Though NCIS: Sydney is the fourth spinoff to spawn from the flagship present that launched in 2003 (and itself spun out of JAG), naturally there’s one huge factor that separates it from the remaining: it’s the primary of those reveals to happen outdoors of america. As such, one may argue that the Australia-based present will really feel extra standalone in comparison with the others. Nevertheless, don’t go pondering that Sydney received’t nod at different corners of the NCIS universe.
With only a few weeks left to go till NCIS: Sydney’s premiere on CBS stateside, showrunner Morgan O’Neill chatted with TV Line about this entry on the 2023 TV schedule, together with the way it will join with the opposite NCIS reveals. When the outlet requested if there can be any “nods,” O’Neill answered:
Look, there are a few little Easter eggs there. I received’t spoil them, however they’re positively there. One of many issues that I believe audiences love about this present is the truth that it seems like a universe, not particular person reveals. And whereas they every have their very own DNA, I believe that’s what was actually intelligent about the best way CBS Studios developed this franchise is that they didn’t exit to make the identical present twice. For those who have a look at the unique present, the mothership, it’s very completely different from L.A.…
There’s a fantastic line to be walked in the case of constructing shared universes, particularly on tv. For a procedural continuity like NCIS, whereas it is vital that every present really feel distinctive in varied methods, they nonetheless have to really feel like they’re all happening throughout the similar world relatively than feeling drastically completely different from each other. Moreover, though O’Neil stated that these don’t really feel like “particular person reveals,” it’s nonetheless necessary that every NCIS sequence can stand out by itself, i.e. a viewer can simply comply with together with one present with none points, versus feeling prefer it’s additionally required that they watch all the opposite reveals.
So so far as NCIS: Sydney is anxious, whereas no main characters from any of the opposite reveals will likely be visiting the Land Down Beneath anytime quickly, there will likely be these handful of Easter eggs in these first few episodes to remind viewers that this is only one nook of a bigger fictional world. Morgan O’Neill additionally talked about how necessary it was that Sydney really feel genuine to its title location, versus the resemblance being in title solely:
Every present will get a unique tonality, a unique vibe, a unique tempo, a unique rhythm, a unique shade palette, a unique sensibility. I really feel like what CBS Studios did actually cleverly was they realized that they wanted to increase the viewers and to increase the universe, however not simply replicate it. So once they got here to us, I type of sat down and watched about 950 episodes of NCIS [programs] within the house of some weeks to get myself in control — I really feel like I’ve a PhD in NCIS! — and what I spotted was that they had been trying to seize the authenticity of a spot. So I went again to [CBS Studios chief] David Stapf and his crew and stated, ‘To ensure that this to achieve success, I believe it actually has to seize that genuine rhythm, that genuine cultural sensibility of Australia — the colours, the flavour. We must always lean into it.’ And so they stated, ‘That’s music to our ears. Go for it.’
The NCIS: Sydney solid contains Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel and William McInnes, with the premise revolving round a staff of NCIS brokers and Australian Federal Law enforcement officials working collectively as a multi-national job drive. Though the fifth NCIS present in whole, it will likely be certainly one of solely three on the air, the others being the primary NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i. NCIS: Los Angeles concluded earlier this yr after 14 seasons, and NCIS: New Orleans’ seven-season run resulted in 2021.
NCIS: Sydney premieres Tuesday, November 14 on CBS, and episodes will likely be obtainable to stream afterwards with a Paramount+ subscription. Hold visiting CinemaBlend for extra information regarding this newest spinoff, together with if any particularly fascinating NCIS Easter eggs are thrown in.
