Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for NCIS Season 21 Episode 2 “The Stories We Leave Behind.”
Last night, NCIS premiered one of its most emotional episodes to date, a heartfelt tribute to the iconic actor David McCallum and his beloved character, Dr. Mallard. While Dr. Mallard’s death was expected due to McCallum’s passing in September 2023, there was one surprising detail that left viewers shocked. And no, it’s not about the surprise cameo at the end of the episode. Let’s dive in and find out what it is!
The episode begins with Dr. Jimmy Palmer, played by Brian Dietzen (who co-wrote the episode), arriving at Dr. Mallard’s home with a cup of coffee, only to discover that Ducky has passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Instead of abruptly cutting to the NCIS opening, the show cleverly transitions into the opener with a slower version of the theme song we’ve all come to know and love over the past two decades.
This decision to slow down the opening sequence was a deliberate and touching choice, although it presented its own challenges. Brian Dietzen himself shared his thoughts in an interview with TV Insider, stating, “We were struggling with that, I’ll be real honest, because coming out of that cold open, it didn’t really feel very fitting to [have] all of a sudden our wonderful opening credits. It felt like tonally it wasn’t right for this episode.”
And Dietzen couldn’t be more right. Slowing down the intro was a beautiful way to kickstart such an emotional episode. It allowed viewers to take a breath, prepare their hearts for what’s to come, and truly appreciate the tribute to David McCallum’s impactful portrayal of Dr. Mallard. There’s nothing I would have changed about the way the show honored McCallum and his character— it was executed with such grace and respect.
If you agree that the NCIS tribute to David McCallum and Dr. Mallard was impeccably done, please share your thoughts with us. Let’s come together and celebrate the legacy of a remarkable actor and character.
