The new trailer for Ducky Mallard’s NCIS season 21 tribute episode features Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Anthony DiNozzo. After a thrilling premiere that dealt with Nick Torres’ case, NCIS season 21 ended on a cliffhanger that set the stage for arguably its more emotional episode of the year. In light of David McCallum’s death, the long-running police procedural is paying homage to both the actor and his beloved medical examiner-turned-NCIS historian.
In the new trailer for NCIS season 21 episode 2, “The Stories We Leave Behind,” Ducky’s death is tackled, but the clip also prominently features both Gibbs and DiNozzo in flashbacks. Watch the clip shared by cast member Brian Dietzen on Instagram below:
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In the video, Jimmy Palmer walks into Ducky’s house with coffee, but he is surprised to find him lifeless on his bed, likely having died in his sleep. The subsequent shots show Tim McGee looking at an old photo of him, Ducky, and Gibbs, while the rest of the current squad decides on the best way to honor Ducky. Surprisingly, the NCIS season 21 episode 2 trailer also includes a flashback with Gibbs and DiNozzo.
Will Gibbs And DiNozzo Appear In Ducky’s NCIS Tribute Episode?
There were murmurs that Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly would return for the monumental NCIS season 20. That didn’t pan out, with the year mostly focused on strengthening the current agent lineup. Ducky’s tribute episode, however, is the perfect opportunity to bring back both Gibbs and DiNozzo. Granted that it could have been under better circumstances, it would be much more disappointing if neither showed up to send off their beloved colleague and friend.
For context, there hasn’t been any concrete indication that Gibbs and/or DiNozzo will appear in the NCIS season 21 Ducky tribute outing. That being said, it’s quite interesting that both are featured prominently in the marketing clip. The flashback scene seemingly also includes Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David, and yet, it doesn’t feature her. There’s also no sequence involving other former NCIS characters, such as Caitlin Todd, Abby Sciuto, and Eleanor Bishop. The trailer may actually be hinting at Harmon and Weatherly coming back for Ducky’s sendoff.
Considering the circumstances, Gibbs and DiNozzo’s potential NCIS season 21 appearance can’t really focus on their much-anticipated reunion. The show may want to save that for a later date, especially after Weatherly expressed his desire to revisit his role in the procedural. For this episode, however, Gibbs’ cameo is more important because of his friendship with Ducky.
