Mark Harmon as Gibbs in NCIS.
In the current era of television, there are few brands as reliable as NCIS. The long-running CBS procedural, which first began as a JAG spin-off, remains one of the biggest shows on network television, even 23 years into its run.
It's a proven force on streaming as well; like other procedurals, NCIS has racked up significant numbers across multiple platforms thanks to its tried-and-true crime-solving format and seemingly endless well of episodes. Viewers can't get enough of special agents investigating Navy-adjacent mysteries. Because of that, NCIS has spawned multiple spin-offs, the first several of which maintained the flagship's formula of following a dedicated team in a specific region as they worked on a new case every week. Recent years, however, have seen the franchise branch out in more character-centric directions. The two newest spin-offs, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, broke ranks to spotlight familiar faces from the original series, and that focus on characters like Gibbs and Ziva prompted significant interest from longtime fans. All the while, another spin-off proved that while the new direction is exciting, NCIS' usual format hasn't lost steam at all; in fact, it's only gotten stronger. 'NCIS: Sydney' Is a Huge Success for Paramount+ Even before it premiered, NCIS: Sydney marked a significant milestone for the franchise as the first international spin-off, envisioned primarily for Australian audiences. It was slated to air in Australia and would be available on Paramount+ there, as well as in select international territories. However, when the dual writers and actors strikes led to a gap in CBS' usual fall programming in 2023, the network elected to bring Sydney to domestic audiences, giving it NCIS' classic Tuesday timeslot. A little over two years later, it's clear the move paid off. NCIS: Sydney went from an under-the-radar international offshoot to a regular part of CBS' NCIS lineup, now airing at 10 PM after the flagship and Origins. Though there have often been multiple NCIS shows airing at once — in fact, there's always been at least two since 2009, when NCIS: Los Angeles premiered — they have never all been scheduled for the same night. The current Tuesday night block with the three ongoing shows is the first in the franchise's history. The fact that CBS aligned them all is a demonstration of its confidence in the NCIS brand. Since its premiere, NCIS: Sydney has proven itself to be a reliable performer, to the point where CBS has renewed it for Season 4 well ahead of the Season 3 finale. Considering how the fan-favorite Tony & Ziva was unable to eke out a Season 2 over on Paramount+, Sydney's early renewal solidifies it as a pivotal part of NCIS' future. Network shows struggle to find reliable audiences these days, but NCIS remains consistent. 'NCIS: Sydney' Serves Up Typical NCIS Storytelling With a Twist While other recent spin-offs have been more experimental, NCIS: Sydney is another iteration of the franchise's usual format, albeit with a pretty big twist. It follows two American NCIS agents, Michelle Mackey and DeShawn Jackson , as they team up with members of the Australian Federal Police to investigate naval crimes and maintain cooperation between their countries in a highly contested stretch of ocean. The first episode sees them reluctantly joining forces for a single case, but their effectiveness as a team leads to the creation of a task force, setting up more inevitable culture clashes and uneasy partnerships. NCIS: Sydney could've wrung out the America vs. Australia culture jokes for all they're worth, but the series' approach to the inevitable tension is refreshingly understated. If anything, it puts more emphasis on how the different agents learn to properly work together. The stoically tough Mackey finds herself learning to trust AFP sergeant JD Dempsey , while DeShawn forges a strong partnership with Constable Evie Cooper . They're all aided by forensic pathologist Rosie Penrose and forensic scientist Blue , who bring gravitas and earnest innocence to the team, respectively. Related How Is the 'NCIS' Flagship Show and Its ‘Origins’ Crossover Even Going To Work? Is time travel really off the table? Posts 1 By Jasneet Singh Like most shows in the franchise, NCIS: Sydney largely employs a case-of-the-week format, though it also has an ongoing thread that stretches across the 10-episode Season 1 and beyond. It thrives with its interpersonal dynamics, but it also manages to set itself apart from the rest of the franchise with its international aspect, as that can often give its cases much higher stakes. The future of America's relationship with Australia — as well as the threat of global conflict — is at stake here, making Sydney perhaps the most ambitious version of the usual NCIS formula. Subscribe to the newsletter for NCIS franchise insight Crave deeper takes on NCIS: Sydney and the broader franchise? Subscribing to the newsletter delivers focused coverage — in-depth analysis, episode breakdowns, casting notes and spin-off trends to keep your NCIS knowledge sharp. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. With Season 4 now officially on the way, the series can continue to establish its own personality while further expanding the NCIS brand. Sydney has yet to receive a proper crossover with the other shows due to its production being set so far away, but the longer it continues, the more possible it becomes. Just by switching up the typical team dynamics and pushing the boundaries of its setting, NCIS: Sydney has become the unexpected hit that proves CBS' crown jewel still has a lot to offer.Powered by Expand Collapse
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