Procedural dramas have a magnanimous fan following and contain titles deemed some of the most-watched TV series of all time. TV channels and streaming platforms have done everything from making shows about the police force to the heroes behind the 911 calls. However, one of the earliest memories of introduction that fans have to the genre is through the all-time hit military police procedural television series NCIS. Released way back in 2003, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the first installment in the NCIS franchise that has successfully churned out content for the past two decades.
With 22 seasons, NCIS has entertained fans through a whopping 483 episodes. The renowned show also holds the honor of being one of the longest-running scripted American TV shows of all time. In its decades-long run, the procedural drama has seen its fair share of ups and downs, and while diehard fans would consider every season to be the best, it’s safe to say that some outperformed others.
Updated on April 6, 2025, by Robbie Robinson: NCIS has given fans great highs and even greater lows. From shocking character deaths to horrific cases and a fast turnaround rate with cast members, NCIS is one of the most well-known crime TV series. With spinoffs and a 23rd season in the works, fans can’t help but reminisce on the best seasons of NCIS. This list has been updated to include more of its greatest seasons and reflect CBR’s current formatting standards.
15. Season 19 Marks the End of Mark Harmon’s Role in NCIS
After 18 Seasons, Gibbs Steps Down From the Team
Shocking fans early into the season, Leroy Jethro Gibbs finally steps down from NCIS. It’s sad to see him go, but it marks the end of the old era of NCIS, leaving more room for the new core cast to fall into place together. If anything, fans are simply happy that NCIS holds their hand in killing him off and just lets Gibbs go live his life. Gibbs’s leaving is necessary for viewers to adjust to the new team dynamic. It’s a completely different vibe among the team, but the show handles it well.
A close-up of Timothy McGee, played by Sean Murray, in a grey suit and white shirt from NCIS
While this season may have been a leaving point for some viewers, Season 19 holds up very well by NCIS standards. The cases are great, and the team gets better acquainted over time. At this point in this series, it’s crucial for fans to stop comparing the newer cast to the golden era of NCIS. Without constant comparisons, viewers will find an enjoyable and well-written season.
14. Season 16 Makes Up For Lack-Luster Previous Seasons
NCIS slowly started losing steam as its core cast began dropping off. In particular, the decline started with Ziva’s departure and then Tony’s in season 13, which left many long-time fans devastated. Seasons 14 and 15 certainly struggle, but Season 16 comes in with new vigor and some excellent writing. Even though many fans agree that the early seasons of NCIS are its best, season 16 makes a name for itself with exceptional character writing.
Season 16 undoes one of the best NCIS characters’ deaths: Ziva. Thought to be dead, season 16 reveals that Ziva faked her own death. This reveal is a fantastic bombshell, as it gives fans hope to see more of Ziva in the following season. Season 16 also does Bishop’s character fantastically, fleshing her out even further and giving her some well-thought-out growth. Season 16 finally makes up for the pain of losing DiNozzo and delivers an impeccable string of episodes.
13. Season 12 Has the NCIS Tracking a Terrorist Group
Terrorists aren’t a brand-new plot for NCIS, but Season 12 has the team dealing with an especially perilous group. As the series drops bits and pieces about this group throughout the season, it all comes together for the climactic final episodes of Season 12. Known as “The Calling,” this terrorist group works by recruiting teenagers and young people online. However, Season 12 doesn’t slack off on its emotional moments and character developments.
Gibbs can rarely ever seem to catch a break. While the show often uses his many ex-wives as gags to his character, they still pull at Gibbs’ heartstrings from time to time. Season 12 features the death of one of Gibbs’ exes, Diane Sterling.
After Diane’s death, Gibbs and Tobias Fornell are both overcome with guilt and grief. This death acts as another nail-in-the-coffin for Gibbs. The finale of season 12 doesn’t let up on the growing death toll either, as characters have to say goodbye to yet another agent.
12. Season 6 Has Some of the Best NCIS Episodes
NCIS Season 6 has a handful of some of the best NCIS episodes. “Silent Night” is a memorable and heart-warming Christmas episode that is still one of the greatest holiday episodes of NCIS. Season 6 also houses the fantastically creepy episode “Murder 2.0,” which is easily one of the most unsettling episodes of the entire series. “Murder 2.0” excels with its tense atmosphere that manages to hit a different feeling than any of the more sinister episodes before it.
