NCIS’ Abby Replacement Was a Blessing in Disguise, Here’s Why
It couldn't have lasted much longer anyway.
There is nothing worse than watching your favorite show become less and less entertaining with each new episode. Sometimes it's the writers, who seem to lose the spark and keep putting the characters in repetitive cycles. Other times, it's the actors, whose work on the set becomes less and less interesting.
Either way, the moment the show stops feeling exciting and authentic, viewers want it to end. As NCIS celebrates the finale of its 21st season, it is also celebrating the continued interest of its audience. However, if the show hadn't dodged the bullet in 2018, its fate could have been very different.
Why Did Abby Leave NCIS?
A fun and quirky forensic scientist, Abby Sciuto has been an important part of the team since the very first season. Portrayed by Pauley Perrette, the character has managed to break stereotypes about the profession with her unconventional looks but brilliant mind. Abby has become an inspiration for many young people to consider the profession.
Her impact on the show was one of the factors in its longevity. However, the behind-the-scenes conflict with Mark Harmon, who portrayed Special Agent Gibbs, has become a reason for the actress to leave the show.
No matter how heartbreaking the decision was years ago, and no matter how reluctant viewers were to accept Abby's replacement, Kasie Hines, they now seem to understand that this exit is the best thing that could have happened to the franchise. Her character progression was facing some serious trials.
“Since the show started with Abby at her peak there was no room for her to get better, only for the death and loss of this job to get to her. Over time seeing everything she had seen Abby started to break, she became more childish as a defense mechanism to try to be innocent again and unsee everything she had seen,” Redditor whispering_unicorn said.
Though Abby had been a fan favorite before, her character was getting stale, and all the writers' attempts to freshen her up ended up turning viewers off. Her storyline was coming to an end anyway, and the tension between Perrette and Harmon was beginning to spill onto the screen. This is exactly what could have made the show worse in the future.
Luckily, NCIS survived the storm and continues to provide viewers with just as much as before. Be sure to keep an eye out for updates on season 22.