The NCIS franchise is one of the most storied franchises in modern television history. The JAG spinoff follows a ragtag and eclectic team of agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they investigate crimes relating to Navy and Marine military personnel. NCIS became a smash hit and would go on to spawn a thriving franchise with multiple series falling under the NCIS umbrella. The NCIS franchise includes interconnected series that focus on other NCIS teams and frequently crossover and reference each other.
One of the biggest strengths of the NCIS franchise is the characters themselves. Across the franchise, each NCIS series has strong characters with diverse personalities. The way characters are approached in the NCIS franchise is a large part of the franchise's longevity and overall success. By flushing the franchise with rich characters with great quirks and backstories, each series in the NCIS franchise can flesh out its unique story and tone.
5 NCIS: Sydney Recently Introduced the Quirky Bluebird 'Blue' Gleeson
Blue Has Been in 8 Episodes of NCIS: Sydney
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First Appearance |
NCIS: Sydney Season 1, Episode 1, "Gone Fission" |
|---|---|
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Role on Team |
Forensic Scientist |
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Played by |
Mavournee Hazel |
NCIS: Sydney is a bold new addition to the NCIS franchise.NCIS: Sydney marks the first international addition to the franchise and blends an Australian and American cast to comprise the team of NCIS Special Agents and Australian Federal Policemen operating in Sydney, Australia, to balance the interests of the US Navy while they are operating in Australian territory. One of the more notable members of this team is Bluebird 'Blue' Gleeson.
Longtime fans of the NCIS franchise know that NCIS loves a quirky forensic scientist. This holds true for NCIS: Sydney as well. Bluebird 'Blue' Gleeson is a young and brilliant forensic scientist with diverse forensic skills. Blue is the youngest member of the team and struggles at first to mesh well with the more serious and grizzled members of the NCIS: Sydney team. Blue's awkward personality is a double-edged sword for NCIS: Sydney. On the one hand, it adds humility to Blue's character to have her be awkward and passive. However, Blue's awkward nature can also interrupt the flow of the story on occasion. Blue, as a character, has a lot of room for growth in NCIS: Sydney's upcoming second season. Her upbeat nature and unique style endear her to a new number of NCIS fans and signifies the bold and forward-facing nature of NCIS: Sydney.
4 NCIS: Hawai'i Introduced the Whip Smart Lucy Tara
Lucy Has Been in 53 Episodes of NCIS: Hawai'i
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First Appearance |
NCIS Hawai'i Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot" |
|---|---|
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Role on Team |
NCIS Special Agent |
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Played By |
Yasmine Al-Bustami |
NCIS: Hawai'i continued the CBS Network's slate of shows that take place in the beautiful state of Hawai'i. NCIS: Hawai'i follows the NCIS Agents assigned to Pearl Harbor and has a wide Naval jurisdiction they are responsible for protecting. The team is led by the cool and collected former CIA agent Jane Tennant. As a whole, the NCIS: Hawai'i
NCIS Special Agent Lucy Tara sets the right tone for NCIS: Hawai'i. Tara has a solid foundation but balances it out with a cool personality that is equal parts spunky and strong. As a character, she is incredibly endearing and has a welcoming nature. Her ability to connect with a diverse range of people is evident in her work and personal relationships, such as with her girlfriend, Kate Whistler. There is no doubt that Lucy Tara embodies the best parts of NCIS: Hawai'i.
3 NCIS: New Orleans is in Good Hands with Dwayne Pride
Dwayne appeared in all 155 Episodes of NCIS: New Orleans
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First Appearance |
NCIS Season 11, Episode 18, "Crescent City: Part 1" |
|---|---|
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Role on Team |
NCIS Special Agent in Charge |
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Played by |
Scott Bakula |
NCIS: New Orleans did a truly fantastic job of breathing new life into the NCIS franchise. After so many years of great performances from NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, fans were ready for something new and fresh for the NCIS franchise, and NCIS: New Orleans delivered. The series is set in one of the most vibrant U.S. cities and features the sole team of NCIS agents in the city as they investigate unique cases, including some that reveal conspiracies surrounding local government. The team is led by NCIS Special Agent in Charge Dwayne Pride, nicknamed 'King' by locals.
Special Agent Pride has a personality that expertly matches the energy of New Orleans. He has ample parts charm and swagger without it coming off as surface-level. His heart is undeniable, and he puts everything he has into the case. Pride fostered a learning environment on his team and helped grow his team into more nuanced agents by taking a nurturing role. There is little doubt that Dwayne Pride is the beating heart of NCIS: New Orleans.
2 NCIS Started a Franchise In Part to Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Mark Appeared in 418 Episodes of NCIS
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First Appearance |
JAG Season 8, Episode 20, "Ice Queen" |
|---|---|
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Role on Team |
Special Agent in Charge |
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Played by |
Mark Harmon |
It's undeniable that NCIS would not grow into the powerhouse that it is without Leroy Jethro Gibbs paving the way. Gibbs was first introduced in JAG as a devoted NCIS Agent with an edge to him. Gibbs would then go on to lead the JAG spinoff series NCIS for 19 seasons before retiring peacefully. The story of Gibbs is not over; however, in the NCIS franchise, the series NCIS: Origins follows Gibbs' rookie days as an investigator at Camp Pendelton.
Special Agent Gibbs has one of the most intriguing characterizations, not just in the NCIS franchise but in television overall. Gibbs puts on an icy exterior to the outside world to mask a wounded Marine still reeling from the death of his family decades earlier. This hidden vulnerability has him keep people at arm's length, but he then grows to trust his team as time passes, and he comes to view them as family. Gibbs is a brilliant leader and has produced some of the finest agents in the NCIS franchise, and he did it his way while pushing against bureaucracy and political red tape. Gibbs was a constant in the NCIS franchise for years and had fans tuning in regularly to see his iconic interrogation scenes and funny head-slap moments. NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is definitely the most famous character in the NCIS franchise.
1 NCIS: Los Angeles Flourished Due to Hetty Lange
Linda Appeared in 265 Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles
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First Appearance |
NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1, Episode 1, "Identity" |
|---|---|
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Role on Team |
Operations Manager |
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Played |
Linda Hunt |
NCIS: Los Angeles is arguably the most underrated series in the NCIS franchise. NCIS: Los Angeles follows NCIS agents in the Office of Special Projects that handle cases related to espionage and terrorism that have the potential to threaten national security. NCIS: Los Angeles strikes the perfect balance between a procedural cop series and a spy thriller series, making for a consistent yet surprising series rife with adrenaline. This secretive Office of Special Projects is managed by Hetty Lange, who is as mysterious as she is intense.
Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange is an undeniably iconic character. Hetty is regarded as one of the best spies of all time and has a reverent reputation in the intelligence community. Hetty is an expert at reading people and situations and uses her age and short stature to come off as far less deadly than she actually is. She is a survivor of atrocities and uses every traumatic moment as a learning experience to be a better operative. Despite what she has been through, she still has a caring disposition towards the agents under her command and helps them hone their craft. Hetty is the most iconic character in the NCIS: Los Angeles because she has such a rich life and clearly has not slowed down at all since she began her career as a young woman. She is as stylish as she is secretive, and fans love her for it.