Season 6 also dives into Gibbs’ backstory, introducing his estranged father, Jackson Gibbs. This season then sees Leon Vance officially appointed as the new NCIS director following Shepherd’s death at the end of Season 5 of NCIS. Vance certainly brings new dynamics to NCIS, so many viewers and characters still have to spend the season adjusting to him. NCIS’s Season 6 reveals plenty of explosive twists, such as the uncovering of the mole and the plot with Michael Rivkin.
11. Season 4 Juggles Tons of Character Side Plots
Season 4 of NCIS has a lot going on, but that’s what makes it such a fun season. In the first two episodes, Gibbs retires to Mexico, with Tony filling in as the team’s temporary lead. Of course, Gibbs returns for his position, but it’s fun to witness a new dynamic briefly. It’s also the first season that Ziva has fully settled into the team, so the relationships can officially flourish since viewers – and characters – are accustomed to their team.
This season of NCIS splits its focus a lot. There’s Abby and her boyfriend, McGee’s rise as an author, and the relationship between Tony and Jeanne Benoit. While Tiva – Tony and Ziva’s ship name – outshines Tony and Jeanne, many fans enjoy the sides of Tony that Jeanne pulls out. Jeanne’s role in NCIS also heavily ties in with Director Jenny Shepherd’s plot around La Grenoille. There may be a lot of different character stories happening in Season 4, but NCIS pulls it off to deliver a respectable and loved season.
10. Season 11 Opened Doorways to New Spin-offs
Season 11 Has Fans Say Goodbye to Ziva David
NCIS Season 11 is a roller-coaster ride of non-stop action, relationship growth, and some heartbreaking goodbyes. Season 11 offers the franchise a transition into new territories as a two-part episode of the season introduces the franchise’s second spin-off series, NCIS: New Orleans. Season 11’s themes and tones are more vindictive and conclusive than its predecessors.
Several key characters hit rock bottom, including Gibbs, who struggled with personal endeavors and the reminiscences of his past. With the departure of a key character, Season 11 mainly focuses on the aftershocks of a fan-favorite character’s absence and its effects on the entire team. Most of the spotlight is on Gibbs in Season 11 as he travels around solving cases and dealing with the emotional blow that came with his father’s death.
9. Season 1 Introduces Fans to the Iconic NCIS Team
Nothing beats the nostalgia and magic of experiencing a story for the first time in its raw phase. NCIS Season 1 kicked off the full-fledged story of Special Agent Leroy Gibbs and his main team as they solve cases related to high-stakes crimes, especially involving the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy personnel and their families. It’s safe to say that viewers had high expectations from the show since some of the main characters were already introduced through the show’s parent series, JAG.
Considering Season 1 properly introduces the fans to the show’s core concept and team, that definitely doesn’t mean it’s low on criminal cases and high-octane action. In fact, fans can experience Gibbs and his team’s supremacy as they solve murders, hostage situations, and even an assassination attempt on the President. It might not be the best season of NCIS, but there wouldn’t be any NCIS without this amazing first season.
8. Season 8 is a Battle on Multiple Fronts
Fans can find Season 8 chock-full of high-end cases involving a killer on the loose, missing persons, and the safety of the team. The season kicks off with a bang as Gibbs saves his father from a dangerous cartel. However, the season does go sideways at some point and introduces a few filler episodes with lighter themes, including the struggles and reservations of the main team as they receive interns.
Season 8 also dwells deeper into the clashes between NCIS and the CIA as both continue to find common ground, with the former not feeling great with all the meddling. The highlight of the season is definitely the critical chase after the infamous Port-to-Port killer. The five-part story arc takes center stage in Season 8 as loyalties are challenged, and the team finds itself in a bind with shocking twists and turns.
7. Season 2 Surpassed the Magic of the Original
It’s almost extremely difficult for any TV show to live up to the hype of the original, but fortunately, NCIS continued the streak in its second television run. Season 2 brought a lot of “firsts” to the fans, including the addition of new characters, including Timothy McGee and Jimmy Palmer, who later on became fan-favorites. Season 2’s tone was intense, with more high-stakes cases and personal growth.
The viewers particularly enjoyed the budding relationship between Tony and Kate, but an unfortunate incident unkindly killed off any chance of a long-term romance. Several key incidents and moments made NCIS Season 2 memorable, including the nail-biting finale, intricate cases, and the introduction of the trend of killing off fan-favorite characters without warning. Kate’s death marks a great shift in the team dynamics going forward.
6. Season 13 Puts the Team Through the Worst
NCIS Season 13 brought the beloved team almost to the breaking point. The season has an anxious start as the stealthy Sergeant Gibbs hangs by a thread between life and death. It’s understandable if the fans believed that Gibbs was immortal, but Season 13 put the titular character through hell as he struggled to get through an invasive surgery for his gunshot wound. With Gibbs temporarily out of the picture, the NCIS team tried their best to cope with the emotional trauma and leadership gap.
