'NCIS' Season 11 Spoilers: 'Emotional' Finale Will Honor Ralph Waite
"NCIS" is nearing the end of season 11 and headed toward an "emotional" finale, according to reports this week.
While the past 10 seasons of "NCIS" have seen a climatic finale involving suspense and even cliffhangers, the season 11 finale will serve as an homage to the show's late star Ralph Waite. The actor portrayed Jackson Gibbs who will be laid to rest in the "NCIS" finale on May 13.
"It goes out on an emotional note," showrunner Gary Glasberg told Fox News recently. "Season 11 has been anything but traditional, and what appealed to me was the idea of closing it properly, on solid ground, and not feeling like we were dangling carrots and playing games in any way."
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Waite also starred on "The Waltons," but he starred on "NCIS" as the father of Mark Harmon's character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The actor died at the age of 85 on Feb. 13.
"This is life and death," Glasberg continued of the season 11 finale. "And real characters, and people dealing with real things. But I don't necessarily see it as a downer."
Meanwhile, previously revealed spoilers about the season finale of "NCIS" revealed a focus on Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherley) in it. After losing the love of his life when Ziva (Cote de Pablo) left the "NCIS" team, fans are ready to see the character in higher spirits.
"I'd really like to focus on and come up with something for the season finale that has a strong Tony element to it, in fact, we're about to sit down and talk about that," Glasberg told TV Line earlier this year.
"NCIS" airs on CBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST. The synopsis for this week's installment, "Shooter," is as follows: "A Marine photographer disappears prior to testifying in a high-profile Afghanistan murder case. The NCIS team investigates the homicide he witnessed and his current piece on military veterans who are homeless. Meanwhile, Abby tries to help a young homeless woman reconnect with her family."
