What Happened To Bishop & Is She Back With Torres? Emily Wickersham’s NCIS Season 23 Return Explained

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Okay, fellow TV fans, a quick heads-up – spoilers ahead for the latest NCIS! I was so excited to see Emily Wickersham back as Ellie Bishop in season 23, episode 10, “Her.” It really dives into Bishop’s history and hints at what’s coming for her character. It’s great to have the CBS shows back after the break, and NCIS didn’t waste any time getting straight into the action. They skipped right over the cliffhanger from the midseason finale and jumped right into this intense episode focused on Bishop’s return. It was a strong start to the new year for the show!

The first case for Jessica Knight’s new ELITE team begins with Bishop being pursued by the squad. Knowing her career and secret operation are at risk, Wickersham’s character turns to Nick Torres for help, even though they haven’t spoken much since their difficult split five years prior. This leads to Bishop reconnecting with the rest of the MCRT, offering a chance to address the hurt feelings surrounding her departure at the end of NCIS season 18.

What Happened To Bishop During Her Return In NCIS Season 23

Paramount Press Express

Throughout most of NCIS season 23, episode 10, Bishop is wrongly accused of being a traitor by someone she trusted. Rather than immediately seeking help from Director Vance and the rest of the agency, Bishop and the MCRT team try to handle the situation discreetly due to suspicions about a mole. Ultimately, Bishop is proven innocent. Despite being well-regarded by her team, she chooses to leave at the end of the episode to pursue a new path.

Beyond the joy of seeing Wickersham return, Bishop’s reappearance gives the show a chance to address the unresolved issues surrounding her departure in season 18. She finally explains to Torres the real reason she left: she needed a challenge to grow and deliberately avoided saying goodbye, fearing he’d talk her out of it. Earlier in the episode, it’s revealed they had been secretly involved romantically near the end of her time on the show.

Bishop also resolved things with Timothy McGee, a surprisingly important relationship after Ziva David left the team. Similar to Torres, her final conversation with him before Ziva’s return in season 23 wasn’t great. Most importantly, Bishop receives a heartfelt goodbye from her close friends at MCRT before she starts her new assignment working undercover.

How NCIS Season 23 Paves The Way For Bishop’s MCRT Return

CBS

Bishop’s return to NCIS seemed unlikely for a long time, mainly because of the circumstances surrounding her departure. That’s why the show needed a specific story arc to bring her back in season 23 – she couldn’t just make a quick appearance like Tony DiNozzo Jr. did at Ducky’s memorial. Now that her professional and personal ties to the team have been resolved, CBS will find it much easier to include her in future episodes.

Bishop’s last conversation with Torres – an invitation for him to join her – hints at a possible return for her character. Although he turns down her offer, their interaction shows lingering feelings between them, giving CBS a good reason to bring them back together in future episodes of NCIS.

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2026-03-04 05:08