NCIS aired its 500th episode, and not only did it end with a bang, but it also completely threw fans for a loop with a shocking twist involving a beloved character who has been part of the show for 18 seasons. If you thought you knew what was happening, NCIS didn’t make it easy for anyone to figure out what was going on until the last few minutes.
It had been a month since the announcement that the NCIS office was being molded into CID and various members of the team either took to their new jobs or declined the transfer. From Torres being undercover for the DEA to Parker having his own YouTube channel, things looked different for everyone.
Director Leon Vance is the focus on the episode as he is questioned about an investigation
Vance himself was preparing for the end of his role as director when he was called to the office building because some teenagers tagged the building. However, Vance learned he wasn’t there for that but because he was being arrested for being part of an unauthorized investigation with the team that led to the death of CID Agent Thompson.
The investigation involved a young petty officer whose brother asked the team for help because of his connection with Leroy Jethro Gibbs. In the show’s second episode ever in season 1, Gibbs had helped the family of Billy Fuentes after his dad was killed, and Gibbs had told him NCIS would always be there for them if needed.
Now Billy needed help figuring out how to help his sister, who was being accused of weapons smuggling. McGee and Knight did their best to investigate, even with Thompson breathing down their necks and seeming to be an annoyance.
Vance was questioned by a man who seemed to be with the CID, but despite his explanation for how the case went down, he began to realize this man was not with the CID at all. He thought he could be an arms smuggler himself, but even that didn’t seem to make sense to him.
Eventually, the team realized that two people they had arrested in the past were connected to the weapons smuggling, and they met with Thompson to talk through it. Thompson had seemed to get upset when he learned about former AG Deputy Director Brett Gaines, who the team arrested when he tried to attack his abused wife.
Thompson’s boss, CID Director Wayne Rogers, was a friend of his, and he believed his boss was dirty. He didn’t know how to arrest his own boss and left before McGee and Parker could finish talking to him.
They needed proof about what was happening and had to go back to NCIS headquarters before all of the evidence could be taken to CID. But when Vance arrived, he saw there was a bomb. He tried to defuse it before Thompson turned his weapon on him, shooting him in the chest. While it seemed he had a bulletproof vest on, the memory felt off, and Vance soon realized why.
Someone special came back to help Vance see what was happening
At one point, the mysterious man he was speaking to told him something private that was said between Vance and Jimmy Palmer. Then he began to consider why security was only sweeping the floor they were on outside of his own office. It was then that the shocking truth came, that Vance was actually murdered and he was dead. The mysterious man was none other than Ducky Mallard (Adam Campbell), who disguised himself to help Vance transition to the next step.
What had actually happened was Vance was shot and killed by Thompson, who was then killed when McGee and Parker stumbled on the scene. They tried in vain to save their boss, but he succumbed to his wounds.
Looking back, there were hints that something was going on. The drawing on the wall, which actually never happened, looked more like a duck than a dragon, hinting Ducky’s part in the arc. Plus, it was odd that Vance would be wearing a bulletproof vest if they didn’t realize Thompson was actually part of the smuggling ring.
Instead, in reality, the team learned that the CID director had fudged the financial numbers to make it look like NCIS was not doing well, and he was finally arrested by McGee and Parker. The grieving team eventually made their way back to NCIS, but without the man who had led them since 2005. As the team struggled to move forward, Vance made his final journey to be with his wife, Jackie.
Rocky Carroll truly has been an integral part of this show since the end of season 5, and it is hard to imagine a world without him as part of the team. Despite his exit from the show, he will still be in the director’s chair for later episodes, and we’re glad he will still at least be part of the show in some capacity. This was a shocking way to pull off a major death, and we’re still reeling from losing not just Vance but also Rocky Carroll, at least on screen.
The 500th episode of NCIS was a major one, and to end it on this kind of note was heartbreaking. However, the episode also served as a perfect tribute to Vance and every member of the team who has been a part of NCIS.
The aftermath of Vance's death will likely reverberate throughout the season, especially as someone will now have to take his place. With the show hinting that Vance sees McGee as a leader, we wonder if he will eventually step into the role, although at the moment, it is hard to imagine anyone filling Vance's shoes.
NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8/7c. Episodes are available for streaming in Paramount+.