Ellie Bishop Has Intense Reunion With Nick Torres In New NCIS Season 23 Preview

1 week ago 16

Published Jan 24, 2026, 8:03 AM EST

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A new preview for NCIS season 23, part 2 offers the first-look at Ellie Bishop and Nick Torres' intense reunion. The first half of the 2025-2026 TV cycle has been busy for CBS' premier procedural. So far, it has tackled a string of compelling storylines mixed with fun specials, including the crossover with NCIS Origins season 2. At this point, it seems like NCIS doesn't have plans of slowing down anytime soon.

In the NCIS season 23 winter finale, the show dropped its biggest plot twist in a while — Jessica Knight's first ELITE target is Bishop. Emily Wickersham's surprise cameo marked her return to the show for the first time since she left in season 18. Understandably, the extended wait to find out what's next with the situation is frustrating, but luckily, new details about it have been released.

Courtesy of EW is a string of promotional stills for NCIS season 23, episode 10, which includes two images of Bishop and Torres together. At one point, it seems like he's tied to a chair, as if he is being held hostage. The second still, however, sees both of them standing. A third snap shows Bishop reuniting with Kasie Hines and Tim McGee. Check out the photos below:

Titled "Her", the official logline for the much-anticipated episode reveals that Bishop actually seeks out Torres for his help. Not much else is revealed about their reunion, but it emphasizes how this is the first time that they are coming face to face since their heartbreaking separation in the NCIS season 18 finale. Read the full synopsis below:

"On her first NCIS: Elite mission, Knight is given orders to hunt down and arrest Eleanor Bishop after the former member of the NCIS team is designated a wanted cyber-terrorist. In need of someone to trust, Bishop turns to Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), and the two come face to face for the first time since she abruptly left nearly five years ago."

Additionally, both Wickersham and Wilmer Valderrama offer their thoughts on their characters' reunion in NCIS season 23. Both sound really enthusiastic about being able to revisit a story that didn't seem to have an ending, especially with how she was written out of the project — a storyline that remains divisive until now. For the longest time, it didn't seem like the procedural was ever going to tackle it again, but now, they will be able to do so:

Wickersham: "I'm so excited to return to an old family that I love so much. Excited to return as Bishop, as the new Bishop, who's gone off and lived a new life. Who's come back with a bit more baggage and added complexity. It was really fun to be in a very familiar environment with very new dynamics. The episode is a bit of a love letter, and I can't wait for everyone to see it!"

Valderrama: "Being on set with Emily has always felt like a great collaboration that makes it easy to create grounded and exciting opportunities for our characters. I'm grateful we get to revisit the energy that is this duo. And without giving anything away about this awesome episode, Torres would say… 'Bishop, you've got some explaining to do.'"

How it propels Torres' forward is arguably the most interesting aspect of seeing him reunite with Bishop after half a decade. The brewing romance between him and Knight makes this situation more complicated but also interesting. As confirmed, Wickersham is only appearing in the upcoming NCIS episode. That said, her return effectively re-establishes her connection with her former team, which could result in more reunions in the future.

NCIS

6/10

Release Date September 23, 2003

Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario

Directors Dennis Smith, Terrence O'Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright