CBS pulled NCIS: Sydney from its Tuesday night schedule just before it was set to air. The episode, titled “South of Nowhere,” was supposed to be the show’s fall finale. The network replaced it with a rerun from the main NCIS series without giving a clear reason. This sudden change happened on Tuesday, December 16. Fans will have to wait to see the episode, as CBS has confirmed it will air at a later date.
What We Know About The Pulled Episode
The missing episode is Season 3, Episode 9 of NCIS: Sydney. The story takes the team on a dangerous mission far from their usual setting. According to the official description, “The team races to an Antarctica research base to investigate why a climate scientist killed a colleague on Polar Night Eve โ and make it out before their plane engine freezes and they’re trapped in darkness for six months”.
This episode marks a first for the series, as it is the first time the task force has left the country for a case. The plot involves a tense investigation during “Polar Night Eve,” the last sunset before Antarctica is plunged into six months of continuous darkness.
The Immediate Schedule Change
The schedule shift was announced on the same day the episode was supposed to air. Here is what viewers saw instead:
- The flagship NCIS series aired its planned fall finale, “Heaven and Nature,” at 8:00 PM ET.
- The 9:00 PM ET time slot, reserved for NCIS: Sydney, was filled with a rerun. CBS broadcast a repeat of the main show’s Season 22 episode titled “Baker’s Man”.
This left the Australian spin-off entering its winter break one episode earlier than planned. The rest of the NCIS franchise is now on hiatus. NCIS: Origins aired its fall finale earlier in December, and all shows are scheduled to return in late February.
Speculation and Community Response
While CBS has not officially stated why the episode was pulled, many viewers and commentators have connected the decision to a real-world tragedy. On Sunday, December 14, a mass shooting occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
The attack, which has been described as an act of terrorism, resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. In the days following, other events in Australia were altered or canceled out of respect for the victims.
Fans online quickly speculated that the episode’s content might be why it was delayed. One viewer suggested on social media, “They probably donโt want to air a show with shooting in it and based in the same city that soon after”. Another agreed, noting the decision was “Probably due to the terrorist attack”. An entertainment news site also shared the personal opinion that the delay was likely a reaction to the tragedy.
This would not be the first time a network has postponed entertainment content following a real-life tragic event.
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What’s Next for NCIS: Sydney?
The big question for fans is when they will get to see “South of Nowhere.” CBS has stated the episode will air at a later date. However, it is not yet clear how this will affect the rest of the season.
The show is currently scheduled to return from hiatus on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10:00 PM ET. It is unknown if the delayed Episode 9 will serve as that mid-season premiere or if it will be broadcast sooner.
Season 3 of NCIS: Sydney is its largest yet, with a planned order of 20 episodes. The season has explored major storylines for the characters, including Special Agent Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) dealing with threats to her life and the team uncovering secrets from Bluebird Gleeson’s (Mavournee Hazel) past.
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