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The Best Episodes of NCIS Season 12

Every episode of NCIS Season 12 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of NCIS Season 12!

Binge this in 17h 14m•Peaking at 8.8/10

From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, a team of special agents investigates any crime that has any connection to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    NCIS Season 12 Episode 1 - Twenty Klicks
    8.2/10(888 votes)

    #1 - Twenty Klicks

    S12:E1

    Gibbs and McGee travel to Russia to safely escort home an NCIS computer engineer connected to classified intel, but their mission is compromised and they are forced to go off the grid while hunted by a Russian mercenary group.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writers:Scott Williams, Gary Glasberg

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  2. NCIS Season 12 Episode 2 - Kill the Messenger
    7.7/10(765 votes)

    #2 - Kill the Messenger

    S12:E2

    When a Navy Lieutenant is killed on his way to a private meeting with the President, the NCIS team must determine if the murder was part of a recent stream of muggings in the area or a targeted hit to keep intel secret.

    Director:Leslie Libman
    Writer:Steven D. Binder

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  3. NCIS Season 12 Episode 3 - So It Goes
    8.5/10(951 votes)

    #3 - So It Goes

    S12:E3

    Flashbacks into his past help tell the tale for Dr. Mallard as he and Bishop travel to England in search of answers to find out why an Englishman murdered in the United States would have a list of deceased Navy men on his person.

    Director:Leslie Libman
    Writer:Steven D. Binder

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  4. NCIS Season 12 Episode 4 - Choke Hold
    8.1/10(774 votes)

    #4 - Choke Hold

    S12:E4

    The Secretary of the Navy assigns the NCIS team to a joint terrorism task force after a Naval research scientist is murdered and the lead suspect is wanted by the Russian government.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Christopher J. Waild

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  5. NCIS Season 12 Episode 5 - The San Dominick
    8.1/10(739 votes)

    #5 - The San Dominick

    S12:E5

    During a joint Coast Guard and NCIS training exercise at sea, Gibbs and CGIS Agent Borin spot a deceased man overboard, who is discovered to be a missing crew member from a ship 60 nautical miles away.

    Director:Arvin Brown
    Writer:Christopher Silber

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  6. NCIS Season 12 Episode 6 - Parental Guidance Suggested
    8.3/10(921 votes)

    #6 - Parental Guidance Suggested

    S12:E6

    The NCIS team must determine if the murder of a Navy Commander's wife is linked to her profession as a therapist or an act of terrorism after finding the Commander's name on a Jihadist target list.

    Director:Tom Wright
    Writer:Jennifer Corbett

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  7. NCIS Season 12 Episode 7 - The Searchers
    8.1/10(754 votes)

    #7 - The Searchers

    S12:E7

    After investigating the murder of a retired Master Sergeant, the NCIS team uncovers a fraudulent charity that preys on those searching for missing military personnel.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Gina Lucita Monreal

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  8. NCIS Season 12 Episode 8 - Semper Fortis
    8.1/10(801 votes)

    #8 - Semper Fortis

    S12:E8

    Gibbs searches for a way to clear a Navy Hospital Corpsman after she's indicted for illegally providing medical aid to the victims of a hit and run accident.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writers:Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett

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  9. NCIS Season 12 Episode 9 - Grounded
    8.5/10(833 votes)

    #9 - Grounded

    S12:E9

    While stuck at the Dulles airport due to inclement weather, DiNozzo, Bishop, and her husband Jake work an NCIS case involving an elevated terrorist threat at Northeast airports during the Thanksgiving travel surge.

