NCIS now has a clear path to bringing back Abby Sciuto six years after Pauley Perrette’s feud with Mark Harmon. Being on the air for more than two decades, NCIS has seen many characters come and go. Since Kate Todd’s unexpected death, it established that a rotating ensemble would be its norm. Admittedly, it’s difficult to say goodbye to some players, especially fan-favorite ones, but the police procedural always moved forward, with the Major Case Response Team’s (MCRT) work continuing regardless. Considering how many cast changes the show has seen, NCIS has needed to be creative with its departures.
Behind the scenes, the reasons for the cast’s decision to leave the series vary. The majority of them stemmed from the actors’ choice to move on from NCIS, whether that’s because they wanted to explore other avenues with their career, or they simply wanted to retire from it, which was the case with Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Jessica Knight’s impending NCIS departure still doesn’t have an official reason — assuming that it will move forward. Among everyone who walked away from the show, however, Paule Perrette has the most complicated exit, which, in turn, makes Abby’s possible return also tricky.
Mark Harmon & Pauley Perrette’s Feud Explained
NCIS is known for its procedural format, but arguably the best thing about it is the chemistry of the ensemble. Over the years, the roster of the MCRT has changed multiple times, but arguably one of its best relationships was between Gibbs and Abby. Unfortunately, things behind the scenes were reportedly not the case leading up to Perrette’s departure. Long story short, she said that Harmon terrified her after an issue she had an encounter with his dog. In 2024, CBS executives revealed that the issue had long been resolved, and are even open to bringing her back.
Despite this, Perrette’s last comment about the matter revealed that she maintained her stance about her exit, saying that she would never be coming back to NCIS because she never wanted to work with Harmon. She made this statement in 2019, around the time when she was busy with her short-lived show, Broke. Despite this, there’s still hope that she will eventually return, especially after the Ducky tribute episode in NCIS season 21 referenced Abby.
Pauley Perrette’s Abby Can Return To NCIS Via Tony & Ziva’s Spinoff
While Perrette’s NCIS exit was chock-full of controversy, the police procedural found a way to write her character out of MCRT. Abby’s decision to walk away from NCIS stemmed from a traumatic experience on the job where she was targeted by a hitman. MI6 Agent Clayton Reeves was tasked to protect her and he did, but that led to his death. Pent up with all the trauma of being part of the agency and wanting to honor Reeves’ legacy, she moved to the United Kingdom to set up a charity in his name.
Assuming that this is still the case, then she can easily join the next NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. After Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo return in NCIS season 21, he and Cote de Pablo are re-teaming for a proper comeback to the franchise with their own spinoff. It will see the pair on the run across Europe with their pre-teen daughter, Tali. Plot specifics are still kept under wraps about their circumstances, but regardless of who is chasing them, they could use some help from any ally.
Since trust is a big factor in NCIS: Tony & Ziva, it will be best if they reach out to someone whom they know will never sell them out — Abby. It’s worth noting that while Perrette has issues with Harmon, she seemingly maintains a good working relationship with the rest of his former NCIS co-stars. Between this and the narrative opening of bringing back a fan-favorite in Abby, NCIS: Tony & Ziva is in the unique position to make her much-awaited return to the TV universe possible.
Can Abby Still Return To NCIS’ MCRT?
Abby helping Tony and Ziva navigate their woes in Europe is great, but it also opens up the possibility of her eventually finding her way back to DC. Luckily this time, Gibbs is no longer an active MCRT special agent, which means that if Perrette decides to return, she won’t have to work with Harmon, which is something she has been adamant about. But, she still has ties to the team, with Tim McGee and Jimmy Palmer there. If anything, Perrette’s recent update with Brian Dietzen could be an indication that Abby’s NCIS flagship return is more possible than ever.