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The following contains spoilers from the Feb. 19 episode of CBS‘ NCIS, titled “The Stories We Leave Behind.”
CBS’ NCIS this Monday night said a very fond farewell to Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard and, in turn, his portrayer, late cast member David McCallum. How did the extremely emotional script by cast member Brian Dietzen and executive producer Scott Williams capture the death’s impact on not just current colleagues but past team members, as well?
“The Stories We Leave Behind” opened with Dietzen’s Dr. Jimmy Palmer stopping to pick up Dr. Mallard — who was at long last home from the book tour that had kept him off-screen as of late — only to discover that his mentor had quietly passed away during the night.
Explaining that choice of a cold open, Dietzen told TVLine, “So many people I’ve talked to have felt, like, a real loss” with McCallum’s passing. “For the people that are my dad’s generation, who grew up watching him in Man From U.N.C.L.E. and The Great Escape, and then watched him in NCIS, you’re talking about 50 years of entertainment, so I felt that it was really important to allow people who loved this character, but also loved this man, to be able to share in this this moment of communal grief, to have that, ‘S–t, why did this have to happen?’ moment together.”
Dr. Palmer’s heartbreaking discovery teed up a distinctly different, sadder version of NCIS‘ opening theme.
“Our wonderful editor, Greg Gontz, pointed out that to come out of that [sad] moment with the very upbeat, energized NCIS theme felt almost disrespectful in a way,” Dietzen recalls. “So, he remembered a cue from, I want to say, 12 to 14 years ago that was our opening title sequence music but done very melodically. Our wonderful composer, Brian Kirk, then did the redo of it and made it fit correctly, and we took out some of the explosions at the end and put in more appropriate visuals, and I think it turned out well. I’m glad that we were able to do it.”
The episode’s second scene, set in the big orange room and abundant with memorial flowers, established that every NCIS office had paid their respects with local flora — roses from Los Angeles, magnolias from New Orleans, wattles from Sydney and cherry blossoms from the Far East office. We also glimpsed an envelope addressed from Gibbs in Alaska to McGee, inside of which was an old Polaroid of the two of them with Ducky.
The unanticipated Case of the Week involved a young woman who had reached out to Ducky to ask for his help in clearing the name of her father, which as of late was being smeared by a U.S. Senate candidate. The team jumped into the investigation and, with one final assist via a cryptic clue left in one of Ducky’s journals, found the smoking gun that connected the brazen politico to the Marine’s heretofore-suspicious death.
All along the way, though, Jimmy and other characters flashed back to memorable conversations and cases shared with the sage M.E.
At episode’s end, just prior to everyone leaving HQ for Ducky’s funeral, Jess and the others gave Jimmy a moment alone in the lab. Moments later, who comes strolling in but Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, played by series vet Michael Weatherly, not looking like a day has passed. (Check out BTS pics of Weatherly’s surprise comeback.)
After gifting Jimmy with a black bowtie that he had picked up en route to the States (and then helping him tie it), Tony did his best Dr. Mallard voice while vividly recounting a Ducky-like anecdote. Tony then assured Jimmy that when we die, it’s not just “stories we leave behind,” as had been said earlier — but also the people whose lives we touched. McGee then came to fetch the guys, and Jimmy turned off the lights before leaving.
The episode closed with an In Memoriam card that read: “In Memory of Our Dear Friend and Colleague David McCallum — We Will Miss You.”
What did you think of NCIS‘ tribute to Ducky and David McCallum? And if you have any questions for the cast or EPs, I will be on-set Tuesday for the filming of the franchise’s 1,000th episode — email InsideLine@tvline.com!
That was absolutely beautiful! Perfect 10. ❤
You’re missed, Duckey.
Damnit, I’m cutting those onions again.
R.I.P. David 😥😥😢😢😭😭
Absolutely perfect! I laughed and cried and seeing Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo was a balm I didn’t know I needed. Beautiful! Ducky and David will truly be missed.
Well Said!
It would have been nice if Tony would have at least said the others (his wife, Gibbs etc. ) were at the funeral.
I felt the same way; it would have been perfect if they all showed up. After all, they are family.
When it comes to the ” Ducky Tribute” episode, my daughter and I both gave it a “B” instead of an “A” for excellent. It was BEAUTIFULLY DONE, but we chose B because we felt that with him being the longest running cast member all these years… HE DESERVED A SPLIT EPISODE INTO A SECOND❣️ It Would Have Been Nice To Have More Flashbacks Of Memories. MORE CHANCES TO SEE OUR DUCKY IN THE EPISODE❣️🥰💔
I am crying. That was beautifully done. And Tony coming back was the right touch, without taking the focus away from the point of the episode.
I didn’t cry at all during the episode, but I kept getting something in my eyes that made them water
Glad to see Tony showed up but I think Tony Sr and Abby and Ellie and Maria Bello shud have come as well not to mention Gibbs since they were best friends…..
