By Published May 13, 2026, 7:30 AM EDT
Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things
She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general.
Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH.
Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content.
Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Nick Torres' fate after season 23 is finally revealed.
Overall, the was eventful for CBS's longest-running series. Earlier in the year, Vera Strickland and Ellie Bishop returned, for separate reasons. Subsequently, Timothy McGee had the shock of his life when he found out about his secret son from 2005 immediately followed by the brief shut down of the agency and the . For its last hour, NCIS season 23 tackled multiple plots that addressed the past and set up the future.
Following a few years of an identity crisis, it's safe to say now that the year is done that was a return to form for the premier procedural. Instead of tackling another major storyline in the finale, however, "Sons and Daughters" zeroed in on the return of Kayla Vance to deal with the legacy of his dad, as well as Mateo — McGee's secret son, who was looking into joining the agency as an intern. In the end, Tim's kid was revealed to be in some kind of shady business, leading Torres to confront him.
The NCIS season 23 finale wrapped with one gunshot echoing in Navy Yard, but without any visuals, there were worries about Torres potentially being killed by Mateo. In a post-mortem interview with , showrunner Steven D. Binder effectively confirmed what happened in the alleyway, particularly how Wilmer Valderrama's character is doing after the encounter, by ruling out another major MCRT death. Read his full quote below:
Someone was hit. I can confirm that. I sort of had my fill this season, all of us, of killing people. So I can rule that out. And also, there’s not a lot of fun there. When someone’s dead, they’re dead. It’s much more interesting — I’ll think back to when Gibbs shot McGee. It’s much more fun when someone’s alive and been shot than when they’re dead. And by fun, I mean, interesting.
Just because Torres is coming out alive after the NCIS season 23 finale, doesn't mean that there won't be any ramifications from the encounter. Binder did say that someone had been hit in the fight. It could still be Torres, but considering his experience handling firearms and being a veteran operative, there's a bigger chance that the clearly nervous Mateo would be the one nursing a gunshot injury. To be clear, going through another big death after losing Vance is the absolute worst thing that could happen to NCIS now, but this conundrum is arguably a close second, since it would create conflict within the team.
McGee has clearly been very eager to be a father to Mateo, which makes sense after missing the first two decades of his life — although it wasn't his fault. Given that motivation, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he takes his son's side over Torres, especially if Mateo insists on his innocence. While it seems like he isn't inherently bad, the fact that someone is manipulating him creates a whole host of issues for MCRT in — and that doesn't even include the problem that Gabriel LaRoche's return poses.
Related
Ahead of the finale, NCIS officially confirms the perfect replacement for Timothy McGee, clearing the path for the character's MCRT exit.
Posts By
It's great that Binder has officially ruled out the possibility of Torres being dead when NCIS season 4 picks up. However, viewers are still looking to wait for an extended period of time, as the series officially enters its summer break. means that new episodes might roll out between September and October, which is still better than having to wait until the midseason.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow Followed TV-14 
Cast
-
Sean Murray Timothy McGee -
David McCallum Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard
Where to watch Close
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingNCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
Expand Collapse
Follow Followed Like Share Close Trending Now