Season 13 also continues the streak of writing off series regulars, but the audience might find the goodbye hard to swallow, especially after Ziva’s exit. With Gibbs aside, several characters find their due time in the limelight, including Anthony DiNozzo. Season 13 may not be the greatest, but it has its moments and emotional impact.
5. Season 10 is a Solid Entry in the Franchise
Television shows stretching as far as more than ten seasons are bound to hit a period of slow progress. While NCIS has hit several of these stagnant points, it always manages to reel in the audience with a solid plotline. Season 10 starts with a bang as Gibbs puts down the notorious villain from Season 9. However, the series mainly focuses on the side effects of working as an NCIS agent, especially on the main team, as they deal with the aftermath of their dangerous cases.
The season highlights the team’s emotional and physical vulnerabilities, especially those of Abby, Ducky, and McGee, who each suffer from different wounds. Nonetheless, the core storyline obviously revolves around Gibbs, who becomes a wanted man when he and his team defy direct orders from Homeland Security for Bodnar’s capture. The season wraps up with the NCIS team in hot waters, with Gibbs cuffed and benched.
4. Season 7 is High on Crime
NCIS Season 7 is considered one of the better installments in the franchise because of its dynamic storylines and character development. Gibbs and his team are met with several high-profile cases in Season 7, where they are forced to rely on their best instinct even when there’s an electricity breakdown in the city. The fans get to see some good old-fashioned detective skills from the team, but most of all, Gibbs works the entire season to solve international conflicts.
High on espionage, international conspiracies, and drug cartels, Season 7 offers an adrenaline-packed storyline where the stakes haven’t been higher than this. One of the best things about this particular season is the trip down memory lane, where the show explores the darker parts of Gibbs’s past, which come to haunt him in the present. Besides Ziva becoming an NCIS agent, fans can look forward to several things in Season 7, even a mind-boggling cliffhanger.
3. Season 5 Was a Well-Balanced Blend of Drama and Comedy
NCIS Season 5 is considered one of the best seasons in the show, and for good reason. Season 5 sticks to the core balance of NCIS, which is to have equal amounts of action, thrill, romance, comedy, and substantial plot development. Although the season was heavily affected by the then-ongoing writers’ strike, it still managed to hit the mark with the audience.
One of the highlights of Season 5 is definitely Tony’s undercover mission, where he romances La Grenouille’s daughter, which almost puts his life at risk. This season also takes viewers into Gibb’s backstory, which helps to understand his personality and stance clearly. From tackling a deadly secret onboard a haunted-looking ship to witnessing the death of a fellow agent, Season 5 is full to the brim with significant arcs and powerful performances.
2. Season 9 Offers Impactful Character Development
NCIS Season 9 is the height of quality content and intense arcs from the franchise. It’s a roller-coaster ride from the very first episode and will keep the audience on the edge of their seats till the eye-popping cliffhanger. Season 9 is also special because it mainly focuses on the personal growth of several characters, including exploring their backstories like that of Abby.
The famed NCIS agent got the shock of her life when she discovered the truth about her life while trying to donate her brother a kidney or Tony reliving his high school experience. From an “action” standpoint, Season 9 is spot on and includes good old terrorism cases, a loved one involved in a criminal case, and several other individual investigations. However, the real highlight of Season 9 is the highly-anticipated guest appearance of Jamie Lee Curtis, who arrives with a bang and leaves the show with a cliffhanger that will drive the audience nuts.
1. Season 3 Was One of the Franchise’s Best Works
The Team Recovers From Kate’s Death as Ziva Is Introduced
Fans love NCIS Season 3 for several reasons, including the characters dealing with emotional trauma, the trend for diving into Gibbs’s past, and the fact that the cases testify to why the Department of Naval Criminal Investigative Services is needed. This season is particularly memorable because it was the first time a key character was killed off the show, producing ripples that affected the entire team. It then uses that death to introduce her “replacement” through Ziva.
The episodes where the deceased character says their goodbyes to the NCIS team are emotionally intense, especially when they connect to Gibbs’s personal life, where the viewers are introduced to his wife and daughter for the first time. NCIS Season 3 is a goldmine for classic criminal cases involving murder, a bomb threat, discovering a spy cell, and even a bear attack. Season 3 is peak storytelling with powerful arcs and twists that made the show lovable in the first place.
