The Uncertain Future of Agent Knight: Is Knight Leaving the Show?

The Season 21 finale of “NCIS” delivered a significant twist, with Katrina Law’s character, Special Agent Jessica Knight, accepting a job offer at another agency branch, sparking curiosity about her future on the series.

“NCIS” co-showrunner Steven D. Binder commented on the development in an interview with TVLine, noting, “We set something up there. And I will point you to our track record where you just never know. We’ve had people look like they were going away and then it turned out they weren’t, and then we had people who just disappeared, like Gibbs. So I will say this: We do aim to please and we think the audience will be satisfied with where they see this go.”

Binder’s remarks leave Knight’s future open-ended, making it unclear how her potential move could play out to fans’ satisfaction. Katrina Law, however, expressed optimism about her character’s trajectory. She explained to TVLine, “Ever since Jessica’s dad showed up, it’s kind of put Jimmy and Knight into a bit of a whirlwind. It’s made them look at the future more long-term than they had initially planned.”

Discussing the personal challenges faced by her character and Jimmy, Law said, “All of a sudden, a lot of Jimmy’s demons are rearing their ugly heads, and I think he went into panic mode and self-preservation mode to ensure his heart isn’t broken by Jessica also leaving him.” She added that Jessica is contemplating her life choices, wondering, “‘Have I settled? Have I sat back on my heels? Am I living up to my full potential?’ And I think Jessica and Jimmy may also be questioning if they are each other’s rebounds.”

Law elaborated on Jessica’s decision to take the new job, noting, “She wants a career, she’s very ambitious, and to her, a long-distance relationship isn’t the end of things, or maybe it is, if it doesn’t work out. She has to go forward and see where things lead; she can’t settle into something that she knows will ultimately make her angry and have regrets.” Regarding Jimmy, she remarked, “He had a chance to say, ‘Please don’t take this job,’ and he didn’t. He instinctively knows that Knight needs to do this, and then they can see where they are after.”

While Law hasn’t confirmed her departure from the show, she hinted at what’s to come, telling fans, “Hmmm… Better tune in for that season opener!”

When The Wrap inquired about the implications of Law’s character’s decision, Binder responded, “…we hope it means good things for Jessica’s future for sure. As for Katrina’s future, you know, we like to keep the audience guessing, and surprise them. So I think what that means is surprises you’ll have to guess at?” He reassured fans, “I will say that we strive to please, and the audience will be pleased.”

Rocky Carroll, who plays Director Vance, had previously indicated that the season would conclude on a highly personal note.