As MCRT celebrates Christmas, Knight is restless to learn about her very first ELITE mission in a new NCIS season 23, episode 9 promo clip. While the majority of scripted series in the 2025-2026 TV cycle have already entered their holiday break, CBS’ premier procedural is saving what could be its biggest outing of the year. That’s a big statement, considering how the procedural has ramped up its storytelling quality this year.
Director Vance’s Navy Yard crew has been busy in NCIS season 23 thus far. Almost all members of the MCRT has already undergone a notable experience or two and the show hasn’t reached its midpoint yet. For it fall finale, however, the squad will be spreading holiday cheer with NCIS’ Christmas episode for the TV cycle. While there will definitely be a case to tackle, it appears as if McGee and the rest are committed to a fun Yuletide season.
ScreenRant exclusively presents a clip from NCIS season 23, episode 9, “Heaven and Nature.” In the video below, Knight excitedly comes to work, proudly showing how she scored the most in-demand toy. As it turns out, it isn’t as difficult to get, as McGee, Torres, Parker, and Director Vance all got them. The most standout aspect of the otherwise cheery promo, however, comes from Knight and Vance’s discussion about her very first ELITE mission. Watch the video below:
The official synopsis for “Heaven and Nature” reveals that the Christmas present that NCIS has been working on will end up being stolen, sending McGee and Torres on a hunt to recover them. However, a more interesting tidbit from the brief involves Knight’s personal story in the outing. Per CBS, NCIS season 23, episode 9 will see her “given her first NCIS: Elite mission, which involves tracking down a former member of the team.”
People involved in the show haven’t really addressed this tease, but it sure sounds like NCIS season 23 is setting up Ellie Bishop’s return. Emily Wickersham left the show not long before Mark Harmon did. Unlike Gibbs’ retirement in Alaska, however, her departure was more complicated. Apparently, she had been training to be an undercover agent for a while. Once she passed the final test, she left MCRT with very little fanfare, leaving most of her old co-workers, particularly Torres, shell-shocked. She hasn’t been seen since then.
Bishop best fits the description for Knight’s target, and considering everything that NCIS has pulled off this year, it isn’t out of question Wickersham might actually return. The bigger question is how her potential return shakes things up for MCRT. Luckily, fans won’t have to wait long, as NCIS season 23 fall finale airs on Tuesday, December 16.
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review Like Follow Followed NCIS TV-14 Crime Drama Action 6/10 423 8.8/10 Release Date September 23, 2003 Network CBS Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario Directors Dennis Smith, Terrence O’Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright Cast See All Sean Murray Timothy McGee David McCallum Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard
Genres Crime, Drama, Action Powered by Expand Collapse
