NCIS S23 Finale Ends in Gunshot Cliffhanger, No Deaths

The NCIS Season 23 finale, titled "Sons and Daughters," concluded on Monday with a tense cliffhanger as agent Nick Torres confronted Timothy McGee's recently discovered son, Mateo, in a dark alley near the Navy Yard, ending abruptly with a gunshot that left their fates unclear.

Showrunner Steven D. Binder addressed the moment in interviews following the episode's airing on CBS. "Someone was hit. I can confirm that," Binder said. He ruled out any deaths, stating, "I sort of had my fill this season, all of us, of killing people. So I can rule that out." Binder emphasized the narrative potential in keeping characters alive, comparing it to past incidents like Gibbs shooting McGee, which allowed for ongoing story development.

The confrontation stemmed from suspicions about Mateo's activities at NCIS headquarters. The 18-year-old, played by Patrick Keleher, toured the office earlier in the episode and expressed initial interest in a cyber internship. McGee, portrayed by Sean Murray, had only recently learned of his son's existence from a past relationship. Dr. Jimmy Palmer informed Torres that Mateo used a workstation to apply, but no record appeared in the system. Torres, played by...