Running for over two decades, the NCIS franchise has inevitably experienced some serious losses when it comes to character departures. One of the most notable ones was Leroy Jethro Gibbs, specifically the version that was played by Mark Harmon, whose face was practically synonymous with the original show and whose exit led to a very teary day on set. However, when NCIS: Los Angeles wrapped up in 2023, we didn’t only say goodbye to one agent. We lost a host of fan-favorite characters that were at the heart of this spin-off series. Well, all but one.
When the show ended, LL Cool J, who played Agent Sam Hanna, crossed over to NCIS: Hawai’i as a guest star for two seasons and is even confirmed to reprise his role in the flagship show in Season 22, Episode 18. Even Harmon makes an appearance in NCIS: Origins, where Austin Stowell plays the younger version of his character. With all these resurrections, there is hope that we can see other fallen agents in other shows in the NCIS-verse again, with one fan-favorite Los Angeles character in particular in mind: Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen).
Deeks Was One of the Best ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Characters
Marty Deeks started off as a guest star in Los Angeles as an undercover agent trying to infiltrate a drug smuggling ring that crossed paths with Sam in Season 1, but quickly won over fans’ hearts and easily transitioned into a series regular in the second season. He very quickly warmed to the role of being comedic relief, with his laidback attitude and sarcastic jokes fitting perfectly within the dynamics of the team as he officially became an NCIS investigator. While the show was compelling enough before this, Marty brought a charismatic flair and light-hearted attitude that contrasted with the darker cases they had to work on, heavily impacting the tone of the show in an appealing way.
But it wasn’t only his comedy that drew us to the character. Marty’s relationship with Kensi (Daniela Ruah) also became one of the more beloved romances in the franchise. Their relationship evolved organically, from innocent flirty comments as they were paired up as coworkers to the deep love they shared but were reluctant to admit to. When they finally did and tied the knot in Season 10, it was one of the more rewarding romantic moments in the show. So, it’s impossible not to fervently want Marty, with all his cheeky comedy and steadfast loyalty, to return to NCIS.
Deeks Proves He Works Well With Other ‘NCIS’ Teams in the Crossover Episode
Apart from being just a genuinely likable character, Marty has already proved that he would seamlessly fit into another show in the franchise. During NCIS’s highly anticipated three-way crossover that involved NCIS, Los Angeles, and Hawai’i, Marty meshed well with the other teams, demonstrating his versatility within the universe. In fact, this episode also made him part of an unexpectedly iconic duo: Marty and Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama). The two are essentially polar opposites, with Nick being a generally quiet, lone wolf kind of character, while Marty thrived off of social situations and snippy, unnecessary comments. But instead of behaving like oil and water, they found a complementary middle ground that made them a comedic yet heart-warming pairing.
During the episode, Torres was warned that Marty was “sensitive,” while Marty was informed of Nick’s lone wolf status. They both vehemently disagreed with their labels, and throughout the episodes, their scenes together played off on these differences and archetypes. However, it does so in an affirming way, as the friendly and warm intentions behind their quips broke down those barriers of traditional masculinity, where Marty was allowed to be sensitive, and Torres had a safe space to lean into the social connection. Look, three hours of this functional and hilarious pairing simply wasn’t enough — we need more.
Olsen Confirms He Will Not Return to the ‘NCIS’ Franchise
However, our hopes of Marty returning to NCIS were dashed by Olsen in 2024, when the actor told TV Line that he had no intention of reprising his role. It warms our hearts to know that he misses the cast members, as he says, “I actively miss Todd, and I was texting with Renee [Felice Smith] this morning, and I see Daniela all the time…” But unfortunately, the urge to return to the franchise is “not so much” there, especially as his focus is on his current project, Matlock. He is currently an executive producer on the CBS show, which was released in 2024 and has been renewed for future seasons. While we are happy for Olsen and all his future endeavors, it is accompanied by the bittersweet realization that the potential of the affable and charming Marty returning to the franchise (and particularly reuniting with Nick) can be chalked up to wishful thinking. For now, we can only appreciate the 14 seasons and one three-hour-long episode we have of him.