Summary
As a lifelong big TV fan, I eagerly watched everygripping and emotional episode ofThe Pittseason 1and can’t wait to seewhere the characters end up inStranger Thingsseason 5. I also like thecomforting familiarity of every episode ofNCIS,the CBS series about the Navy agency the Major Case Response Team. WhileNCISseason 22is currently airing and there are still great characters, Imiss one former agent the most: Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander).
Before watching Sasha Alexander play Kate Todd onNCIS, I enjoyed her character arc as Pacey’s (Joshua Jackson) wise older sister Gretchen Witter onDawson’s Creek. The actress is no stranger to long-term TV roles and played Dr. Maura Isles onRizzoli & Islesfrom 2010 to 2016 along with Helene Runyon onShamelessfrom 2015 to 2016. But, unfortunately, Kate didn’t stay onNCISforever. While I understandthe reason why Alexander quitNCIS, I wish the clever character could have stayed on the CBS procedural.
Why Did Sasha Alexander Leave NCIS?
Kate Todd died inNCISseason 2, episode 23, “Twilight"when Mossad double-agent Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin shoots and kills her. While sometimes characters are killed off because of a story choice, that wasn’t the case here. Sasha Alexander wanted to leaveNCISand explained why she made that decision in a 2012 interview withTV Guide. The actress said:
“People don’t realize that on a network show, you make 24 episodes a year — that’s 10½ months a year, 17 hours a day. It’s hard core.”
Both Kate andformer character Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette)were such important parts of the team that their absence still stings Alexander continued that leavingNCISwas the right thing for her to do as she could balance family time with creativity. She added:
“I really firmly believe in my heart that I would not be where I am today — happily married, with two kids, doing things creatively that I want — if I had stayed. I didn’t want to wake up and be in my forties and go, “Oh, my gosh!” But people don’t understand.”
Why (And How) I Want Sasha Alexander’s NCIS Character Kate Todd To Return
AlthoughSasha Alexander’s reason for leavingNCISmakes sense, as it does sound like a TV series like this one has an intense shooting schedule, I miss the intelligent Kate Todd for a few different reasons. I enjoyedwatching Kate and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) banterand bug each other at work all the time. Secondly, I think Kate andformerNCIScharacter Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon)had a fascinating mentee/mentor relationship, and I would have liked to see how that changed as she got older and more experienced. There are plenty ofcharacters onThe Rookieseason 7who have a similar bond that Kate and Gibbs had, and this always works well on a procedural.
While bringing Kate back toNCISwould be tricky since the character died, and since I’m not sure Alexander would want to given her reason for her exit, I still hold out hope that fans will see her again. I’d love to seeKate in a brief cameo flashback scene in a futureNCISseasonbecause her death was brutal and quick and I don’t think fans got closure. It would also be fun tosee Kate in another whimsical dream sequence. Kate appeared inNCISseason 9, episode 14,” Life Before His Eyes," and this time, she was still alive. DiNozzo and Kate were married parents, which was heartwarming. Maybe a current character could have a dream about Kate, which would be a fun way for her to come back. It might not be realistic to want Kate to return, but I’ll always have hope.
