Mark Harmon left NCIS during Season 19 after his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, had already bid farewell to key characters like Timothy McGee, notably in Alaska. Brian Dietzen, the actor who plays Jimmy Palmer, felt his character hadn’t had a proper goodbye with Gibbs. Dietzen told TopMob he’d love to see Gibbs and Jimmy share a reunion, whether during the show’s run through 2026 or even later on.
I asked both Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen what they thought would happen if characters Gibbs and McGee ever met again. I initially asked Murray in November, and then Dietzen earlier this month. Dietzen, who first appeared as Jimmy Palmer in the very first season of NCIS in the episode “Split Decision,” shared his ideas about a potential encounter.
I believe Jimmy really looked up to Gibbs, much like he did to Doctor Mallard, who was a mentor and father figure to him. Gibbs played a similar role in Jimmy’s life. It was sad that Jimmy never had the chance to thank Gibbs and express his appreciation. I feel similarly about Mark Harmon – he dedicated so much effort and set the tone for our show, and I’m grateful for everything he did. I was able to tell him that, and it would have been nice if Jimmy could have done the same with Gibbs.
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For many seasons on NCIS, Jimmy Palmer worked closely with Donald “Ducky” Mallard, and the two developed a strong bond until Ducky’s death in Season 21. However, as Brian Dietzen noted, Mark Harmon’s character, Gibbs, also served as a mentor and father figure to him throughout nearly twenty years of episodes. While Gibbs often seemed impatient with Jimmy’s energy, he was there for him during key moments – like the supportive hug at the end of “Keep Going” and the comfort he offered after Jimmy’s wife passed away from COVID-19 in “The First Day”.
Brian Dietzen is happy to express his thanks to Mark Harmon, especially since he continues to be involved with the NCIS universe as the narrator and executive producer of NCIS: Origins. He’s hoping Jimmy and Gibbs will have a chance to reunite on screen. Whether Mark Harmon will return to the original NCIS series remains to be seen, but his brief appearance as Gibbs in Origins during November’s crossover suggests it’s a possibility. Perhaps Gibbs will eventually leave Alaska and return to Washington D.C.
It would be great to see Gibbs and McGee reconnect, but Jimmy Palmer really deserves a heartfelt reunion after not getting a proper goodbye four years ago. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait – NCIS Season 23, NCIS: Origins Season 2, and NCIS: Sydney Season 3 are all on break until Tuesday, February 24 due to the Winter Olympics.
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2025-12-31 04:08