NCIS Season 3

NCIS Season 3 premiered on September 20, 2005 and ended on May 16, 2006.

Cast

Series Regulars

NCIS Season 3 Cast

Name	Occupation	Portrayed by
Leroy Jethro Gibbs	NCIS Special Agent in charge of the main NCIS Major Case Response Team.	Mark Harmon
Anthony DiNozzo Junior	Senior Special Agent and second-in-command on the NCIS Major Case Response Team.	Michael Weatherly
Ziva David	Mossad Liaison to the NCIS Major Case Response Team.	Cote de Pablo
Abby Sciuto	NCIS's Chief Forensic Scientist.	Pauley Perrette
Timothy McGee	Junior NCIS Special Agent.	Sean Murray
Jennifer Shepard	NCIS Director.	Lauren Holly
Donald Mallard	NCIS's Chief Medical Examiner.	David McCallum

Cast Notes

In the aftermath of her character, NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd being killed off during the Season 2 finale episode, Twilight (episode), Sasha Alexander left NCIS for good after appearing in the Season 3 premiere episode, Kill Ari Part 1 (episode) and Kill Ari Part 2 (episode). Along with Rudolf Martin (Ari Haswari), she and Martin were both credited as Special Guest Stars due to the fact that "Kill Ari Part 2" marked their final, credited appearances on the show.

Alexander had previously expressed a desire to leave NCIS due to the fact that she wished to pursue other projects and start a family of her own hence the Kate Todd character being killed off.

According to Producer Donald P. Bellisario, Alexander had been surprised at the fact that NCIS had been renewed for a third season due to the fact that all the other shows she had been with in the past had only lasted two seasons before being cancelled altogether and Alexander had only planned on staying with the show for two seasons.

Chilean actress, Cote de Pablo was eventually chosen to replace Alexander and subsequently joined the NCIS cast, portraying NCIS/Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David. de Pablo first appeared as a guest star in the Season 3 premiere episode, "Kill Ari Part 1" and "Kill Ari Part 2" before joining the cast in the Season 3 episode, Silver War (episode) with de Pablo also appearing in the opening credits, officially replacing Sasha Alexander.

With Alan Dale's departure from the series due to the fact that his character, Thomas Morrow had resigned from NCIS to take a position at the Department of Homeland Security, Lauren Holly soon joined the cast, playing Gibbs's former girlfriend and the newly appointed NCIS Director, Jennifer Shepard. Holly later became a series regular and was added to the opening credits with her debut appearance in the credits occurring in the Season 3 episode, Frame-Up (episode).

Episodes

NCIS Season 3 Episode List

 

