The crime show NCIS is not going to stop any time soon, and the audience is already looking forward to the 23rd season. One of the largest contributors to the buzz is longtime cast member Sean Murray, who plays McGee. With NCIS about to reach its colossal 500 episode anniversary, Murray has discussed in a recent conversation with CinemaBlend, why NCIS still remains popular and what makes it so special even after all these years.He has also indicated that NCIS Season 23 would contain some big surprises, those that would disorient even the most ardent fans. To those who have seen McGee evolve from a nervous shy newcomer into a confident senior agent, the hints made by Murray are sufficient enough to leave everyone wondering (and somewhat scared) what to expect in NCIS Season 23.Why NCIS Season 23 is more than just another milestone View this post on Instagram Instagram Post500 episodes is not just a significant number per se, but it demonstrates that NCIS continues to grow instead of doing the same old stuff. Lately, Sean Murray, in an interview with CinemaBlend claimed:“....we've got the point where we're always trying to push forward. We've got new iterations of the show. We’re at this episode, it's different than our usual [kind]. The fact that we've done 500 episodes and that we're not just resting on our laurels or make something easy and digestible, we're trying to do something different. And this year, there's very much a sense of that, and the fact that we're at 500 episodes, and people, the behind the scenes of it, everything, we're pushing more than ever.”The cast and the creators are still jubilant after all these years. They are combining new plot lines with the traditional NCIS procedural format that fans adore. This is one of the reasons why the show is still popular.To the loyal audience, NCIS Season 23 does not seem like a mere continuation, but a promise of new concepts, character developments, and twists. Some 20 years later, NCIS continues to seek methods to keep itself spicy and interesting.What Sean Murray is hinting at View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWhat Murray is telling the fans is that NCIS Season 23 is bringing real jaw-dropping twists and not cheap surprises or foregone conclusions. And that would be a big promise, particularly in the case of a show that has such a devoted and loyal fanbase. Sean Murray told CinemaBlend:“We’re more excited than ever to tell these stories, ‘cause I think we've got some really good stuff coming up this year. We've had some great stuff, we've got some really good stuff, and it's different. It’s not just your usual in and out, and I can tell you that there are gonna be things that happen this year that are going to, like, legitimately jaw on the floor. You're gonna be shocked that we did it-sort of things, and not just like, ‘Oh, here's a little fake out’ or blah blah blah. Like, real deal stuff. We’ve got a couple things going on with a couple of different people in the NCIS world that I think are gonna be really surprising to fans.”He gives a hint that the shocks that are about to follow in NCIS Season 23 are not just for the sake of theatrics or dramatic effects, but they can impact the relationships, loyalties, and the dynamics of the whole team. NCIS Season 23 is already poking at more complex and darker plots, with references to previous seasons and characters, which demonstrate that the creators are willing to make very risky choices.To fans accustomed to the rhythm of the show, NCIS Season 23 may be thrilling as well as a little nerve-racking. However, the confidence that Murray exuded is enough to make you think that the next few episodes will stay embedded in the minds of the audience long after the end credits.For more such insights on NCIS Season 23, keep following SoapCentral.