Considering everything happening in the franchise right now, Abby has the perfect opportunity to come back toNCIS, so I am so disappointed to learn about Pauley Perrette’s latest announcement. It has been six years sinceLeroy Jethro Gibbs' original team member from JAGleft the procedural. By then, there had already been several character departures in the series, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to deal with her loss. Still, I think thatAbby has the most devastating exit inNCIS, not because of what happened on the screen, but because of what went down behind the scenes.
All members of Gibbs' MCRT team brought something different to the table, which made them effective. That said, it would have been difficult for them to do their job without Abby. While I wish that they dug deeper into her importance, the show properly established how much Gibbs and the rest needed him. Currently, Alden Parker’sNCISseason 22roster has Kasie Hines. She’s great, but I continue to dream of Abby eventually reconnecting with her old co-workers. I have been hoping that she would finally return in the next couple of years — until I learned of Perrette’s career update.
Pauley Perrette’s Complicated NCIS Exit Explained
Perrette Left NCIS After Having Issues With Harmon
Suffice it to say, the story of Perrette’s exit fromNCISis a complicated one. Despite co-starring in the procedural for over a decade and even sharing countless scenes together as Gibbs and Abby, things between the actors turned sour in the final couple of years when Perrette was on the show. As someone who adored their characters' father and daughter dynamic, this was such a massive shock, considering the pair’s chemistry on-screen. Perrette claimed thatHarmon terrified her after having a bad encounter with his dog.
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The conflict continued for a while, withthe production ofNCIShaving to be more creative when filming scenes that involved both Abby and Gibbs. Supposedly, the issue was already resolved. However, that didn’t stop Perrette from walking away. In her last comment about the matter in 2019, Perrette maintained her stance about her exit. She added that she would never be coming back toNCISbecause she never wanted to work with Harmon.
In 2024, CBS executives were asked anew about the possibility of bringing the actor back, and they said that they are open to bringing her back. Between this andPerrette’s recent sighting with his former co-star Brian Dietzen, I thought that it was justa matter of time before Abby to return inNCIS. Further fueling my hopes was how the franchise has been evolving and the direction of its storytelling moving forward.
Why It’s The Perfect Time For Abby To Return In The NCIS Franchise
The Path For Abby’s NCIS Return Is Clearer Than Ever
Ultimately, there isn’t a shortage of reasons to bring Abby back toNCIS. I argue that if Perrette agrees to return, the producers can easily come up with a reason for her character to pop back up in Navy Yard. There are so many viable storylines that could draw her back to Washington DC or even just reunite with her former co-workers. Director Leon Vance can recruit her for an important mission or Abby can reach out for help with a personal dilemma. All of these can now be done becauseHarmon has already exitedNCISin season 19.
I would also be thrilled to see Abby not only learn about Ziva’s status but also her current romance with Tony.
Beyond that, Perrette also has the option to return to the franchise via Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo’sNCIS: Tony & Ziva. It will be separated from what’s happening in the US, as it will be set across Europe. Since Abby is supposedly still based in the UK, Tony and Ziva can seek her help. Personally, I think this is the easiest way for Perrette’s comeback. Beyond that, like many who loved the procedural during its earlier years, I would also be thrilled to see Abby not only learn about Ziva’s status but also her current romance with Tony.
Pauley Perrette’s Acting Retirement Means Nothing From These Stories Can Happen
All of these options for Abby’s return toNCISare great, and I would love any of them to happen. That being said,Perrette’s recent announcement that she is officially retiring from actingeffectively kills any chance of these narratives happening. Granted that the actor hasn’t appeared in any show since CBS canceled her post-NCISseries, Broke, but the door for her to return to the industry remained open. Now that she has definitively said that she is no longer acting, all of my hopes to see Abby again on the small screen are dashed.
I wonder if there was ever a chance for Abby to return had anyone from CBS or the aforementioned shows in the procedural franchise reached out to the actor before she made her retirement announcement.
What makes this worse is the timing of things. I don’t know if there are any conversations or plans about bringing Perrette back toNCIS. However, I wonder if there was ever a chance for Abby to return had anyone from CBS or the aforementioned shows in the procedural franchise reached out to the actor before she made her retirement announcement. As previously mentioned, it’s fairly simple to reincorporate her into the NCIS franchise. It can either be a recurring gig or a one-time cameo. Regardless, it would mean thatNCIS' resident goth could reunite with her former work family.
How NCIS Can Still Use Abby Despite Perrette’s Retirement
Ducky’s Tribute Shows How NCIS Can Still Use Abby Without Perrette
Ideally, I would want Perrette to actually reprise her role as Abby and physically appear in any of the aforementionedNCISprojects. However, since that’s impossible now, considering her retirement, I would like the people behind the franchise to think of some creative ways how they can refer to MCRT’s original forensic scientist.Ducky’s tribute episode was able to get Abby involvedwithout the actor, by featuring flowers that she supposedly sent for the funeral. With this blueprint in mind, theNCISuniverse can think of more ways to make her relevant again.
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This may be much easier to do inNCIS: Tony & Zivathan inNCIS’flagship series, however. While Parker’s MCRT still has members who worked with her for years, gettingAbby involved in Tony and Ziva’s story, especially since they are on the run, will have the biggest emotional impact on fans like me. Perhaps Tali can be sent to the UK with Abby as her parents deal with the dangerous situation they find themselves in. Otherwise, it’s also possible to rely on her computer skills to gather information about the couple’s foe.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