    Director:Bethany Rooney
    Writer:Scott Williams

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  10. NCIS Season 12 Episode 10 - House Rules
    8.1/10(881 votes)

    #10 - House Rules

    S12:E10

    The NCIS team consults with three cyber-terrorists they imprisoned after a city-wide Internet shutdown the week before Christmas.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Christopher J. Waild

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  11. NCIS Season 12 Episode 11 - Check
    8.8/10(955 votes)

    #11 - Check

    S12:E11

    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

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  12. NCIS Season 12 Episode 12 - The Enemy Within
    7.8/10(705 votes)

    #12 - The Enemy Within

    S12:E12

    The NCIS team searches for a home-grown terrorist after a rescue mission in Syria reveals an American was involved in the capture of a social worker.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writers:Frank Cardea, George Schenck

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  13. NCIS Season 12 Episode 13 - We Build, We Fight
    7.7/10(798 votes)

    #13 - We Build, We Fight

    S12:E13

    Gibbs and the team investigate when a Navy Lieutenant who is set to be the first openly gay service member to receive the Medal of Honor is murdered.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. NCIS Season 12 Episode 14 - Cadence
    8.0/10(754 votes)

    #14 - Cadence

    S12:E14

    DiNozzo returns to the military academy he attended as a teen after a murdered Marine, who was an alumnus of the school, is found clutching the photo of a current student.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. NCIS Season 12 Episode 15 - Cabin Fever
    8.2/10(720 votes)

    #15 - Cabin Fever

    S12:E15

    The NCIS team suspects Gibbs' arch-nemesis is behind an explosion at a global terrorism summit.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. NCIS Season 12 Episode 16 - Blast from the Past
    7.8/10(666 votes)

    #16 - Blast from the Past

    S12:E16

    A covert identity created for one of Gibbs’ undercover cases from 20 years ago resurfaces when a murder victim is found living under the alias.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. NCIS Season 12 Episode 17 - The Artful Dodger
    7.8/10(663 votes)

    #17 - The Artful Dodger

    S12:E17

    Evidence in an NCIS murder case reveals a rare painting on loan had been swapped for a fake, prompting DiNozzo, Sr. to share his knowledge and contacts of the black market art world with the team.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Gina Monreal

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  18. NCIS Season 12 Episode 18 - Status Update
    8.0/10(672 votes)

    #18 - Status Update

    S12:E18

    After the body of a thief is found in a Marine’s house, NCIS discovers the calling card of a terror group Delilah and the Department of Defense have been tracking.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. NCIS Season 12 Episode 19 - Patience
    7.8/10(682 votes)

    #19 - Patience

    S12:E19

    The murder of a Petty Officer sparks a lead in a 40-year-old airport bombing cold case that Gibbs and DiNozzo have been assigned to for the past two years.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. NCIS Season 12 Episode 20 - No Good Deed
    7.4/10(644 votes)

    #20 - No Good Deed

    S12:E20

    DiNozzo is partnered with his girlfriend ATF Special Agent Zoé Keates after evidence reveals that the murder weapon in an NCIS case was originally purchased for the controversial ATF sting operation “Operation Fast and Furious.”

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. NCIS Season 12 Episode 21 - Lost in Translation
    7.9/10(663 votes)

    #21 - Lost in Translation

    S12:E21

    Gibbs and Bishop travel to Afghanistan after the murder of a Marine in D.C. is linked to a terror group holding another Marine hostage overseas.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. NCIS Season 12 Episode 22 - Troll
    8.1/10(674 votes)

    #22 - Troll

    S12:E22

    Special Agent Ned Dorneget from NCIS cyber operations assists the team when a Navy ensign who worked in the Office of Naval Intelligence is murdered.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:Scott Williams

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  23. NCIS Season 12 Episode 23 - The Lost Boys
    8.6/10(804 votes)

    #23 - The Lost Boys

    S12:E23

    The NCIS cyber case turns into a united global effort after evidence confirms “The Calling,” an international terrorist group that recruits children through the internet, has been purchasing S-bombs off the black market.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. NCIS Season 12 Episode 24 - Neverland
    8.4/10(727 votes)

    #24 - Neverland

    S12:E24

    NCIS feverishly investigates a global terrorist group that is recruiting teens via the Internet, following a deadly bombing overseas that results in an emotional and surprising loss for the team.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 12 Ratings Summary

"Twenty Klicks" is the best rated episode of "NCIS" season 12. It scored 8.2/10 based on 888 votes. Directed by Tony Wharmby and written by Scott Williams, Gary Glasberg, it aired on 9/23/2014. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Kill the Messenger".