Season 23 of NCIS has been referencing the show’s past a lot, even bringing back a character who appeared before Tim McGee and Jimmy Palmer did. The original team led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs is now completely retired, making Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen the longest-running cast members on the show. Both McGee and Palmer first appeared in Season 1 – McGee in episode 7, “Sub Rosa,” and Palmer in episode 21, “Split Decision.”
Given how long the characters on NCIS have been around, it’s easy to forget they weren’t part of Mark Harmon’s early seasons with Tony DiNozzo Jr., Kate Todd, Ducky Mallard, and Abby Sciuto. Now that those original characters have left, McGee and Palmer are the core of the show as it moves into a new chapter following Leon Vance’s passing. Interestingly, the recent episode “All Good Things” brought back a character who actually debuted before both McGee and Palmer did.
Billy Fuentes Was Introduced In NCIS Long Before McGee & Palmer
The 500th episode of NCIS was memorable for its surprising twist involving Vance’s apparent death. However, it also cleverly reintroduced Billy Fuentes, a character central to the original case that reunited the NCIS team after the agency faced closure.
He immediately contacted Nick Torres about his sister’s trouble. Though he didn’t explain how he found Torres amidst the busy agency, it was clear Gibbs had encouraged him to connect with their old team. Fans of NCIS will remember Fuentes – he first appeared way back in the second episode, “Hung Out to Dry,” as a young boy whose father’s death was investigated by Gibbs and the team. Viewers new to the show might not know his history, but that’s where it began.
Mark Harmon’s character went above and beyond to support Billy and his mother after their father passed away, and he’s still keeping that promise over twenty years later. The show NCIS even brought back the actor who originally played Austin Noah Marques to revisit the role in season 23.
The Significance Of Billy Fuentes’ NCIS Return Explained (It Isn’t Just For A Cameo)
As we’ve seen, season 23 of NCIS has cleverly used the show’s past, bringing back familiar faces like Vera Strickland and Ellie Bishop. Billy’s return felt similar to the 1000th episode, which revisited the very first NCIS case and included Tobias Fornell – a character who remembered everything that happened back then. Like that episode, Billy’s appearance connected to the show’s early days, specifically referencing the second episode.
The recent episodes of NCIS successfully tapped into the show’s history and paid tribute to its beginnings without needing a special guest appearance. While fans would have loved to see Mark Harmon return as Gibbs, that doesn’t seem likely at the moment. Billy’s return effectively showcased the impact of the original MCRT leader, even without the actor’s participation. The team’s immediate willingness to help Billy demonstrated how much Gibbs is still valued. Hopefully, Gibbs will eventually return to the Navy Yard.
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2026-05-05 18:18