season, including the previous one, “Prime Cut,” which also focused on her dynamic with Nick Torres. For a season finale, a more ensemble approach might have been more fitting, especially beyond the climax where the team arrives to rescue their stranded colleagues.
The case of the week serves primarily as a backdrop to place Knight in a dramatic situation, and it’s resolved rather quickly and with a touch of humor. The wife of one of the victims is revealed to be the murderer of all three: her husband, his mistress, and an unhoused person she accidentally hit with her car. The explanation, provided by the killer’s uncle and accomplice, feels like a series of random events strung together to advance Knight’s storyline. While there is a humorous moment where the suspect claims one victim “ran into her knife,” the overall resolution lacks the intricate murder mystery one might expect in a finale.
In comparison, CSI: Vegas Season 3, Episode 4, “Health and Wellness,” featured a similar plot where Allie Rajan is trapped in a hospital basement. Despite Allie being isolated for much of the episode, the storyline felt more team-centric, with the use of a cell phone keeping her connected to Josh Folsom. Although Parker mentions in NCIS that cell phones don’t work through steel hulls, the script by Scott Williams could have benefited from finding other ways to involve the team earlier in the episode.
Overall, “Reef Madness” focuses heavily on Jessica Knight, offering a tense, character-driven finale that sets the stage for the upcoming season, even if it leaves some viewers wishing for a more collaborative team effort.
