This Rebellious ‘NCIS’ Character Deserves a Spinoff

Even though NCIS is a spinoff of JAG, the series has grown to become its own franchise. The lineup of ongoing series includes NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney, with NCIS: Tony & Ziva coming soon. NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i were unfortunately canceled as the budget for shooting in some of these locales became too costly for Paramount Global. A spinoff like NCIS: Sydney works because it’s set so far away from NCIS that it can feel like its own world, but also appeals to the NCIS fandom with references to characters like Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll). NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva immediately have audiences hooked by their promises of seeing beloved characters return in new scenarios.

While shows like NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i have the appeal of being set in a unique environment with new and interesting characters, these series are ultimately similar to one another in terms of the police procedural formula. To continue generating interest in a 20-year-old franchise like NCIS, the content they put out needs to be something completely different from what fans have seen before, while also appealing to audiences who have never watched an NCIS show. And what exactly could that be? An NCIS spinoff series featuring Wilmer Valderrama‘s Nick Torres.

A Nick Torres Spinoff Could Change the ‘NCIS’ Formula for the Better

Torres debuted in the NCIS Season 14 premiere as a replacement for Michael Weatherly‘s Tony DiNozzo. Torres never met Gibbs or even worked with a team, as he’s been an undercover NCIS agent since graduating from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). One of his instructors, Alex Quinn (Jennifer Esposito), describes Torres as unattached, persuasive, and clever, but a bit unstable. He could easily take on different personas, but for the most part, they were all rogue-like personalities. Outside these roles, Torres has the silliness of DiNozzo, adept fighting skills like Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), and Gibbs’ rebellious nature. While he seems like the perfect agent on paper, Torres had a lot of room for growth before becoming a fan-favorite character. He has come a long way from his brash nature in NCIS Season 14; since joining the team, Torres has experienced love and loss, dealt with his rough upbringing with his father, worked on his sobriety, and attended therapy regularly. Since the departure of series regulars like DiNozzo, Ziva, and Gibbs, Torres has become the most fleshed-out new character on NCIS.

While Valderrama has debunked rumors that he’d be leaving NCIS, a spinoff featuring his character isn’t off the table. It could be set between seasons without having to interfere with the production of NCIS. With Torres’ experience as an undercover agent, his show wouldn’t have to follow a case-of-the-week narrative. He could be assigned to a specific case that highlights how he dons his new persona and his journey to infiltrating a criminal enterprise from beginning to end. This chapter in his story could be added to Torres’ list of secrets he hides from his team. Considering that Torres has appeared in every ongoing NCIS show except NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney, the character has built relationships with different agents across the U.S., most notably Vanessa Lachey‘s Jane Tennant from NCIS: Hawai’i. Torres could rely on their resources to assist with his case, while also allowing these stars to be featured in his series.

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‘NCIS’ returns this January.

Wilmer Valderrama Is More Than Capable of Leading His Own Show

After eight seasons of development, Valderrama has proven himself worthy of leading a potential NCIS spinoff featuring Torres. Although the character has matured throughout his time working with a team, there’s still more to explore about him that NCIS can’t devote time to. With the current ensemble of Sean Murray‘s Tim McGee, Gary Cole‘s Alden Parker, Katrina Law‘s Jessica Knight, Brian Dietzen‘s Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover‘s Kasie Hines, and Carroll’s Director Vance, there are too many people to juggle character-focused stories on.

A Torres-centric spinoff series would be an interesting change of pace for the character. Torres’ series can give NCIS fans something completely different from anything the franchise has produced so far, while still feeling like a part of the world by following a well-known character. If given the chance to be a Paramount+ original like NCIS: Tony & Ziva, it could portray the darker side of this universe as Torres witnesses brutal criminal acts during his time undercover. After starring in notable series like That ’70s Show and Grey’s Anatomy, it’s time for Valderrama to not just be a main character, but the leading character.

NCIS Season 22 returns with new episodes on January 27. Previous seasons are available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

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NCIS

Release Date

September 23, 2003

Network

CBS

Showrunner

Donald P. Bellisario

Directors

Dennis Smith, Terrence O’Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright

Writers

George Schenck, Frank Cardea, Jesse Stern, John C. Kelley, Jennifer Corbett, Christopher Silber, Reed Steiner, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Jack Bernstein, Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett, Kimberly-Rose Wolter, Don McGill, Gil Grant, Frank Military, Nell Scovell, Steven Kriozere, Brian Dietzen, Kate Torgovnick May, Jeff Vlaming, Sydney Mitchel, Katie White, Richard C. Arthur, Laurence Walsh