CBS
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Tuesday's episode of "NCIS: Origins."
Gibbs got an assist from an old friend this week on "NCIS: Origins."
Tuesday's episode saw the return of Emily Wickersham, reprising her "NCIS" role as Ellie Bishop. (Wickersham left "NCIS" in Season 18 after eight seasons, but came back last season for a guest appearance.) In the present-day timeline, Bishop showed up in Gibbs' basement to help him figure out who tried to kill him in the season premiere, volunteering her services as an undercover agent: "My whole life is off the books." She helped him extract a sniper bullet from his chest and then got a lead on the CIA tracker who found Gibbs in Alaska. (She also learned — along with the rest of us — that Lala died years ago in a plane crash.)
TVLine reached out to Wickersham to get the scoop on Bishop's return, which will span multiple episodes. Read on to hear what it was like for her to work with Mark Harmon again, what Bishop and Gibbs' dynamic is like now — and what other familiar faces might be popping in to help.
Wickersham was 'so excited' to join Origins
CBS
TVLINE | We hadn't seen you on TV in five years, and now we're talking for the second time this year. So what led you coming back as Bishop again? Was this already in the works when you returned to "NCIS"?
No, this was a surprise to me. I was bummed, actually, because I am so close with ["Origins" showrunner] David North, and I was like, "Man, it would be so fun to be on 'Origins.'" But how would I even be on that? Because it takes place in the '90s. So I was very surprised to be offered this, and so excited.
TVLINE | And you're back for multiple episodes, too. So how did Bishop come to be involved in Gibbs' investigation?
I think that Bishop got a call from Tony, and anything with anyone on her team, I know that she would always just jump to help. And Gibbs, in particular, has always been such a mentor and important person in her life. I think that she was like, "Whatever it takes. I'll drop everything, and I'll be there to figure out what's going on here."
Working with Mark Harmon again was 'as if no time had passed'
CBS
TVLINE | What was it like working with Mark Harmon again? Did you guys slip right back into your old roles?
It was so fun. I've worked with him for so long. We spent every day for 10 months out of the year together for close to eight years. And it's weird: It was as if no time had passed. We've both done all these other things in our lives, but I've kept in contact with him, and so... I mean, it kind of sounds cheesy, but it was literally like we worked together yesterday. It was very easy.
TVLINE | And it seems like Bishop and Gibbs slipped right back into their old roles, too, with each other. But has the dynamic between them changed at all, now that she's been deep undercover for years?
I think that there's always that senior, mentor respect for Gibbs that Bishop has. I do think that Bishop has had, at this point, so much more life and work experience under her belt, and I think definitely they're much more on an even playing field. And I would imagine that Gibbs feels the same way about Bishop.
Is the door still open for Bishop and Nick?
CBS
TVLINE | Will Bishop have any time to check in on Nick and the rest of the team at NCIS, or is this just a Gibbs-only assignment?
I think this is a Gibbs-only assignment. If there's some extra time, I'm sure Bishop would love to do that.
TVLINE | Yeah, Bishop and Nick kind of left things a little open-ended. She asked him to come undercover with him, but he stayed with the team. Is that door still open for them, you think?
I think the door is always open between the two of them. You know, they have this ongoing, never-ending, will they/won't they thing. Even if it's not romantic will they/won't they, as partners in work. And I think the door will always remain open, which I love.
TVLINE | So Bishop is sticking around to help Gibbs with this investigation. What else can you tease about what's to come? Are there any more familiar faces stepping in to help out?
I think there's a lot of fun stuff for the fans to tune into this season, and definitely more exciting, new, surprising characters that will, I feel, be very, very exciting for the fans to see.
Alright, "NCIS: Origins" fans: Give us your take on Bishop's return and this week's episode in the comments.
