The Director Position Doesn’t Need to Be Permanently Filled on NCIS

With Vance’s loss, there has been a lot of talk about who will take over the position on NCIS.

While some people would love to see McGee move up the ranks, others think that it should be someone from another part of the NCISverse.

However, what if that position wasn’t permanently filled?

No, I don’t mean what if the show kept interim directors, as that wouldn’t be realistic. What if the Director of NCIS remained one of those characters who are off-screen most of the time?

Decisions Can Still Be Made

Sure, with NCIS set at the agency’s headquarters, we’d have to see the Director now and then.

But that’s the thing. It’s a now-and-then position.

As we know from Jenny Shepard and Leon Vance, the Director isn’t one to be out in the field. That person is behind a desk, making some of the big decisions without people knowing.

We watched as Vance worked to save his department during the huge budget cuts facing federal organizations. A lot of this was done off-screen.

Every now and then, the Director is needed in the field or becomes a bigger part of an episode, but that doesn’t mean this character needs to be a series regular.

Decisions can still be made when a character is in the office, out of sight.

It’s easy to say that an email has come through or that Parker has mentioned a phone call.

It’s not like NCIS hasn’t been able to keep things going without a permanent new Director. There have been mentions of an interim person in charge, but that’s been it.

Otherwise, it has been business as usual.

There is something alluring about characters mentioned but not seen, almost as if they are ethereal.

It Makes It Harder for NCIS to Repeat Problematic Storylines

There is a major benefit to opting for the Director of NCIS to be someone we don’t see.

This character would be less likely to be a problem, helping to eliminate tired, boring storylines.

Just think back to NCIS Season 4, when Jenny Shepard decided to disperse the team.

For a few episodes, there was tension between everyone as they figured out ways to get their former jobs back.

At the time, this wasn’t an overused trope in procedurals to shake up the cast. However, we’ve now seen it over and over again on shows like Chicago PD and Chicago Fire.

Conflict is needed for a good TV show, but not at the expense of good storytelling.

So, bringing in a new permanent Director for the series risks repeating history. 

There is this push to introduce some sort of conflict, which could lead to the team being separated.

There are more creative ways to build friction and drama, such as a season-long arc with a major villain or by continuing some of the personal conflict that comes with Harriet Parker.

There’s also the LaRoche problem, who is pushing to move up the chain of command. It feels more and more like NCIS is going to deliver that storyline, and it is just eye-rollingly old.

The only way a permanent fixture on NCIS Season 24 could be valuable is if it’s someone who helps to take down LaRoche for good.

We need someone who is an ally to Parker, McGee, Torres, and Knight. 

We need someone who will help push forward new technology for Kasie and Palmer and work with them to make their departments function more effectively.

The problem is with a new character, which immediately brings friction, and many viewers are tired of seeing the same thing over and over again.

The best way to handle it all is to keep that head of the organization out of sight most of the time.

By the way, opting for just a guest role here and there could open the door for one of the best leaders from the NCISverse to step in. Yes, I’m talking about Hetty!

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