NCIS (2003)

I’m a big fan of crime and investigation-themed film and TV series. One American show I’ve been following for quite a while is *NCIS* (*Naval Criminal Investigative Service*), which has now aired up to its 17th season. It also has two spinoff series: *NCIS: Los Angeles*, currently in its 11th season, and *NCIS: New Orleans*, now in its 6th season. Personally, I still prefer the original *NCIS* series—I've never kept up consistently with the other two. The cases in *NCIS* revolve around the Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

Over the years, the cast of *NCIS* has seen many changes. However, a few core characters have remained the same.

The team leader, Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon), is a former Marine sniper. With his silver hair and strong personal charisma, Gibbs always seems to understand people deeply and fiercely protects his team. He’s a bit of an “old-school” guy—still uses his antique flip phone—and has established a set of team rules (which are genuinely practical, a true reflection of Gibbs’ experience). There’s also his basement, where he’s perpetually working on building a wooden boat (which always made me wonder—how would he ever get that boat out of the basement once it’s finished?). Interestingly, the actor himself was once a carpenter in real life.

The medical examiner "Ducky" is like a living history book of the Navy. He's incredibly knowledgeable and often talks to the bodies during autopsies.

Timothy McGee, a top graduate from MIT in the show, has always surprised viewers by working in naval investigations. He's also a writer, turning the team's cases into novels. With excellent computer skills, he provides a lot of technical support for solving crimes. The editor has also watched McGee’s face gradually get rounder and his belly grow bigger, transforming from a "pretty boy" into a "middle-aged uncle with a dad bod."

Among the departed team members, I think the most regrettable one is Abby Sciuto, who was in charge of forensic analysis. Her gothic style (though she disliked being labeled that way), her coffin-shaped bed, her coffee addiction—all made her a unique blend of genius and eccentricity, a true kind-hearted genius girl. There were many contradictions in her character, yet they all made perfect sense.