NCIS season 18 is officially premiering next month on CBS. There are a lot of stories worth-exploring here, especially since the premiere goes back in time to explore Leroy Jethro Gibbs' (Mark Harmon) personal mission in the past. But, aside from that, it's also nice to see romantic stories building up.
For instance, NCIS season 18 could see more of Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham) and Nick Torres' (Wilmer Valderrama) heading towards a potential romance. Their relationship is a slow burn, even though it's apparent that they do have feelings for each other.
Bishop and Torres have grown closer over the past four seasons. They've become dependent on each other -- both personally and professionally. But then, they don't make any move for a full-blown romance. There's an obvious attraction between them, which could lead to something more in NCIS season 18.
However, CarterMatt noted that direction towards a romantic relationship may even move slower in the early run of the new season. Since the premiere spends more time in the past, the story takes a significant step backward with both Bishop and Torres.
The first episode, titled "Sturgeon Season," was set before Torres' injury and happened before Ziva David's (Cote de Pablo) return in "The North Pole." That means that nothing major happens between Bishop and Torres unless the writers do something unexpected.
Meanwhile, Torres' past will be explored in NCIS season 18. His backstory wasn't really addressed, so this is a chance to learn more about his life. Valderrama told TV Insider that viewers will find "so much more" about his character's life before joining the department.
We could learn more about where he came from, his upbringing, as well as his family. The latter, in particular, has been such a mystery over the past years. The actor added they'll peel some of the layers off to better understand and give a justification of why he is the way he is.
He said that he's excited to explore those layers, as it allows his character to be vulnerable. The situation could bring him closer to other characters, as well. If he starts opening himself more, he could get along with other people in the department.
Moreover, Valderrama hinted that viewers will see something different from Bishop and Torres in the new season. He teased that they're going to do something that wasn't shown in the series before. It looks like their relationship might be tested along the way.
NCIS season 18 will be dropping its new episodes starting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, on CBS.
