The Worst Timothy McGee Storyline In NCIS

It may be difficult for some viewers of "NCIS" to recognize that not one single series regular cast member from the first episode of the series remains an active participant on the show today (via IMDb). Indeed, this fact can understandably come as somewhat surprising to even the most-dedicated "NCIS" fans, many of whom would likely insist that NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) has been there from the very beginning.

However, the truth of the matter is that Murray actually joined the series for the first time in Season 1, Episode 7 ("Sub Rosa") (via IMDb). He later returned in Season 1, Episode 11 ("Eye Spy"), only to disappear once more for the next seven episodes. Since his return in Season 1, Episode 18 ("UnSEALeD"), however, McGee has been a near-constant figure on the series for the last 19 seasons. Of course, like most characters that appear on television for more than 400 episodes, McGee has faced a number of ups and downs in terms of quality storytelling. This is the worst Timothy McGee storyline in "NCIS."

In "NCIS" Season 19, Episode 4 ("Great Wide Open"), NCIS Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) takes a much-deserved and semi-permanent vacation in Alaska, quickly necessitating the appointment of his replacement at NCIS. A quick review of the NCIS Major Case Response Team would prove that veteran NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) is the senior-most agent. However, NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) appoints FBI Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) instead. Not only is this choice strange given Parker's unfamiliarity with the agency, but it would also seem to run counter to the history of the "NCIS" franchise. 

Not only did McGee hold the position of team leader in the immediate aftermath of Gibbs' suspension in Season 18, this actually isn't even the first time that Gibbs has quit his job. In Season 3, Episode 24 ("Hiatus Part II"), Gibbs turns in his badge and moves to Mexico. Of course, his first retirement doesn't last long, but in the interim period, Gibbs' position is filled by NCIS Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), the agent then occupying the very same senior position that McGee holds at the time of Gibbs' second retirement.

McGee later explains that he didn't want the job because he doesn't want to turn out like Gibbs. Not only does this choice seem wildly out of character for a dedicated agent like McGee, but the justification also simply seems wrong. McGee says that the job became all consuming for Gibbs and he doesn't want that. Indeed, Gibbs' work life often seemed to fill the heartache left by the deaths of his wife and daughter. However, McGee is lucky enough to have a thriving family life at home. Therefore, it seems somewhat strange for him to turn down such a surely lucrative step forward in his career.