Episode Number		Title	Airdate	Notes
Series	Season
47	1	Kill Ari Part 1 (episode)	September 20, 2005.	As the NCIS team struggle to cope with Kate Todd's death at the hands of double agent Ari Haswari, Gibbs becomes fixated on avenging Kate by doing the only thing possible: killing Ari. This episode marked the debut appearance of Mossad Officer Ziva David and newly appointed NCIS Director Jennifer Shepard.
48	2	Kill Ari Part 2 (episode)	September 27, 2005.	Gibbs races to save Ducky from Ari's clutches as the NCIS team continue to grieve over the murder of Agent Kate Todd but while Ziva David is a possible hindrance, she may also be the key to stopping Ari once for all.. This episode marked the final appearance of Caitlin Todd, Ari Haswari and Gerald Jackson although Kate and Ari would later return in the Season 9 episode, Life Before His Eyes (episode).
49	3	Mind Games (episode)	October 4, 2005.	Gibbs interrogates a serial killer who's on Death Row as McGee and DiNozzo go in search of the killer's latest victims but when Agent Paula Cassidy is kidnapped, the team suspect that a copycat killer is on the loose.
50	4	Silver War (episode)	October 11, 2005.	The NCIS team investigate when the remains of a Marine are discovered in a Civil War casket while Ziva David returns, having been appointed as the Mossad Liaison Officer to NCIS.
51	5	Switch (episode)	October 18, 2005.	The team investigate when a Petty Officer is found shot dead and soon discover that the victim may have been leading a double life.
52	6	The Voyeur's Web (episode)	October 25, 2005.	NCIS investigate when the wife of a Marine Sergeant is murdered while performing a strip-tease for her online viewers, only for the team to discover that nothing is what it appears to be. This episode marks the debut appearance of Charles "Chip" Sterling.
53	7	Honor Code (episode)	November 1, 2005.	The NCIS team investigated the alleged kidnapping of a Navy Lieutenant Commander.
54	8	Under Covers (episode)	November 8, 2005.	When the two bodies of a husband and his wife who were also assassins are brought to NCIS, the team believe that a possible assassination may occur during the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. As such, Tony and Ziva go undercover as the dead assassins in hopes of finding out the truth but all is not what it seems...
55	9	Frame-Up (episode)	November 22, 2005.	The NCIS team are left stunned when evidence suggests that one of their own may be a killer. This episode also marks the final appearance of Charles "Chip" Sterling.
56	10	Probie (episode)	November 29, 2005.	NCIS race against the clock to protect McGee when it's revealed that the man he killed was a cop who was working undercover for the Metro Police Department.
57	11	Model Behavior (episode)	December 13, 2005.	NCIS investigate when a model participating in a reality TV show is found dead on a military base.
58	12	Boxed In (episode)	January 10, 2006.	When they come under fire while exploring a stockyard, Tony and Ziva are left trapped inside a shipping container. And with time of the essence, Gibbs and McGee race to save them before it's too late.
59	13	Deception (episode)	January 17, 2006.	On a Sunday, the NCIS team are summoned to the office to find a Navy Lieutenant Commander who has been abducted, only to discover that her personal life may hold the key as to why she was kidnapped in the first place.
60	14	Light Sleeper (episode)	January 24, 2006.	Two military wives are found dead and the NCIS team investigate the possibility that a North Korean sleeper cell may be responsible but all is not what it seems...
61	15	Head Case (episode)	February 7, 2006.	While arresting a group of Navy sailors who were operating an illegal chop shop, the NCIS team discover a severed head in the trunk of one of the stolen cars. The head is later identified as belonging to a Navy Captain and the team soon find themselves hunting down the people responsible.
62	16	Family Secret (episode)	February 28, 2006.	The NCIS team investigate when an ambulance carrying the remains of a Marine explodes.
63	17	Ravenous (episode)	March 7, 2006.	The remains of a Petty Officer are discovered in a park and further investigating reveals that there may be a serial killer who's using park accidents to cover up murders.
64	18	Bait (episode)	March 14, 2006.	The NCIS team tries to stop a teenager from blowing up a school, only to discover that there's more to the case than meets the eye.
65	19	Iced (episode)	April 4, 2006.	The body of a Marine is discovered in a frozen pond, prompting the NCIS team to investigate where they learn that a dangerous street gang may be responsible.
66	20	Untouchable (episode)	April 18, 2006.	A Navy Lieutenant commits suicide and it looks like a simple case but things change when Abby discovers that someone else was in the room with the Lieutenant when she died.
67	21	Bloodbath (episode)	April 25, 2006.	The NCIS team investigate a routine crime scene and soon discover that one of their own may be in grave danger.
68	22	Jeopardy (episode)	May 2, 2006.	NCIS must not only investigate the death of a drug dealer who died while in Ziva's custody but also save Director Sheppard when she is kidnapped by the dead dealer's brother.
69	23	Hiatus Part 1 (episode)	May 9, 2006.	An explosion on a foreign ship leaves Gibbs in a coma. As the NCIS team try to come to terms with the development, they find themselves chasing down a wanted terrorist while Tony assumes command of the team.
70	24	Hiatus Part 2 (episode)	May 16, 2006.	After awakening from his coma, Gibbs struggles to remember who he is as the rest of the NCIS team continue searching for terrorist PinPin Pula.

Trivia

• This is also the first ever DVD to have both Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) and Lauren Holly (Jennifer Shepard) featured on the cover.
• This season also marks the final appearance of the Mysterious Red-Head played by Vivienne Bellisario who is Donald P. Belliasario's wife and Sean Murray's mother.

Description

• The Region 2 DVD version*

NCIS: The Third Season continues the critically acclaimed, action-packed adventures of a cutting-edge team of special agents who operate outside the government's chain of command. Led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a tough, highly skilled investigator who's not afraid to bend the rules, the NCIS team must somehow band together and recover after suffering the devastating loss of one of their own agents to a terrorist. Further complicating matters for Gibbs is Jennifer Shepard (Lauren Holly), Gibbs's former lover who is the new Director of NCIS. This 7-disc set includes all 24 critically acclaimed episodes from this smash-hit series.

Special Features

• The Real N.C.I.S. Declassified- The real NCIS including its agents discuss their work.
• Hit the Head Montage- A montage of headslaps that were seen during the various episodes of NCIS Season 3.
• The Women of N.C.I.S.- The cast and crew of NCIS discuss the new female additions to the main cast.
• N.C.I.S. Season of Change- The cast and crew of NCIS discuss NCIS Season 3 AKA the "Season of Change".
• The Round Table- Donald P. Bellisario, John C. Kelley, Julie B. Watson, Chas. Floyd Johnson and Mark Horowitz discuss NCIS and how it's different from other crime shows out there.
• Audio Commentaries on Select Episodes (Region 1 only): Commentary on "Kill Ari (Part I)" by Donald P. Bellisario, Commentary on "Frame Up" by Pauley Perrette & Michael Weatherly, Commentary on "Boxed In" by Avery Drewe & David Bellisario and Commentary on "Bloodbath" by Pauley Perrette & Michael Weatherly.