9.6/101,063 votesLoading...#1 - The Stories We Leave Behind
Season 21 Episode 2 - Aired 2/19/2024
As NCIS mourns the loss of Ducky, the agents find comfort in working on one of his unfinished cases involving a woman whose father was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.
Director: Michael Zinberg
Writer: Scott Williams, Brian Dietzen
9.2/101,480 votesLoading...#2 - Family First
Season 13 Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/2016
NCIS, FBI and MI6 continue an international manhunt for an escaped British spy who is targeting current and former agents.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
9.2/101,368 votesLoading...#3 - Keep Going
Season 14 Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2017
During an NCIS hit-and-run investigation, Palmer joins a stranger on the outside ledge of a building in an attempt to save his life.
Director: Terrence O'Hara
Writer: Scott Williams
9.1/101,610 votesLoading...#4 - Truth or Consequences
Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2009
As the hunt for Ziva's replacement begins, Gibbs and his remaining team members must head back to work with the past still weighing heavily on their minds.
Director: Dennis Smith
Writer: Jesse Stern
9.1/10781 votesLoading...#5 - She
Season 16 Episode 13 - Aired 2/12/2019
After a malnourished and confused 9-year-old is found hiding in a storage unit, NCIS reopens an old missing persons case when the girl is believed to be the daughter of a Navy recruit who disappeared 10 years ago. Also, Bishop discovers notes that Special Agent Ziva David kept on the case long after NCIS officially stopped investigating.
Director: Mark Horowitz
Writer: Gina Lucita Monreal
9.0/101,982 votesLoading...#6 - Call of Silence
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/23/2004
Ernie Yost, an elder Marine veteran confesses to murdering his best friends almost 60 years ago in a war battle and the NCIS's job is to solve all the secrets and save Ernie from prison.
Director: Thomas J. Wright
Writer: Roger Director
9.0/10975 votesLoading...#7 - The Arizona
Season 17 Episode 20 - Aired 4/14/2020
The team tries to verify the identity of Joe Smith, who claims he served on the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and wants to be buried there upon his death.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: Gina Lucita Monreal
8.9/101,432 votesLoading...#8 - SWAK
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/10/2005
When Tony opens a mysterious letter thinking it's for him, a small puff of white powder comes out and it releases a possible deadly virus. Kate calls for help and soon she and Tony are isolated in a bio-hazard isolation room for precausion. McGee and Gibbs work to discover who sent the envelope and how to cure their friends before its too late for them. Meanwhile, Tony's health gets worse...
Director: Dennis Smith
Writer: Donald P. Bellisario
8.9/101,303 votesLoading...#9 - Twilight
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/24/2005
A group of serial terrorists seek revenge and send Ari (guest star Rudolf Martin) on an assignment to kill Gibbs. The NCIS team goes on a hunt after him, but when they discover that Ari has a bigger plan, it is already too late... the NCIS team will have to face the death of one of their team members...
Director: Thomas J. Wright
Writer: John C. Kelley
8.9/101,251 votesLoading...#10 - Requiem
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2007
Gibbs finds himself emotionally challenged when he agrees to investigate a crime connected to a friend of his daughter, who passed away years ago, and the investigation leads to a shocking conclusion.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Shane Brennan
8.9/101,323 votesLoading...#11 - Heartland
Season 6 Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2008
When a murder investigation leads the team to Gibbs' hometown, secrets about his past are revealed.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Jesse Stern
8.9/10763 votesLoading...#12 - Great Wide Open
Season 19 Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/2021
Gibbs and McGee head to Alaska while the team works at home to uncover the conspiracy behind the serial killer.
Director: Terrence O'Hara
Writer: David J. North, Brendan Fehily
8.8/101,054 votesLoading...#13 - Till Death Do Us Part
Season 9 Episode 24 - Aired 5/15/2012
Terrorism shakes the foundations of the Navy and NCIS to such an extent that Gibbs and the team face surprises that will devastate them.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Gary Glasberg
8.8/10914 votesLoading...#14 - Check
Season 12 Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/2015
The NCIS team investigates copy-cat crime scenes while Gibbs navigates two ex-wives relentlessly trying to get his attention.
Director: Alrick Riley
Writer: Steven D. Binder
8.8/10849 votesLoading...#15 - Spinning Wheel
Season 13 Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/2015
After Ducky is attacked by a man claiming to have information about his half-brother who died decades ago, the NCIS team searches for the perpetrator, as Ducky recalls the final emotional days he had with his sibling. Also, with the holidays approaching, Bishop and Jake discuss the future of their relationship.
