NCIS Just Revealed A Surprising Detail About Tony DiNozzo’s Future

Warning: Spoilers for NCIS season 24, episode 2, “Clean Slate.”

Tony DiNozzo’s tenure as the new Director of NCIS is off to an interesting start.

NCIS season 24 has brought back Michael Weatherly to his role as Tony DiNozzo, including the actor in the opening credits and revealing that DiNozzo is now the new NCIS Director. He takes the role after the death of Leon Vance, but it’s not the most perfect start. He spends most of season 24’s second episode, titled “Clean Slate”, seeming nostalgic and unsure of what his new job actually entails.

But late in the episode, in a scene with long-time friend McGee, DiNozzo name-drops past NCIS heads and winds his way to revealing what will make his stint different. He’s happy to take on the responsibilities of NCIS Director. But in order to let off some steam, he explains that he will occasionally dip into the work that he did during his 13 seasons on the CBS drama, which is slipping into the mode of a Special Agent. DiNozzo’s quote to McGee is included below:

Vance boxed, Jenny lit up the town. You know what I like to do? I like to bust bad guys. So I’m gonna do my job as director, and when I need to take a little break, blow off a little steam? I’m gonna go bust some bad guys with you. And it’s not a distraction. It’s the only way I know how to survive this job.

The episode, which is written by Steven D. Binder & Christopher J. Waild and directed by Marc Roskn, has fun with DiNozzo’s history in the long-running franchise. At one point, he’s referred to as a “class clown.” He’s found himself in a serious position regardless. At first, he introduces himself to the NCIS characters that he’s not as familiar with. He assures them that he doesn’t want to get in their way.

It is, all the same, not an easy transition. Franchise veterans like Torres and Knight aren’t quite sure what to make of him. He’s also not as sure what to make of the new faces, making a rare reference to Abby during a drop-in to the lab. But by the end of “Clean Slate,” an understanding seems to be reached. He’ll try to live in both worlds.

It’s unclear how long that balance is meant to hold, specifically because it’s unknown if Tony is meant to be back for the long haul or if Vance’s true successor is waiting in the wings after a relatively brief comeback. At least for now, however, DiNozzo is sticking around.

He’ll even be crossing over to NCIS: Origins season 3 to meet with Gibbs for an episode that’s slated to air on Tuesday, October 20 at 10 PM ET. It’ll mark the first time in ten years that Weatherly has shared the screen with Mark Harmon, his former NCIS co-star.

NCIS season 24 airs Sundays at 8 PM ET on CBS.