I’m sure they all went to the funeral but there wouldn’t have been time to see every single one of those characters
Loved the show! Loved seeing Dinozzo! Very well written and beautifully performed. Only one question… weren’t McCallum’s children to be on the show? Who did they play?
I agree Gibbs should have been there. Tony showing up touched my heart.
Crying my eyes out at the music and opening.. Get like Jimmy , a sin, losing his father, ducky, bedside.. Then crying more when Tony comes in at the end like only Tony dinozzo could commanding the room.. Making me ball even more.. Setting things right for Jimmy.. omg ..this is the best episode.. still feeling the loss of an icon..David McCallum..
So thankful for the basket full of easter eggs in the episode. I cried and I laughed, and, yes, I want to watch it again. This is a template for how to write a tribute.
Ducky’s dog was named Solo.
Love that…a nod to his former partner Napoleon Solo in Man From Uncle. (Where’s the darn kleenex?)
There was another innuendo to the man from uncle, in S02E13 – Meat Puzzle, when Kate asks Gibbs what Ducky looked like when he was younger and after a brief thought he answers: “Illya Kuryakin.”
Yeah, I was kind of waiting for that flashback, but then realized that without Kate or Gibbs who’d tell that story.
I loved that little touch, it was a much needed moment of levity
I would love to tell them all it was great to see all again I love Tony and Tim McGee and Zefa And Abbie and Jimmy
and Gibbs because I have been watchingI have been watching the show from the first time it was on and I always love to watch the show every week.
Beautiful, touching sendoff for Ducky. Jimmy’s reaction was wonderful and Tony showing up was perfect. Wish Gibbs was there too. Ducky will be missed.
The toned down opening sequence & theme music was very fitting. I loved seeing DiNozzo come in & tie Jimmy’s bow tie. A great send off for a great character & a wonderful send off for a great actor.
the toned down theme reminded me of Dallas when they similarly mourned JR Ewing/Larry Hagman – both cases a real loss
Absolutely an AMAZING, beautifully written, produced, and directed episode that feature brilliant performances and hit all the feelings–laughter, sadness, and joy. The clips were perfect. The stories were so well chosen. The team member who returned and the interaction he had was incredible and appropriate. Rarely does a TV show exceed my expectations, especially when they were already high, but this one did! WOW. Brian Dietzen was top notch–behind and in front of the scenes.
Loved the Easter Eggs. Solo and the Great Escape . A little disappointed that Ziva didn’t return with Tony. And no Abby? I can see a scene in 1000 where they show Gibbs at the funeral watching from a distance, before having to interact with the team.
Well said.
I did not know that Brian Dietzen wrote it…Extremely well done.
well acted also.
deserves to win the emmy, let alone be nominated for it.
Beautiful tribute. Congrats to all.
I thought Mark Harmon should have made an appearance
They did a great job. I will miss
Seeing Dr. Mallard. He was a superior thespian. Most grateful for his great performances.
PS hope M Weatherly returns to NCIS.
The Ducky tribute was very well done. So glad that at least Tony made it back but I think most fans will agree that Gibbs should have put in some kimd of cameo. A picture was not enough for the friendship they shared. It was a big disappointment. He owed him more.
Absolutely concur. And Abby.
Lovingly done. I laughed and cried. And I loved seeing the truck in the background with “GREAT ESCAPE” emblazoned on it. I’m sure there were other little Easter eggs but that’s the only one I caught.
A+ job. I’m going to miss David and Ducky so much.
I missed the truck, but I like the dog being named Solo, a shoutout to The Man from U.N.C.L.E
My wife and I were disappointed that Abbey and Ziva was not there. Also that Gibbs wasn’t there as well.
Abby did send flowers.
You who showed up did a wonderful job!
The question is..where was Gibbs and Abby?? We just couldn’t believe that Mark Harmon couldn’t MAKE time for this episode!!! He and Ducky were long, long
friends!!! A little like a SLAP in the face!
The adding a envelope from Alaska was
and will always be NEVER ENOUGH!!! THANKS MICHAEL FOR COMING!!
Gibbs did send those photos to McGee.
Love the show!
I have never cried with any other show I’ve watched in my many years. I miss Jenny, Gibbs, Caitlin, Ziva, even smart aleck dinozza, Mike Franks & even Gibbs dad. And now, Ducky, was the worst feeling.
Everyone did a WONDERFUL job as usual.
Looking forward to this season.
Such a perfect send off for Ducky and David. Actually seeing Gibbs, Abby, Ellie, etc would have just taken away from the show. The picture from
Gibbs, the goth heart from Abby, were perfect acknowledgements. Seeing Tony at his best. Just went through only a few Kleenex.
