How NCIS: Hawai’i Season 3’s Cliffhanger Can Be Resolved Without Season 4

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NCIS: Hawai’i’s stunning cancellation left plot threads dangling, but the end of season 3 can be resolved without NCIS: Hawai’i season 4. The decision to cancel NCIS: Hawai’i was a big mistake, considering the show was a strong performer for CBS during its run. Thanks to increased viewership in its final season, there were questions about why such a successful series wasn’t renewed for another installment.

TV shows are typically canceled due to dwindling interest and increased production costs, but the cancelation came as a huge surprise because the series had solid numbers. The franchise is even set to expand with the NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff and NCIS: Origins. New shows wouldn’t be produced if there was a lack of interest in the franchise as a whole. The good news is that it shouldn’t be too difficult to resolve the cliffhangers at the end of NCIS: Hawai’i.

Jane Tennant Could Help The Team On NCIS Season 22
Vanessa Lachey Has Appeared On NCIS In The Past

Thanks to the connected nature of the NCIS universe, Vanessa Lachey and some of her NCIS: Hawai’i co-stars have already appeared in the original series, meaning there’s an opening for Jane Tennant’s story to continue in NCIS season 22. At the very least, there should be some payoff to the unfinished NCIS: Hawai’i season 3 storyline, which featured Maggie’s return and the bombshell that Jane will need a drink for what will come next.

Maggie was an enigmatic character throughout her time on NCIS: Hawai’i, but trouble is never usually far behind her. There’s a good chance whatever she had to say would have informed the NCIS: Hawai’i season 4 storyline in a big way. It may have also had ripple effects that would have been felt in the original series, which could theoretically set up an opening for Jane to seek help from other NCIS agents. Either that or Maggie could offer her expertise to keep the character a part of the NCIS universe and bring closure to NCIS: Hawai’i.

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NCIS: Hawai’i Deserves A Proper Series Finale
NCIS: Hawai’i Was An Important Series In The Long-Running Franchise

Given that interest in NCIS: Hawai’i wasn’t waning at the time of its cancellation, the show deserved to go out on its own terms. NCIS: Hawai’i had countless characters with important and timely storylines. With an additional episode or two, it could have had a satisfying ending that paid tribute to the show’s impressive legacy. At times, NCIS: Hawai’i eclipsed the original series in storytelling because the cases were different from the rest of the franchise.

It would be a different story if NCIS: Hawai’i went out with minimal interest, but it was clear the producers were under the impression the show was guaranteed a pickup. Plus, the network had the opportunity to remove the cliffhanger but didn’t, likely hinting that the characters and storylines could be revisited at some point down the line. As part of one of the most successful franchises on TV, there’s a good chance that NCIS: Hawai’i’s cast members will reprise their roles because the universe likes to revisit the past.

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