NCIS Series 03 Overview (2005-2006)

Introduction

The third season of the police procedural drama NCIS was originally broadcast between 20 September 2005 and 16 May 2006 on CBS.

Outline

The third season opens in the aftermath of “Twilight” (S02E23), with the entire team in shock and Gibbs on a vendetta to seek revenge for Kate’s murder.

Matters are complicated by the intervention of Gibbs’ former lover and new NCIS director Jenny Shepard, and Mossad officer Ziva David.

This season begins to drop little hints about Gibbs’ past, and is the first to reference his first wife, Shannon, and his daughter, Kelly.

The season finale introduces his former boss, Mike Franks (Muse Watson), who assists Gibbs in recovering from a near-fatal bomb blast. The season ends with Gibbs retiring, leaving DiNozzo in charge of the Major Case Response Team.

Cast

Main:
- Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS Senior Special Agent assigned to Washington’s Navy Yard.
- Michael Weatherly as Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS Special Agent, second in command.
- Pauley Perrette as Abigail Sciuto, Forensic Specialist attached to NCIS.
- Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, NCIS Special Agent.
- David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, Chief Medical Examiner for NCIS.
- Cote de Pablo as Ziva David, Mossad Liaison Officer (episode 4–24).
- Lauren Holly as Jenny Shepard, New NCIS Director (episode 9–24).
Recurring:
- Cote de Pablo as Ziva David, Mossad Liaison Officer (episode 1–2).
- Lauren Holly as Jenny Shepard, new NCIS Director (episode 1–8).
- Alan Dale as Thomas Morrow, departing NCIS Director.
- Joe Spano as Tobias Fornell, FBI Senior Special Agent.
- Pancho Demmings as Gerald Jackson, departing Assistant Medical Examiner for NCIS and Ducky’s first assistant.
- Jessica Steen as Paula Cassidy, NCIS Senior Special Agent.
- Rudolf Martin as Ari Haswari, rogue Mossad agent who killed Caitlin Todd.
- Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, Assistant Medical Examiner for NCIS.
- Nina Foch as Victoria Mallard (Ducky’s mother).
- Tamara Taylor as Cassie Yates, NCIS Special Agent.
- Mary Mouser as Kelly Gibbs, Gibbs’ deceased daughter.
- Darby Stanchfield as Shannon Gibbs, Gibbs’ deceased wife.
- Michael Bellisario as Charles Sterling, Abby’s lab assistant.
- Stephanie Mello as Cynthia Summer, NCIS Secretary to Director Shepard.
- Muse Watson as Mike Franks, retired Senior Special Agent for NCIS (Gibbs’ old boss).
- Don Franklin as Ron Sacks, FBI Special Agent.
Guest Appearances:
- Sasha Alexander as Caitlin Todd, deceased NCIS special agent who was killed by Ari Haswari.