NCIS Season 18, Episode 11: How is Team Gibbs punished?

Without their lead agent, how did Agents McGee, Torres, and Bishop fair on NCIS Season 18, Episode 11? They showed that even without Gibbs, their gut instincts are still going strong. Even when they are assigned to be on COVID detail, they can’t help but work a case that technically does not belong to them.

During the course of the episode, McGee, Torres, and Bishop were assigned to make sure COVID protocols were in place for a summit being held at the home of the Secretary of Defense. This is essentially their punishment for their actions taken when Gibbs was suspended in the previous episode.

While they are doing this assignment, Agents Ronnie Tyler and Dale Sawyer take the lead on a homicide case. Despite not officially being on the case, the team still ends up finding a connection to the Secretary of Defense.

Little details such as paint being on the body and the same paint ending up on McGee’s jacket lead the team to investigate themselves. It turns out that the victim in their case had been hired as a hitman to murder the SECDEF.

NCIS Season 18, Episode 11 proves the team cannot ignore a case

Even though they are told to communicate with Ronnie and Sawyer, it’s difficult with the latter’s attitude towards them. Sawyer acts petty with them and even though he talks about being a team, he is not walking the walk himself. To the team’s credit, they do try to communicate when they discover that a performer for the event is not who he said he is.

Ronnie and Sawyer think the case is over, but our favorite agents are not satisfied. They still don’t believe that it’s over considering the pianist could not have the funds to carry out a hit of this magnitude. When Kasie gets a hit on evidence that was submitted late in the game, it proves Bishop, Torres, and McGee right. There is still danger lurking for SECDEF.

Just in time, the team saves the day and prevents the real culprit from accomplishing his goal. Even though they are allowing Ronnie and Sawyer to have the credit, the two agents still make sure everyone knows that the favorites were a part of it. Now can Sawyer just stay on night shift?

What happened to Gibbs?

With the case ongoing without him, Gibbs has his own plot brewing. The episode found him in the crosshairs of journalist Marcie Warren. She is writing a story about what happened surrounding Gibbs’s suspension and wants the scoop, despite NCIS trying to ignore the story.

Normally, Gibbs is not one to give a journalist the time of day. But for some reason, Marcie gets his attention and he gives her an interview. What does this mean for Gibbs? Will he be able to return to work now that the world knows exactly what happened?

The way things are being set up, it could likely lead to Gibbs not being a part of the team for Season 19. They made it clear that even without him, the team can get the job done and follow their instincts to save the day. However, does this mean we want this to happen?

How do you see the season ending for Team Gibbs? Tell us your thoughts on NCIS Season 18, Episode 11 in the comments below.

Watch NCIS every Tuesday on CBS. Catch up the next day on Paramount+.