One of CBS’s most beloved shows has gone international. NCIS, the popular and long-running military criminal investigation series, has produced several spin-offs over the years, but this time it’s moved the crime tracking down under. NCIS: Sydney, the first of the NCIS franchise to go international, was recently renewed for Season 3 on CBS and Paramount. Fans of the original NCIS who aren’t watching are really missing out.
The fourth spin-off of the popular NCIS franchise, NCIS: Sydney joined CBS’ impressive catalog of crime investigation dramas with its premiere in 2023. Following a joint task force between American NCIS agents and Australian police, the series takes the familiar smart and sleek NCIS style and adds an international twist. While critics have generally praised the series, it has been a letdown for fans so far. But while the series, currently in its sophomore season, may have a number of growing pains, the solid bones of the franchise are strong as ever.
The Fourth ‘NCIS’ Spin-Off’s a Charm?
NCIS has had several spin-off series since its debut in 2002. The flagship series (NCIS) is currently in its 22nd season and remains one of CBS’ top-watched scripted shows. Following its success, the network premiered several spin-off shows, including NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i, and the prequel to them all, NCIS: Origins. Each series has followed the same basic NCIS format but added on the distinct local flavor and charm of its host city to create a unique fingerprint in the world of police procedurals. NCIS: Sydney doesn’t stray from that.
Filmed in Sydney, the Australian hub of NCIS offers a new host of characters against the visual delight of the wonderful Australian landscape. The series is stacked with credible international talent, including British actors Olivia Swann (DC’s Legend of Tomorrow), Sean Sagar (The Covenant), along with Australian talent Todd Lasance (Home and Away), Tuuli Narkle (Mystery Road: Origin), William McInnes (Blue Heelers), and Mavournee Hazel (Neighbours). Together, they form a formidable team. With savvy writing that creates exciting chemistry between the characters, the show is an easy and pleasant watch.
‘NCIS: Sydney’ Got Off to a Slow Start, but the Second Season Is Amping Up
NCIS: Sydney received positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a fresh 73% rating from critics. Stephanie Morgan of Common Sense Media called the show a “surprisingly welcome addition to the growing NCIS franchise”, while Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic praised the show for having “brilliant characterization and some of the best cases in years.” However, even positive reviews mentioned one of the show’s greatest weaknesses as remarked by viewers.
In contrast to the positive overall reception from critics, viewers have so far left the series flat on its face. The Rotten Tomatoes audience review of the first season is a dismal 29%. While viewers loved the Australian scenery and the introduction of new actors into the world, many found the lead characters to be challenging and some of the storylines to be quite bland. As serious as these infractions are, this could be a matter of… a bad introduction.
So far, in the second season, both the storylines and characters have seemed to find their footing. The give and take of personal vulnerabilities seems to have crafted a more formidable team. As to the bland story lines, the second season has addressed that as well by hiking up the personal and professional stakes for the characters. This was an intentional move, as showrunner Morgan O’Neill explained in an interview with TV Line. After the first season, which was designed to introduce the characters, O’Neill revealed that the second season was more “ambitious” with the storytelling. So far, the second season has seen the team deal with a kidnapping of one of their own, a rogue assassin, and an attempt to bring life back to the dead. This is quite ambitious indeed.
It may well be hard for NCIS: Sydney to establish itself in the franchise. The series does not quite have the same draw as prior NCIS spin-offs, which may make it a hard pull for viewers not already enmeshed in the franchise. The LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell forwarded NCIS: Los Angeles ran for 14 seasons before coming to an end; while the more modestly received Vanessa Lachey series NCIS: Hawai’i only ran for three.
With a talented cast of relative unknowns (and a hopefully more modest production budget because of it), perhaps NCIS: Sydney will have the longevity needed to find the space to distinguish itself in the main franchise. The series has already been renewed for a third season, so viewers will at least have the opportunity to give the show a second look. So far, many viewer complaints from the first season have been addressed, and the series is all the better for it. NCIS: Sydney airs on Fridays on CBS. The series is also available to stream on Paramount+.
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2025-03-16 03:36