Season Finale: The core trio resigns; Gibbs is seen aiming a sniper rifle at Fornell.

Season 10 of is widely regarded as a pinnacle for the series, serving as the year it officially became the most-watched program on U.S. television, even surpassing Sunday Night Football . Spanning 24 episodes from September 2012 to May 2013, the season shifted from its standard procedural roots into high-stakes, serialized drama that permanently altered the team's landscape. Key Narrative Pillars

The season saw record-breaking viewership, maintaining an average of per episode. Viewership (Millions) "Extreme Prejudice"

This season solidified Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer) as a series regular after nine years on the show. Every Major NCIS Guest Star Ever - TV Guide

While the procedural elements remained, viewers noted a darker, more somber tone as the "family" at NCIS faced internal and external threats they couldn't simply solve in an hour.

The season leaned heavily into character backstories, featuring notable appearances by Anthony DiNozzo Sr. (Robert Wagner) and the introduction of Admiral John McGee (Jamey Sheridan), Timothy McGee's estranged father.