If you know me, you’ll know that I have been a long-time fan of NCIS. For years, it was the show that defined me. I had turned the television over to the show by accident one day circa 2007, and that was all it took. One episode and I was hooked – forever invested in these characters and stories, to the point they almost felt like friends. I would watch episodes religiously every week, and I felt so deeply for these characters that I even dabbled in writing fanfiction (but that’s for another post…)

To be honest, although at one point it was my favourite show, I haven’t truly watched it in years. When Cote De Pablo announced her departure for season 11 in 2013, I was utterly heartbroken. I had become so attached to Ziva David as a character that saying goodbye to her felt like saying goodbye to a friend. I couldn’t imagine not seeing her on screen every week alongside the other wonderful actors, and my favourite show no longer felt like my favourite show. There would be no more sexual tension between Tony and Ziva; no more of their longing looks across the bullpen. There awesome threesome – Tony, Ziva, and McGee would be non-existent. Everything changed, and I could no longer bring myself to watch it as avidly as I once did.

Of course, I did tune in for the odd episode such as the departure of Tony DiNozzo (played by Michael Weatherly), because although it was a bittersweet moment, my little Tiva shipping heart was happy that there closure, albeit not the closure I would have hoped for.

I watched the departure of Abigail Scuito, whose character I had once aspired to be, having become enamoured with the idea of forensic science (though, I decided against becoming one because I didn’t think I could handle the real-life responsibility of the job and everything it entailed… and it was also probably not as glamourous as the television made it out to be).

Then, in Season 17, Cote De Pablo returned for some very special Ziva-centric episodes which filled my heart with so much joy that I felt like I was going to burst. Seeing her return to the character and the role that I had grown so attached to… it honestly felt like a friend was returning home after almost a decade away. And again, though her episodes didn’t give us the closure we wish we had had (i.e. and on-screen reunion with Tony & Tali), they came much closer than her previous departure episodes did.

And more recently, at the end of season 18/beginning of season 19, Mark Harmon–the OG leader–decided that it was time to leave his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs behind, having played the same character for almost two decades of his life. Admittedly, there was some speculation that the show would not survive without him, leaving only Timothy McGee (played by Sean Murray) as the last remaining character to appear in every single season since the show aired. But despite the worries, the show is still as successful as it once was, having gone through the routine of character changes more than a few times – from Jenny Shepherd to Leon Vance, from Caitlin Todd to Ziva David, from Abigail Scuito to Kasie Hines, and from Leroy Jethro Gibbs to Alden Parker.

Of course, having a show on air for two decades means that there have been a lot of storylines and background for every character, most notably Gibbs. Over the course of nineteen seasons, the show explores Gibbs’ past multiple times – from his various marriages to different redheads, to his immediate family including Shannon and his daughter Kelly, his encounter with the beloved medical examiner Ducky (David McCallum), his journey to becoming an NIS agent (later renamed to NCIS), and his relationship with his former mentor, Mike Franks (Muse Watson).

Last week, CBS’s announcement of Mark Harmon’s return to the role of Gibbs in a new show – NCIS: Origins – caught me by surprise. I know that there will be many fans out there for whom this is wonderful news, but the question begs: how much more of a story can they tell that they haven’t already told before? How will they be able to translate this into a story that is multiple episodes long, without being a cut-and-paste version of what we’ve seen in NCIS? Also, will there be continuity?

In addition, Mark Harmon’s son Sean will be returning to play the role of a young Gibbs. He has previously portrayed the character in several episodes of NCIS during flashbacks to Gibbs’ past, which is sure to be a treat for the hardcore NCIS fans and bodes well for the continuity aspect. Still, what about the other characters that we have seen in Gibbs’ past in the original series? Will the same actors/actresses be willing to reprise their roles to keep the continuity, or will they be casting new and unknown actors for the parts?

But the question I am perhaps the most interested in (aside from whether it will be good, which remains to be seen), is will viewers find it popular or are there some stories that should simply rest in peace? Having watched Gibbs’ departure storyline, it felt like a fitting farewell to him. It made sense. It gave the closure we all needed to say our goodbyes to this character that had graced our screens for so many years. After all, even Gibbs states in his rules:

Rule 11: When the job is done, walk away.

I’ll admit, I am intrigued to see the outcome of this new series, even if I may be on the fence about watching it. (Although I may do so, if only to review). To be honest, if I had it my way I would much rather see a spin-off show starring Michael Weatherly and Cote De Pablo as Tiva (Tony & Ziva), because even after all these years my heart still ships them as hard as it once did!

But then, I wonder: if the door is open for a Gibbs’ origin story, will there be space for others?

Photo: Digital Spy, CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images