The CBS police procedural NCIS delivered a high-stakes episode on April 28, 2026, with Season 23 Episode 18 titled ‘Bad Impressions’. The story put Kasie Hines at the center of a murder case when her secret forensic program, Edna, was stolen and used to frame her for a killing.
While the regular team worked to clear Kasie’s name, the episode introduced several key guest characters who moved the story forward. The return of a beloved character also gave fans a nostalgia boost.
Sam Hanna Returns in a Critical Role
LL COOL J made a guest appearance as Sam Hanna, his character from NCIS: Los Angeles. Sam was in Washington, D.C., for a layover on his way to Dubai. But when Kasie got into trouble, he chose to stay and help the team.
Sam acts as Kasie’s protector in this episode. He drives her to New York to track down an old college friend. He also gives her important advice about her work and her future. Sam reminds Kasie that her real legacy is not a piece of software but the people she has helped and the friendships she has built at NCIS.
This appearance creates a direct link to the upcoming NCIS: New York spin-off, which will premiere in fall 2026. Sam Hanna will be a main character on that new show.
Kasie’s Ex-Girlfriend Joanna Appears on Screen
Briana Venskus played Joanna, Kasie’s former college roommate and ex-girlfriend. Joanna is the person who holds the key to solving the case. Years ago, Kasie gave Joanna a handwritten notebook containing the original code for the Edna program.
When Sam and Kasie arrive at Joanna’s house in New York, the welcome is not warm. Joanna is still hurt that Kasie ended their relationship because she put all her time into work. She tells Kasie, “You pushed me away when I tried to get close.”
But after Sam helps the two women talk honestly about their past, Joanna agrees to help. She hands over the notebook, which allows McGee to rebuild Edna and find the real killer. By the end of the episode, Joanna and Kasie go out together to catch up, leaving the door open for a possible reunion.
Diona Reasonover, who plays Kasie, spoke about working with Venskus. She said Venskus is “so funny and so dope.” The two actors actually knew each other from years earlier. Reasonover explained that they had performed a scene together in an acting class long before joining NCIS. They even had a secret on-set joke where they would say “I burned dinner,” a line from the play Angels in America.
“It better not be the end. I’m asking the writers for more. You did this. It’s wonderful.” – Diona Reasonover, on her hopes for more scenes with Joanna
The Villain Was Hiding Inside the Pentagon
Noah Bean played David Barbado, the Chief of the Department of Defense. Throughout the episode, Barbado acts like he is helping the investigation. He pressures the team to solve the case quickly. But in the final act, the team discovers that Barbado is the mole.
Barbado stole Edna and planned to sell it to a rival country. He also killed Elliot Mueller, the lawyer who helped him, and used Edna to fake Kasie’s fingerprints at the crime scene. Once McGee rebuilds Edna from Joanna’s notebook, the team traces the fake fingerprint back to Barbado. He is arrested for treason and murder.
Other Important Guest Characters in Episode 18
Sean Sprawling played Elliot Mueller, the in-house lawyer for the tech company Kasie worked with. Mueller was the middleman in the deal to sell Edna. But Barbado killed him with a box cutter to hide the evidence. Mueller’s death is the murder that gets pinned on Kasie.
The episode also featured smaller roles for police officers and DOD staff, but the main cast carried most of the action.
NCIS Season 23 Episode 18 Cast (Regular)
The main team members were all present in ‘Bad Impressions’.
- Gary Cole as Alden Parker, the Supervisory Special Agent leading the Major Case Response Team (MCRT)
- Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, the Senior Special Agent who successfully rebuilds the Edna program
- Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, the field agent who helps chase down leads
- Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, the REACT agent turned MCRT member
- Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer, the Chief Medical Examiner
- Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, the forensic specialist fighting to clear her name
- Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance, the NCIS Director overseeing the investigation
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Where to Watch NCIS Season 23 Episode 18
The episode aired on CBS on April 28, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET/PT. For viewers who missed the live broadcast, the episode is available for streaming. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch live and on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can stream the episode the day after it airs.
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