NCIS Project Highlights Kate Todd's Biggest Missed Opportunity 19 Years After Her Death Summary Sasha Alexander clarifies the real reason she left NCIS , citing the gruesome filming schedule that led her to exit as Kate Todd. Alexander's exit as Kate on NCIS led to the introduction of Ziva David, shaping the show's future dynamics and love story. Kate's death had a lasting impact on NCIS , paving the way for new character dynamics and storylines in the long-running series. SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Sasha Alexander explains why she decided to exit NCIS as Caitlin Todd after just two seasons. While Leroy Jethro Gibbs' team was already established when they first appeared in JAG, the events of police procedural were kickstarted by the introduction of Kate. Originally working with the Secret Service, she was booted out of her stint after she came clean about sleeping with a co-worker. This case was recently revisited in the NCIS' 1000th episode. Despite the tragedy, it led to her joining the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), where she served for just a couple of years.
Alexander's departure was unexpected, especially since Kate was brutally murdered in the NCIS season 2 finale. The actor opened up about her decision to walk away from the police procedural in her appearance in a new episode of Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast hosted by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo.
Yeah, it did. It did [no work/life balance]. I mean I think before NCIS, the shows that I did somehow had more of a balance like they were either true ensembles. But if in this particular case, I mean normally, if you're like one or two, like Rizolli and Isles, I worked all the time, but there were moments where we could throw the ball back and forth to each other. NCIS, Mark, Michael, and I, and you later were on every single scene.
How Kate's Death Changed NCIS Forever
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NCIS is used to losing cast members, which is the norm for long-running TV shows. That said, Kate's death was arguably the most impactful on the show. Aside from being brutal, especially with the way Ari's assassination played out, it also led to a series of changes that defined NCIS' next decade. Admittedly, it's impossible to know how exactly NCIS would be different if Alexander stayed on as Kate. However, the biggest change would be the show now bringing in Cote de Pablo as Ziva David as her replacement.
As Ari's half-sister, Ziva was initially recruited as a Mossad liaison officer who was supposed to deal with his rogue brother. Ultimately, however, she became an official member of MCRT after she realized the atrocious crimes that he had committed. If Gibbs' original team hadn't lost Kate, NCIS wouldn't have had any reason to introduce a new female agent. Ziva's non-existence would have resulted in the erasure of perhaps the most prominent love story in the police procedural -- something that will be further explored in the upcoming spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva.
Eventually, Alexander went on to star in another procedural, which she mentioned in the podcast. She was the co-headliner of Rizzoli & Isles, but despite being a title character, the actor revealed that the workload was so much lighter than NCIS. Because of Kate's death, it's quite tricky for Alexander to reprise her role in the CBS franchise, but it isn't impossible, considering her previous post-mortem appearance. Perhaps, NCIS season 22 can revisit Kate's death, which could lead to the actor's return to the long-running series.
NCIS season 22 will premiere as part of CBS' 2024-2025 fall schedule.
Source: Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch
NCIS CrimeDrama
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Special Agent Alden Parker, a quirky former FBI agent who solves his cases with calm professionalism and sharp, sarcastic charm, leads the NCIS team, which includes NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate with a knack for computers who has now graduated to senior field agent; the charismatic, unpredictable and resilient NCIS Special Agent Nicholas "Nick" Torres, who has spent most of his career on solo undercover assignments; and sharp, athletic and tough NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, a formidable REACT agent who specializes in hostage negotiations and high-risk operations. The naïve Jimmy Palmer is assisting the team, who graduated from assistant to fully licensed medical examiner and now runs the morgue; and forensic scientist Kasie Hines, Ducky's former graduate assistant. Overseeing operations is NCIS Director Leon Vance, an intelligent, highly trained agent who can always be counted on to shake up the status quo. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.
Cast sean murray , Wilmer Valderrama , Katrina Law , Brian Dietzen , david mccallum , Mark Harmon , Rocky Carroll , Gary Cole , Joe Spano Release Date September 23, 2003 Seasons 22 Network CBS Streaming Service(s) Paramount+ Franchise(s) NCIS Where To Watch Paramount+ Expand
