NCIS Season 18, Episode 7: Jimmy suffers a devastating loss

NCIS Season 18, Episode 7 brought us to the present day. The team is in the midst of dealing with the pandemic while also working the usual cases. Unfortunately, one team member was hit harder with the loss of a family member to COVID. Find out what happened and who was affected in “The First Day.”

Now that the show is caught up to the present day, we saw the team going through the usual safety protocols of testing and sanitizing their work areas. When Jimmy comes by to drop off some sanitizing wipes, it becomes clear pretty quickly he is not doing well.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, actor Brian Dietzen talked about the CBS show’s decision to have Jimmy personally affected by COVID. He said for Jimmy, he is doing all he can “keep his head above water.” Of course, he did hint that eventually, this would lead to Jimmy reaching his breaking point. The episode showed the depths of his suffering throughout as he struggled with working the case.

NCIS Season 18, Episode 7 finds a team member suffering a personal loss

Jimmy was personally impaced with the loss of his wife, Breena. She died after contracting the virus. This left him to not only care for their young daughter but also pick up extra work hours to keep busy.

His mom has come to help, but it’s clear the team is worried for him. While Jimmy continues to try and remain optimistic at work, it’s obvious the trauma has taken its toll on his ability to remember things such as cause of death.

All of his co-workers are clearly worried about him and they feel the best person to talk to him is Gibbs. It’s a painful loss that Gibbs knows all too well and finding the time to talk to Jimmy in the midst of a case is highlighted.

Nick brings an ex-con home under protection

The team’s case this week involves the murder of Petty Officer David Avila, who was volunteering to help ex-cons get their lives back together after prison. Unfortunately, he became the victim of a shooting when an ex-con he was driving, Luis Carter, was targeted, or so it seemed. In order to protect him, the team has Nick take him to his home. This also gave us some insight into Nick’s home life and just how savvy he was with things such as the Alexa app.

However, Jimmy discovers information about Avila that quickly changes the case. After proving Carter’s innocence, Nick helps him to get home to his family. This was another side the audience got to see from Nick, as well as getting to see what his apartment is like. There are also hints that something is going on between him and Bishop, although it isn’t quite clear what that is…yet.

Jack’s exit is beginning to take formation

In addition to the case and the team trying to help Jimmy, it is also clear something is going on with Jack. A conversation with Gibbs reveals that after everything happening with the pandemic, she has been taking stock of her life. She plans on leaving NCIS and possibly going to Costa Rica.

It was already announced that Maria Bello would be leaving the series within eight episodes, so it is very likely the next episode will be her last. Jack has been a compelling character to watch on the show and she will be missed. Hopefully her storyline will be fully complete once she leaves, including what is going on with her relationship with Gibbs.

Saying goodbye

Jimmy and Gibbs have a heart to heart at the end of NCIS Season 18, Episode 7, in which the latter gets Jimmy to open up about his feelings. In a painful scene that truly encapsulated the devastating aspect of losing someone to COVID, Jimmy talks about not being able to be with his wife when she passed. He had so many things to say to her and he did not have the chance.

The team puts together a memorial of sorts for Breena in the squad room, with a beautiful portrait of Jimmy and Breena appearing on the screen they use for work. Jimmy begins his heartfelt tribute to his wife and it truly was a moving and touching goodbye to a character we did not get to see very often.

How do you think Jimmy will move forward following this devastating loss? Let us know in the comments what you thought of NCIS Season 18, Episode 7.

Watch NCIS on CBS every Tuesday. Catch up with past episodes on CBS All Access.