The NCIS Season 23 fall finale delivered a major twist. A beloved former agent is back, but not in the way anyone expected. The episode ended with the shocking reveal that Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop has returned after more than five years, and she is now the primary target of the secretive NCIS: Elite unit.
Agent Jessica Knight received her first major assignment from the Elite team. She was told her mission was to track down and apprehend a high-value target. Director Vance then showed her a photograph of the target: Ellie Bishop. Knight was visibly stunned by the order, which she was instructed to keep completely secret from the rest of the team, including her partner, Nick Torres. Unbeknownst to Knight, Bishop was already in Washington, D.C., and was secretly watching the team from a distance during a funeral service.
Why Bishop Left NCIS and What She’s Been Doing
To understand why this return is so explosive, it helps to know how Bishop left. Her final appearance was in the Season 18 finale titled “Rule 91”. At that time, Bishop was framed as a disgraced agent who leaked classified documents. This was later revealed to be a cover story. In reality, she was leaving to join a dangerous, top-secret undercover operation with an operative named Odette Malone. She left without giving her friends, especially Nick Torres, a proper goodbye or explanation, which created significant unresolved tension.
Since that departure, Bishop’s life has been radically different. Showrunner Steven D. Binder explained that she has been working in a high-stakes world of international undercover missions.
“She left on a pretty dangerous, interesting mission in a foreign land, and she has been doing that kind of work since then,” Binder said. “It’s taxing and it’s trying, and it’s deadly… She is not the same person that left the show. She’s a very different person.”
This intense experience has changed her. Binder confirmed that Bishop has “done something wrong,” which is why NCIS: Elite is pursuing her. The central question for the upcoming episode will be understanding her motives.
How the Cast and Crew Reacted to the Return
Bringing back Emily Wickersham as Bishop was a plan a year in the making. Binder said the idea was part of the initial pitch for Season 23. The challenge was logistics, as Wickersham no longer lives near the show’s production base. However, the actress was enthusiastic about returning.
Wickersham herself acknowledged her comeback in a playful way on social media. She reposted a video from her former co-star, Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres), which confirmed she was back on set. In the video’s comments, she responded with a series of emojis: “🙋🏼♀️🏴☠️”.
Fan reaction to the surprise was immediate and overwhelmingly positive on platforms like Reddit. Viewers expressed their excitement with comments like “I squealed like a kid on Christmas morning” and “OMG MY FAVORITE IS BACK!!”. Many were thrilled to get potential closure for a character whose exit felt abrupt years ago.
What Bishop’s Return Means for Key Team Relationships
Bishop’s sudden reappearance as a wanted figure will send shockwaves through the team, impacting several key relationships.
- Torres and Bishop: This is the most charged dynamic. Torres and Bishop were more than just partners; they shared a complicated romantic connection that was never fully resolved. Bishop’s decision to leave without telling him the truth left Torres hurt and confused. Binder stated that Torres likely still feels “annoyed” by that betrayal. Now, he will have to confront the person who left him without a word, who may now be a criminal suspect.
- Knight’s Loyalty Test: Knight faces an immediate moral dilemma. Her official duty is to hunt Bishop in secret. However, her loyalty is to her NCIS team family. Binder revealed that Knight’s choice in this situation will differ from the one Bishop made years ago. “Knight doesn’t make the same choice Bishop made. Knight chooses team loyalty over her oath, over her duty,” Binder said.
This suggests Knight will not keep Bishop’s identity as the target a secret from Torres for long. - A New Romantic complication: The return throws a wrench into a new relationship developing on the show. Season 23 has been hinting at a potential romance between Torres and Knight. Bishop’s arrival in the middle of this creates a complex emotional triangle, or as Binder called it, a “quadrangle”.
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When to Watch and What to Expect Next
The story of Bishop’s return will continue when NCIS comes back from its winter break. The show will return with new episodes on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 8/7c on CBS.
Showrunner Steven D. Binder indicated that this storyline is designed to provide focused closure rather than drag out as a long-term mystery.
“We’re gonna run this story out and have it end, so expect to see her right now in one episode that will run it out,” Binder told TVLine.
This means the highly anticipated confrontation and revelation of Bishop’s motives and actions will likely play out in the first episode back in February. While this particular chapter with Bishop may be brief, Binder left the door open for Wickersham to return again in the future, calling the character “a way more interesting character now”.
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