If you were watching CBS on December 16, 2025, you probably had the same "wait, what?" moment as the rest of us. The NCIS latest episode cast for the fall finale, "Heaven and Nature," didn't just bring the usual team to the table; it set the stage for a 2026 return that's going to be messy. Honestly, the way they handled the toy drive heist was fun, but it’s the character shifts that actually matter here.
The episode officially wrapped up the first half of Season 23. We’ve seen a lot of faces this year, but the lineup for this specific hour felt like a strategic chess move by the showrunners.
Who was in the NCIS latest episode cast?
Basically, the core team was all there, but the guest stars and the "off-screen" presence of a former favorite stole the spotlight. Here is the breakdown of who actually showed up in the December 16 finale.
The Main Squad
- Sean Murray as Timothy McGee: Our tech wizard is still the backbone of the MCRT. In this episode, he and Torres were hunting down a stolen truck full of Christmas toys. It’s a classic "holiday episode" trope, but Murray plays that senior agent fatigue so well now.
- Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres: Torres has been through the ringer this season, especially with the Parker/Carla Marino drama earlier on. He was largely the muscle in this episode, though his chemistry with McGee remains the show's best comedic engine.
- Gary Cole as Alden Parker: We finally got the "truth" about Parker’s mother. It’s been a slow burn all season, and Cole brings a certain gravitas that makes you almost forget he replaced a legend.
- Katrina Law as Jessica Knight: This is the big one. Knight spent the episode beginning her first NCIS: Elite assignment. If you’ve been following her arc, you know she’s been leaning toward the "Elite" training for a while, but the twist at the end of her mission changed the game.
- Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer: Jimmy’s role was more supportive here, but his earlier discovery about Parker's mother's death was the catalyst for the season's emotional stakes.
- Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines: Still the smartest person in the room. Her lab work was essential to tracking the stolen truck, though she didn’t get as much "field" time this go-around.
- Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance: The Director mostly hovered in the background until the final minutes when he dropped the bombshell task for Knight.
The Guest Stars and Returnees
The NCIS latest episode cast also featured a few notable names that made the "Heaven and Nature" credits pop. We saw more of the recurring drama surrounding the Parker family, but the real news is who didn't physically appear until the final sting.
Emily Wickersham as Ellie Bishop (Sorta).
Okay, technically, Wickersham’s return is the "fugitive" arc that's been looming. The latest episode confirmed that Knight’s mission is to track down Bishop. While she’s a guest star for this season's narrative arc, her presence in the storyline is the strongest it's been since Season 18.
The Bishop Twist: Why the Cast is Expanding
You've probably noticed that NCIS is leaning heavily into its own history lately. By bringing Ellie Bishop back as a "fugitive from justice," the producers are forcing the current NCIS latest episode cast to reckon with the ghosts of the past.
It’s a smart move. Fans have been clamoring for "Bishop-Torres content" for years. Seeing how Torres reacts when he finds out Knight is hunting his former flame is going to be explosive.
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Earlier in Season 23, we also saw a massive crossover event that brought back Mark Harmon as Gibbs, along with Roma Maffia and Muse Watson. That set a high bar for guest appearances. While the December 16 episode was a bit more contained, the implication of Bishop's return means the 2026 cast list is going to look very different.
What happens next?
If you're looking for the next episode, you’re going to be waiting a while. CBS is pausing the show for the Winter Olympics. The NCIS latest episode cast won't return until February 24, 2026, for Episode 10, titled "The Choice."
Here is what we know about that upcoming cast:
- Emily Wickersham is confirmed to appear on-screen.
- Katrina Law (Knight) will be the primary foil for Bishop.
- Zane Holtz might return as Agent Dale Sawyer, given how much they've used him this season.
The show is definitely leaning into the "Elite" storyline. It feels like they are testing the waters to see if the audience accepts a more fragmented team where members go on high-stakes solo missions.
Understanding the Season 23 Dynamics
NCIS is in a weird spot in 2026. It’s one of the longest-running shows on TV, and yet it still manages to pull in 5-6 million live viewers. The cast chemistry is the only reason it works.
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When Gary Cole took over, people were skeptical. But his dynamic with his sister, Navy Vice Admiral Harriet Parker (played by Nancy Travis), has added a layer of Navy politics we haven't seen in a while.
The latest episode proved that the show isn't afraid to sideline the "case of the week" to focus on these long-term character payoffs. The toy truck heist was just a backdrop. The real story was Knight getting the order from Vance to go after one of their own.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Catch up on Paramount+: If you missed the "Prodigal Son" two-parter at the start of the season, go back and watch it. It explains why Parker is so unhinged lately and provides the context for his mother’s backstory that was resolved in the latest episode.
- Mark your calendar: The show returns February 24, 2026. Don't expect new episodes in January; the schedule is completely cleared for the Olympics and other mid-season programming.
- Watch for the Spin-offs: While NCIS: Tony & Ziva was unfortunately cancelled recently, NCIS: Origins is still running. If you want more of that Gibbs-era vibe while waiting for the main cast to return, that's your best bet.
The current NCIS latest episode cast has managed to survive the departure of several heavy hitters over the years. With the return of Bishop on the horizon, the back half of Season 23 is shaping up to be one of the most nostalgic—and potentially divisive—runs in the show's history.