At long last, NCIS season 20 is poised finally provide some new updates on the whereabouts of Abby Sciuto. CBS' hit procedural, which remains one of the most-watched shows on television, will return this month for another season of new mysteries. NCIS season 19 saw the surprise departure of longtime series lead Mark Harmon, with his Leroy Jethro Gibbs leaving the team for retirement in Alaska. Now, Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) heads NCIS' core team, which is a lineup that has seen many changes over the years.
NCIS has weathered a good number of high-profile cast exits, and one of the biggest belonged to Pauley Perrette's Abby. As the bubbly forensic scientist with a penchant for all things gothic, Perrette was a key member of the show since its very first episode in 2003. She left NCIS in season 15; after a near-death experience that resulted in the loss of Clayton Reeves (Duane Henry), Abby opted to leave the agency and start directing her attention toward charitable efforts. Since then, NCIS has made little mention of the beloved character, and Perrette has so far kept the door closed on a potential return.
Luckily, for viewers who have been wondering where Abby is, answers seem to be coming. Speaking with TVLine, NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder acknowledges that while Gibbs has earned plenty of mentions since he left, Abby has yet to receive the same treatment. However, Binder now aims to change that, as he explains:
“We are always thinking about ways to involve [Gibbs] in a way that doesn’t ‘rip off the scab’ and doesn’t ruin what I thought was the only fitting send-off for this guy. I want to start doing that with Abby’s character as well. I’d like to start feeling her [presence] a little more. I thought we were a little remiss in not [doing that sooner], but there are so many moving parts…. But she is still out there fighting the good fight and watching us, and she is a part of us and we’re a part of her.”
It's rare for a member of the NCIS team to leave and receive little to no references after. For example, viewers are well aware of the fact that Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) are raising their daughter Tali following their offscreen reunion. Deceased characters like Caitlin Todd and Jenny Shepherd still get acknowledged from time to time. Because of that, it has been odd that NCIS has offered few tidbits about what Abby is up to, especially since she was so close with Timothy McGee (Sean Murray). This could've been because of the messy behind the scenes details of Perrette's NCIS departure, but one has to hope that is not the case.
Regardless of why Abby has gone relatively unmentioned until now, NCIS season 20 hopefully aims to rectify that mistake. McGee could mention he's spoken to Abby recently, thus providing the perfect opportunity for him to explain where she is now. NCIS might even provide an update on the charitable foundation she aimed to start in Reeves' honor. Not only would this provide some fresh closure for Abby's storyline, it would also help NCIS honor its past as it moves ever further from where it began. While it is unlikely that Abby will return to the series, her NCIS legacy might finally get a major boost.
NCIS season 20 premieres Monday, September 19 on CBS.
Source: TVLine