NCIS season 18 is set to air the series' 400th episode once it premieres on CBS. The episode will explore Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard's (David McCallum) early years. It's yet to be seen who could appear here, but one cast member is confirmed to be coming back.
In a new report from TV Insider, it was confirmed that Harmon's son, Sean Harmon, will be returning in NCIS season 18. He will be reprising his role as the younger version of Gibbs in the 400th episode. Sean appeared in the series for a total of six episodes.
He was first seen in 2008, in which a flashback was shown following a crime that led the team to Gibbs' hometown of Stillwater, Pennsylvania. His last appearance was in 2012, the 200th episode exploring Gibbs' past. Also, he guest starred in NCIS: Los Angeles back in 2015.
Now, the 400th episode is all about exploring the early days of Gibbs and Ducky, particularly how they first met. But, it remains to be seen how their past will be addressed, and whether or not flashbacks will be incorporated to deliver stories during their younger years.
We could see how Gibbs came into the NCIS world and how he met medical examiner and now historian Ducky. In June, executive producer Frank Cardea told the aforementioned outlet that the goal of the 400th episode was to "write a love letter to the longtime fans."
It's interesting to see what the young Harmon is doing in the past and how he became close to young Ducky. Their history will be the center of almost everything in the 400th episode of NCIS season 18. We could learn more about them, especially their origins and the things they've been through in the past.
In a related report, Brian Dietzen (who plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer) shared on Twitter a message from casting director Jason Kennedy. The actor indicated that they're looking for the right performers for the 400th episode. We could expect more updates as to who's appearing in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, NCIS season 18 has started filming officially. The series was on a long hiatus due to the current global health crisis. But, although there are uncertainties as to when it could premiere, some speculated it could be released in November.
Cartermatt noted that NCIS season 18 won't be released on Nov. 13 since it's election day. Instead, the earliest that we could see the upcoming installment is on Tuesday, Nov. 10. This schedule might be followed as long as there's no filming setback along the way.
