The NCIS team gets an unusual new partner when Episode 8, titled ‘Stolen Moments’, premieres on December 9. This episode marks an important point in the season, serving as the fall finale before the show takes its annual winter break. A case involving a shooting outside the Vice President’s home takes a strange turn with the introduction of a beta-testing AI chatbot, all while the personal mystery surrounding Alden Parker’s family continues to unfold.
When And Where To Watch NCIS Season 23 Episode 8
NCIS Season 23 Episode 8 will air on Tuesday, December 9, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) and 7:00 PM Central Time (CT) on the CBS television network.
For viewers who prefer to stream, you have several options. You can watch the episode live as it broadcasts on the CBS website or through the CBS app. Live TV streaming services like FuboTV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream also carry CBS in their channel lineups.
The official streaming home for NCIS is Paramount+. Subscribers to the Paramount+ with Showtime plan (priced at $12.99 per month) can stream new episodes live as they air on CBS. If you have the standard Paramount+ Essential plan ($7.99 per month), new episodes will be available to watch on-demand the day after they premiere, meaning ‘Stolen Moments’ will be on this platform starting Wednesday, December 10.
The Case: A Shooting, A Heist, And A Digital Partner
The official description for ‘Stolen Moments’ sets up a unique and high-pressure case: “When a man is shot by the Secret Service outside the vice president’s official residence, NCIS is aided in the case by a new member of the team — an AI chatbot being beta-tested by the Department of Justice”.
Previews indicate the victim is a conman, and his death outside such a secure location immediately pulls the NCIS team into a major investigation. What seems like a straightforward shooting quickly expands into a larger conspiracy connected to a heist, promising the complex plots the show is known for.
The most talked-about element is the team’s new “member.” The Department of Justice is beta-testing an AI chatbot and has tasked the NCIS team with trying it out during a real investigation. This storyline brings a modern, tech-focused twist to the procedural format. Given the team’s hands-on, instinct-driven methods, being told to rely on an experimental algorithm for case-solving will likely lead to friction and some comedic moments.
Behind The Scenes And Cast Details
‘Stolen Moments’ is directed by Diana C. Valentine. The episode is notably co-written by Brian Dietzen, the actor who has played Dr. Jimmy Palmer for over two decades, alongside longtime writer Jesse Stern. Dietzen has written for the show before, and his episodes often skillfully blend the series’ crime-solving with its character-driven heart.
The full main cast returns for this episode. This includes:
- Gary Cole as Special Agent Alden Parker
- Sean Murray as Senior Agent Timothy McGee
- Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres
- Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight
- Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer
- Diona Reasonover as Forensic Scientist Kasie Hines
- Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance
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The Continuing Mystery Of Parker’s Mother
While the AI-assisted heist case will be the primary focus, Episode 8 is also expected to offer new developments in the season’s major personal storyline.
The mystery of the death of Alden Parker’s mother, Lily, has been building all season. It started with Parker’s father being murdered by mob boss Carla Marino in the Season 22 finale, which sent Parker on a vengeful path in the two-part season premiere. More recently, Parker asked Jimmy Palmer to use his skills as a medical examiner to secretly examine his mother’s remains, believing her death decades ago may not have been accidental.
In the previous episode, Episode 7 ‘God Only Knows’, which aired on December 2, Jimmy finally shared his initial findings with Parker. The details of what he discovered are still emerging, but it confirmed Parker’s suspicions that there is more to the story. As the fall finale, ‘Stolen Moments’ will likely advance this thread, potentially setting up a major revelation that will drive the story when the season resumes.
The Upcoming Winter Break And Return Date
Episode 8 is confirmed to be the fall finale for NCIS Season 23. The following episode, Episode 9 titled ‘Heaven and Nature’, is scheduled for December 16. After that, the show will go on its extended winter hiatus.
The return date for new episodes has been announced. Due to scheduling changes related to the Winter Olympics, CBS will not bring its Tuesday night lineup back in its usual January window. Instead, NCIS Season 23 will return with Episode 10 on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. This means fans will have a break of over two months before the NCIS team is back with new cases.
