There’s no denying the appeal of procedurals and shared universes. NCIS (2003) is not just one of the longest-running procedurals on TV, it also has a long, shared universe to draw from. Just like we like seeing different superheroes pop up from one movie to the next, we like when our regular life detectives know each other. And no one does that better than the NCIS universe. And though the franchise has been going strong for over two decades, it’s far from winding down.
In fact, the franchise is starting a new phase.NCIS: Origins just premiered in 2024, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva premiered in Fall 2025, which means it’s just the right time for new fans to get into it. But what’s the right order to enjoy them? Is it chronologically? In order of release? What makes the most sense? Here at JustWatch, we’ve got thoughts.
JAG (1995-2005)
All right, all right. We know JAG is not technically an NCIS show, but bear with us. It still needs to be on the list because JAG is technically where it all started. JAG, which stands for Judge Advocate General, is a Navy-based law show and basically the prequel to NCIS. The show’s Season 8 two-parter, "Ice Queen"/"Meltdown,' serves as backdoor pilot for the main NCIS and introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo and Abby Sciuto. Completionists will want to start there.
But JAG is an enjoyable show in its own right, better for the Law & Order (1990) fans than for people who like the detective kind of procedurals, like Castle (2009), but entertaining nonetheless. And it’s got the same military background to its cases that all NCIS shows have.
NCIS (2003-Present)
The show that really started it all is NCIS… or Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The main show is set in Washington D.C., with the team based at the Washington Navy Yard. This is only important to know because there are so many spin-off series set in so many different places. The show follows the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), a specialized team within NCIS that investigates high-profile and complex cases involving the Navy and Marine Corps. And yes, it’s going on Season 23—with a vastly different cast than when it started. If you liked Gibbs, Tony, and Abby on JAG, you’ll want to check it out. And even if you didn’t, the team will change.
Yet, through all the cast changes, NCIS has somehow remained a fan favorite. Since all the shows happen more or less chronologically, this is your next stop. One of the top-tier procedurals out there, NCIS is a must if you like the genre. And Leroy “Jethro” Gibbs is really one of the most iconic characters in the genre, so you really shouldn’t miss out on him and his “rules.”
NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-2023)
The first NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Los Angeles keeps the same team mostly intact during its entire run, with Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J heading a team that includes Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen. Set in Los Angeles with characters first introduced in a backdoor pilot on NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles focuses on the Office of Special Projects, a team that tracks criminals who threaten national security—with a fair bit of undercover work thrown in.
The most romantic of all the spin-offs, and the only one that has a couple that goes from will-they-won’t-they to “I do” to parents to happily ever after in the spawn of the show, NCIS: Los Angeles is a must watch for those who love Bones (2005) or The X-Files (1993) for the ships. Here, you get the payoff. And if you suffered over Tiva on NCIS, there’s no pain to be found here with Densi.
NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021)
Following the “an NCIS team in every city” joke, the next spinoff is NCIS: New Orleans, which follows a team tasked with investigating cases from Pensacola through Mississippi and Louisiana to the Texas panhandle. Because there’s apparently enough trouble involving the military to require all these NCIS offshoots! Who knew? Headed by Scott Bakula, this show is perhaps the redheaded stepchild of the franchise, even if it has seven seasons and some crossovers with NCIS. Watch it after Los Angeles, and you’ll be fine.
The NCIS Season 11 episodes, "Crescent City (Part I)" and "Crescent City (Part II)" serve as the show’s backdoor pilot. It’s the most formulaic of the whole bunch, though it tries to sneak in some attempts at humor. Sadly, there’s just nothing that makes it stand out, and though it had a loyal audience, there wasn’t a huge outcry when it was canceled.
NCIS: Hawai’i (2021-2024)
NCIS: Hawai’i was not introduced via a backdoor pilot on NCIS but meant to stand on its own from the beginning. The show follows the first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) and her team as they investigate crimes related to the military and national security on the Hawaiian Islands. The show was sadly cancelled in 2024, mainly due to how expensive it was to film. It probably didn’t help that LL Cool J was a main character during the last season of the show, after NCIS: Los Angeles was canceled.
It’s one of the most diverse in the franchise, not just because it has a female lead, but because it’s the first one to feature a lesbian couple from the beginning. And considering this was a primetime CBS procedural, that was a big deal. The show might have had only three seasons, but they’re absolutely worth watching for the sense of family and the way they really get to the core of what NCIS is about. It’s better if you watch it after you already know most of the franchise characters, so after NCIS: New Orleans works.
NCIS: Sydney (2023-Present)
Set in Sydney, Australia, and also not introduced via a backdoor pilot, NCIS: Sydney is one of the three (soon to be four) NCIS shows still ongoing. It is also perhaps the most separated from the main franchise, as it features a self-contained cast and no crossovers as of yet. However, NCIS already mentioned team lead Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) during Season 22, so it feels like only a matter of time before a crossover does happen.
Initially a COVID replacement show that was never meant to become as important as it did, NCIS: Sydney is returning for a full Season 3 not just because of how good it is but how well it fits with the NCIS franchise. It’s got two budding ships—one that gives Densi vibes (the most successful ship in the franchise) and the other that gives Tiva vibes (the ship everyone still wants to see together from NCIS) and perfect found family vibes. If you can only watch one show to get an idea of what the franchise is, and you’ve got limited time, make it this one.
NCIS: Origins (2024-Present)
Technically set before all of the shows, NCIS: Origins follows the first few days of Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who led the main NCIS show and team for almost 20 years. It is, however, the kind of show that can only truly be appreciated if you already know Gibbs, as it’s filled with Easter eggs to the past that is actually the future. The show, after all, starts with a voiceover of an older Gibbs—who narrates every episode of the show. That’s the kind of thing that won’t really make sense if you don’t know the character. So, it’s best to watch NCIS before diving into this one.
As a prequel, though, this is one of the best realized ones. More Andor (2022) than The Continental (2023). This really adds to the story, and that was a high bar to clear considering Gibbs was a character that was on our screen for almost 20 years.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva (2025)
Two of NCIS’ most beloved characters, Ziva David and Anthony DiNozzo, return for new adventures on NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The series begins with Tony and Ziva living in Paris, raising their teenage daughter, Tali. But after Tony’s security company is attacked, the three must go on the run across Europe and rely on all of the skills they learned during their time at NCIS to survive.
Considering fans didn’t really get to see Tony and Ziva as more than a will-they-won’t-they for all their time on the main NCIS, NCIS: Tony & Ziva is about paying off in the way romance fans have been waiting for. It’s also about bringing the disconnected pieces of this universe back together, once and for all. If you love this franchise, then this is a show you cannot miss. And if you’ve ever been a fan of either of these characters, you’ve probably been waiting for this show for a long time.
