The Tie That Binds is the 10th episode of NCIS Season 14 and the 317th episode of the entire NCIS series.
Synopsis
After the NCIS team discover evidence from the murder of a Navy Captain which is connected to Ducky's dead mother, Ducky finds himself questioning a pivotal life choice he made thirty-seven years ago while the team exchange presents as Gibbs spends Christmas dinner with Fornell.
Prologue
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Act Four
Ducky in the bullpen.
Act Five
Major Events
- Ducky's middle name is revealed to be "Horatio".
- Ducky is revealed to be the reason why he and his mother moved to the United States.
Trivia
- The episode is actually confirmed to be the 317th episode, airing before the 316th episode.
- This is the final Season 14 episode for the year.
Cast
Series Regulars
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Leroy Jethro Gibbs | Mark Harmon | Special Agent in charge of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Abigail Sciuto | Pauley Perrette | Chief Forensic Specialist for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Timothy McGee | Sean Murray | Senior Special Agent and second-in-command of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Nicholas Torres | Wilmer Valderrama | Special Agent for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Alexandra Quinn | Jennifer Esposito | Special Agent for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Eleanor Bishop | Emily Wickersham | Probationary Agent for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| James Palmer | Brian Dietzen | Assistant Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Leon Vance | Rocky Carroll | Director of NCIS. |
| Donald Mallard | David McCallum | