Parents' Guide to

NCIS

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Upbeat but average crime show with blood, bodies.

TV CBS Drama 2003
NCIS Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 35 parent reviews

Erin J.
Erin J. Parent
April 29, 2023
age 18+

Teenage Fast and Furious Horrors Criminals Ripoff

Brett Davern ("Awkward." & "Easy A") Zac Efron ("High School Musical" & "Easy A")

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
julialynn
julialynn Adult
July 7, 2016
age 12+

Missing Good Plots Through The Last Three Years

Parents should be aware of the elements of good TV shows such as characterization and plot so the aspects of characters can be discussed as they relate to the plot. In this way, parents can discuss what is happening in the episode and how the characters react to conflict. Good conversations between parents and teens can keep the relationships going while watching NCIS together. One problem with the show is that plot development has been deteriorating for the past three years, and sometimes the show can be dull and boring and teens lose interest. The show used to have interesting storylines along with character development but hasn't since the character Ziva left. The last episode of season 13 affecting the closure of the Ziva and Tony characters presented the possibility of parents discussing with their teens how relationships come to an end and that endings might not always be a very happy ones, but adults can cope with loss and make better lives for themselves and their children. That final episode held much interest, moved quickly through the tension between the plot and characters and ended on a better note for the series.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 35 parent reviews

What's the Story?

NCIS is an offshoot of JAG, and, like its predecessor, it takes a military angle on the standard legal/crime procedural drama: The unit's purpose is to investigate crimes involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Mark Harmon plays Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the man in charge of on-the-ground operations. Gibbs is a serious guy whose impatience with bureaucracy makes you wonder why he chose a career in the military, but whose experience and intensity keep the rest of the team on track. His two main investigators, Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), riff with each other constantly, including some sexual banter. Several other characters round out the show, most notably Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), whose gothic style and relentlessly chipper attitude make her an unusual forensic expert. Her geeky personality and propensity for Big Gulp sodas add to her cult appeal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (35 ):
Kids say (103 ):

For many years, CBS was regarded casually as a network aimed at the elderly. With series such as Murder, She Wrote and the investigative journalism warhorse 60 Minutes, it's easy to understand the generalization. NCIS feels like a leftover from that era of programming; lead investigator Gibbs spends so much time glaring at his younger coworkers that you expect him to explode at any moment with a "Get off my lawn, you hippies!"

Like an engine ground down by years of overuse and poor repairs, NCIS represents the low ebb of the crime procedural drama. Attempts at humor and character development feel forced; the seams begin to show between scenes barely stitched together to propel a murder-of-the-week plot. Despite its flaws, the show maintains an enormous viewership and an upbeat tone that distinguishes it from some of its darker brethren.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about any stereotypes they witness while watching. Does the male and female characters' behavior on the show reinforce or combat stereotypes? What's the difference between male and female sexuality on the show?

  • How realistic are the characters and scenarios on this show? How does the show differ from other crime procedurals?

TV Details

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