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As someone who has watched NCIS since its early seasons, I’ve seen just about every type of twist the show could possibly throw at its viewers. I've cheered, I've cried, I've rolled my eyes through thousands of storylines, but nothing prepared me for how lost I was at the close of Season 22. Out of the blue, we're to believe that Jimmy Palmer and Jessica Knight are an item as a couple!
I'm not saying I don't like the characters individually. Palmer has become such a friendly, relatable figure on the show, and Knight added the grit the show lacked. But as a pair? That's where I flounder. Palmer and Knight lacked chemistry and their relationship felt completely unnecessary. And honestly, that's precisely how I felt watching that final episode play out.
It wasn’t about disliking them as people—it was about not buying into a love story that lacked any real buildup. As a fan, I’m all for character growth and unexpected developments, but this pairing didn’t feel earned. It felt like a shortcut, or worse, like an afterthought added to check off a romantic subplot without giving it time to grow.
Their relationship in NCIS never had enough time to develop
Since the day Knight became a member of the team during Season 18, I was interested to know what would happen in her story arc. She was sharp, go-getting, and obviously still getting the feel of the team's rhythm. Her initial interactions with Palmer were purely platonic, and if there were even the slightest suggestions that something more was going on, they were too faint for me—or most viewers—to detect.
For a long time, I believed their dynamic was yet another wonderful instance of two colleagues who had respect for one another. Then, out of nowhere, in Season 22, scenes emerged implying a romantic turn. It was disconcerting, as if the writers went back and skipped over several chapters. In every NCIS relationship, there's always a slow burn—Tony and Ziva being the quintessential case in point.
Even Torres and Bishop had more overt tension prior to anything ever becoming something. With Palmer and Knight, there was no slow burn. There wasn't even a spark. The shift from casual workplace colleagues to romantic interests occurred too rapidly, and with little background.
The chemistry was missing—Plain and simple
Here's the thing about on-screen romance: without chemistry, the whole thing is a flop. I tried to feel something through their scenes in the past few episodes, but I couldn't. Even the more emotionally intimate moments between them weren't charged—those were flat. As much as I adore both characters, they just didn't possess that kind of natural energy that makes you want them to be together.
I honestly found myself going back to earlier episodes, trying to see if I’d missed something. Maybe there were subtle touches or meaningful glances? But nope—nothing stood out. When the final episode wrapped with them seemingly together, it felt unearned. Like I’d missed an entire season of development that simply wasn’t there.
Palmer deserved a more thoughtful storyline in NCIS
Palmer's character development is NCIS's most emotionally rooted one. He transitioned from comic relief to central team member after suffering the loss of his wife during the pandemic. That plot wasn't only poignant—it was one of NCIS's most touching storylines ever. To see him heal, almost imperceptibly, and find equilibrium again was gratifying. So, to see him suddenly get thrust into a romance that didn't ring true felt off.
I wished for him to have more. More depth. More introspection. Perhaps even a friend who was more like him with his quirks and his warmth. Palmer's eventual pairing with Knight, who's more intense and analytical, felt odd. Not terrible—just mismatched.
Knight needed her own independent development in NCIS
I also felt that the plot did Knight's development a disservice. When she first joined, she was a cool breeze—tactical, hard, emotionally buttoned up, yet still very much human. I adored that the writers were gradually developing her throughout Seasons 19 to 21. But when Palmer became romantically involved with her, her storyline faded somewhat. Suddenly, she was merely "Palmer's girlfriend" during important moments. That's not being fair to a character who was finally settling into the team.
And I'm not saying that Knight can't have a romance. I'm just saying it shouldn't come across as having been slapped on at the last minute of the season. She had so much more depth as a character that I feel got lost in the mad dash to make a couple out of her and Palmer.
Also read: NCIS Season 22 ends with McGee spiraling and Parker’s descent to a darker path
Was this simply a hasty writing decision?
I hate to guess, but it felt really like the writers were hurrying to wrap things up too fast. Whether it was the result of network demands, cast availability, or simply needing an emotional moment to close the season, the Palmer-Knight relationship appeared and felt hasty. There wasn't sufficient foundation laid for the viewers to become emotionally attached.
It wasn't like when Ziva departed, and we recognized what was unsaid between her and Tony. This simply had the element of surprise—and not in a "whoa, didn't see that coming" sort of way. More so, "wait… seriously?"
Veteran NCIS viewers understand how cautious the writers tend to be with romance. This one simply didn't live up to the bar we've grown accustomed to.
I believe that when most long-time fans are left scratching their heads, it's probably fair to question whether the writers misread the room.
I'll always adore NCIS. Even when it falters, it's still offering something worth viewing. But I do believe that not every character has to be coupled together just for the sake of it. Palmer and Knight are fabulous characters individually. Together, though? It just doesn't work for me.
I would have preferred them to dive deeper into friendship, or gradually cultivate something over the years, if that was ever the intention to begin with.
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Ultimately, not all romantic storylines play out perfectly. And that's fine. I'll still be watching as a fan. I just hope that future seasons provide more of the thoughtful characterization that made us fall in love with the series to begin with.
Also read: NCIS finally brings back Gibbs in Season 22, but there’s a twist
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