With its devastating cancelation after just three seasons, many NCIS: Hawai’i stories will never get the chance to finish. The conclusion of Vanessa Lachey’s island-based NCIS spinoff is far from what the NCIS: Hawai’i characters deserved. The show featured a diverse cast with warm, genuine personalities. Every character deserved a happy ending, but their storylines were cut short. To worsen the series’ end, CBS abruptly canceled the series. Thus, NCIS: Hawai’i ended with a massive cliffhanger involving the quasi-antagonist and friend to Jane Tennant, Julie White’s Maggie Shaw.
NCIS: Hawai’i’s cliffhanger ending outraged the show’s fan base, which had already organized online to reverse the show’s cancelation. NCIS: Hawai’i fans vowed not to watch the NCIS: Origins spinoff, the Gibbs prequel series that CBS airs on Monday nights instead. The swap gives more screen time to Gibbs’ story in 1991, which highlights the central NCIS character and his old colleagues like Special Agent Vera Strickland. Unfortunately, Vera’s story and the stories of other female agents focus on how they struggle to excel at the agency, making it all the more frustrating that NCIS: Hawai’i’s empowering narratives won’t continue.
NCIS: Hawai’i was quickly becoming a fan-favorite spinoff of the legendary NCIS franchise. With its fresh take on crime-solving and a captivating Hawaiian backdrop, the show had a promising future—until its abrupt and controversial cancelation. While fans are still reeling from the news, one of the biggest disappointments is the number of unfinished storylines left hanging. Here are seven NCIS: Hawai’i stories that will forever remain unresolved.
1. Jane Tennant’s Leadership Challenges
Jane Tennant, the first female Special Agent in Charge in NCIS history, was at the heart of the series. Her journey of balancing work, family, and the challenges of leading a team was one of the show’s biggest draws. But with the show cut short, we’ll never see how she would have continued to evolve as a leader.
1.1 Could She Have Gone Higher in NCIS?
Would Jane have been promoted to an even bigger role within the NCIS universe? With her skills and intelligence, she could have been a serious contender for a top-level government position.
2. Lucy Tara and Kate Whistler’s Relationship Arc
One of the show’s most beloved relationships was between Lucy and Kate. Fans loved seeing an LGBTQ+ romance handled with depth and sincerity.
2.1 Would They Have Gotten Married?
The couple had their fair share of struggles, but it seemed like they were heading toward a long-term commitment. Would there have been wedding bells in their future? Now, we’ll never know.
3. Kai Holman’s Troubled Family Past
Kai Holman had one of the most compelling character arcs, constantly torn between his duty and his family’s troubled past.
3.1 Would He Have Reconciled With His Father?
Kai’s strained relationship with his father was a recurring theme. The show hinted at a possible reconciliation, but with its cancelation, that chapter remains unfinished.
4. Jesse Boone’s Future in NCIS
Jesse Boone was the team’s seasoned agent with a wealth of experience. He played a vital role in mentoring younger agents.
4.1 Would He Have Stayed or Moved On?
Jesse had hinted at possibly taking on a different role in law enforcement. Would he have stayed with NCIS, or was a major career change on the horizon?
5. The Mystery Behind Captain Milius’ Fate
Captain Joe Milius was a significant figure in Jane Tennant’s life, both professionally and personally.
5.1 Would Jane and Joe Have Gotten Together?
There was undeniable chemistry between them, but their relationship remained in a will-they-won’t-they phase. Now, that question will never be answered.
6. The Rising Threat of the Chinese Spy Ring
One of the biggest overarching threats in the show was a Chinese spy network operating in Hawai’i.
6.1 Would the Team Have Taken Them Down?
The show was building toward an epic showdown, but with its cancelation, we’ll never see if NCIS Hawai’i successfully dismantled the spy ring.
7. Boone’s and Tennant’s Ultimate Cases
Every NCIS show has a case that defines the legacy of its lead agent. But for Jane Tennant and Jesse Boone, that case will never come.
7.1 What Would Have Been Their Greatest Investigation?
Fans expected a mind-blowing case that would cement their legacy in the NCIS universe. That moment has been taken away.