I don’t agree with that. The team/family would not have taken away from the show if they came in together or showed up at the funeral.
I absolutely loved seeing Tony but why no Gibbs or even Abby or Ziva. The story was good but I would have preferred to see the team back together for a tribute to Ducky.
I can’t speak for the others, but I going to assume that Ziva was waiting at the funeral with their daughter. Also it was great writing to have everyone leave so Tony’s only scenes were with his co-workers, Jimmy and Tim.
Nice to see that the last people seen in the show were the people who knew him the longest other than Gibbs.
that was my thinking as well since Tony and Ducky along with Gibbs were part of JAG pilot and Tim and Jimmy got on when the series started… I agree with Gibbs not being shown since that would overwhelm the current show characters…. If you want Gibbs, you got almost 2 decades of reruns with him available all over cable TV and streams…
Beyond perfect. A fitting farewell. And if you knew NCIS. You saw all the nods, little easter eggs. Love they mentioned all the offices. And saw even Abby sent a bouquet in appropriate way. And love the last scene. First seeing Tony, and he and Jimmy. And then McGee. The final scene with characters from very first season.
Wow. Michael looked like he had not been gone that long. Totally Tony.
Love the memories of Ducky. So many stories he left behind.
And all 3 of them in the elevator.
One of the best tribute episodes I’ve seen. Nice surprise with Tony at the end. Sure, having Gibbs, Ziva and others show up would have been nice but maybe a little too much to squeeze everyone in for the episode. Tony represented the past for all of them so I’m ok with it. It was well done all around.
I’m hoping in the next episode they can name drop some of the others. It was great seeing (insert character here) – can you believe how much Tali (Tony & Ziva’s daughter) has grown – glad (insert character here) was able to make it …….
I agree that having them all on screen would’ve taken away from the rest of the episode, and i don’t think they would’ve wanted to gather all of them just for a group shot at the funeral/memorial, too many schedules to juggle for a short time
In Ducky’s office, there was a shot of four pictures of the teams over the years. Can anyone help us identify them all, especially the one with the five agents in front of the truck? Thanks.
They are all publicity cast photos from different years. The one in front of the NCIS truck is a publicity photo from last year I think, of the current cast (I’ve seen it used a number of times as a publicity photo in articles about the show.)
Oh yes! I take back my comment and agree with GailH. You’d think the grey beard on far right would’ve been my clue that it was Gary Cole and the current team :)
Thank you. We figured out everyone else from the other pictures, but we were struggling with the one picture with the truck.
Steve V, it’s hard to tell due to the glare on the photo but looks to me like McGee, Jimmy, Tony, Ziva and not sure about person on far right (Gibbs?).
They messed up the pictures, the one you referred to has from l to r Torres, Jimmy, McGee, Knight, and Parker. It should have Bishop and Gibbs in place of the last two.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT Mark Harmon DID NOT SHOW UP in SOME WAY and talked about Ducky, but it felt great that Michael Weatherly did
An excellent episode and such a fitting tribute to Ducky & McCallum. It brought back so many memories, with every throw back, I said “oh I remember that” except the one in the forest with gun, so I guess I’m going to search for that one for a resfresher.
TONY!!! it was so great to see him, he cracked me up even in sadness. It was like no time had passed, using his usual phrases “autopsy gremlin” even with his banter with Tim. I wish he could come back once in a while
The call backs to Abby with the black wreath, and Gibbs’ photo were nice touches. I believe everyone was at the funeral which we didn’t see but can imagine. Tony said he wouldn’t miss it for the world, neither would Gibbs, Abby, Ziva all of them were there. I even think Tony’s family spent the night at Tim’s with that movie remark that he made lol
A beautiful episode, Well done! I will watch again
It would have been nice if Tony would have at least said the others (his wife, Gibbs etc. ) were at the funeral.
The episode was perfection.
It was a sham Mark Hartman did not make a showing, especially since he worked with Duky the longest.
They should have gotten David Hartman, at the very least.
I had tears in my eyes at during the episode. You don’t realize how much we invest into these shows, their characters and actors, who portrait them. Times like these become like a personal loss.
The episode was absolutely fantastic. You felt Jimmy’s loss. Well done. In addition, it was great seeing Micheal Weatherly return to pay tribute to David McCallum’s character Ducky. Thanks for that!!
A good tribute episode. Lots of nice history of the show woven in.
Glad to see a nod to Gibbs leading a good life, and a heart from Abby. But why no mention at all of Ziva? A throw away line from Tony would have done it; In-show, Ziva and Ducky had a close relationship.
I like to think if Tony was in town. Ziva is likely too. And will be at the funeral. We just won’t see it. As much as I would have liked to have more of the old characters. It would have distracted from what was the episode at the heart of it. Remembering Ducky. And all the callbacks brought back memories of those characters. Love the photos of the different teams.