Director: Terrence O'Hara
Writer: Steven D. Binder
8.8/10465 votesLoading...#16 - A Thousand Yards
Season 21 Episode 7 - Aired 4/15/2024
NCIS comes under attack by a mysterious enemy from the past. Also, Vance tries to mend fences with his estranged son by explaining why, despite the ongoing dangers of his job, he still chooses to stay at NCIS.
Director: Diana Valentine
Writer: Christopher J. Waild
8.7/101,213 votesLoading...#17 - Kill Ari (2)
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/2005
Still stressed over Kate's death, Gibbs is even more hurt when Ari kidnaps Ducky and decides to play with his mind. Gibbs sends Tony to follow Ziva, and after Jenny and Gibbs are almost shot to death, he is even more determined to finish once and for all with Ari, and Ziva's strange connection to Ari will be just the help that he needs.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: Donald P. Bellisario
8.7/10510 votesLoading...#18 - Judgment Day (2)
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 5/20/2008
When one of their own is killed, the team must find the killer before they get to another member of the team, Gibbs. In an emotional investigation, the team tries to stay together, against the wishes of Assistant Director Vance.
Director: Thomas J. Wright
Writer: David J. North, Steven D. Binder, Christopher J. Waild
8.7/101,015 votesLoading...#19 - Shabbat Shalom
Season 10 Episode 11 - Aired 1/8/2013
While the NCIS team investigates the link to a dead journalist and a Navy petty officer, Ziva is taken aback by the sudden emotional visit by her father, who she hasn't seen in more than two years. While Ziva questions the purpose of her father's visit as the Director of Mossad, her father insists he is in the U.S. strictly to see his daughter for Shabbat dinner.
Director: Dennis Smith
Writer: Christopher J. Waild
8.7/10945 votesLoading...#20 - Honor Thy Father
Season 11 Episode 24 - Aired 5/13/2014
The NCIS team investigates whether a fire on a U.S. Navy ship that served as a secret detention site for indicted terrorists was accidental or an intentional diversion for an escape. Meanwhile, Gibbs travels to his childhood home following news of his father’s passing.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Gary Glasberg, Gina Lucita Monreal
8.7/10904 votesLoading...#21 - Scope
Season 13 Episode 18 - Aired 3/15/2016
The NCIS team re-examines an ambush on a group of Special Ops snipers in Iraq after an American couple is attacked in the same area six months later. When Gibbs discovers he needs the account of the lone survivor, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Aaron Davis, he tries to connect with the wounded warrior who is being treated for PTSD at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.7/10592 votesLoading...#22 - In the Wind
Season 17 Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/2020
Gibbs must face the consequences of helping Ziva with "the one thing" she said she'd take care of before returning to her family.
Director: Rocky Carroll
Writer: Scott Williams
8.6/101,250 votesLoading...#23 - Kill Ari (1)
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/2005
After the terrorist's attack, the NCIS team is shocked and is trying to cope with Kate's sudden death, each in their own way. Now, their mission is to collect all the possible info on Ari and find a way to stop him before he does any more damage. Meanwhile, while feeling guilty over Kate's death, Gibbs is informed that the NCIS director is leaving, and the replacement is Jenny Shepard, a woman Gibbs worked with in the past and had a romantic history with.
Director: Dennis Smith
Writer: Donald P. Bellisario
8.6/101,012 votesLoading...#24 - Hiatus (2)
Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2006
The NCIS team must work on an assignment against a terrorist group without Gibbs, who is still recovering from the explosion. Gibbs has to fight with memory loss, while he's visited by his mentor and his former boss. His help is needed, expecially when the team discovers that Gibbs is the only person who has informations about the terrorists' plans, so he needs to retrieve his memory before the terrorists attack.
Director: Dennis Smith
Writer: Donald P. Bellisario
8.6/101,078 votesLoading...#25 - Dead Man Walking
Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 2/20/2007
When a Navy Lieutenant becomes the victim of radiation poisoning, the NCIS team must find the person who's behind the crime. The Lieutenant, who is working for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), claims that only his two colleagues knew about his assignment, and whoever it was, the person tried to stop the Lieutenant's next investigation.
Director: Colin Bucksey
Writer: Nell Scovell
The Best Episodes of NCIS
Every episode of NCIS ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of NCIS!
From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, a team of special agents investigates any crime that has a shred of evidence connected to...
Genres:CrimeDramaAction & Adventure
Network:CBS
Best Episodes Summary
"The Stories We Leave Behind" is the best rated episode of "NCIS". It scored 9.6/10 based on 1063 votes. Directed by Michael Zinberg and written by Scott Williams, Brian Dietzen, it aired on 2/19/2024. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Family First".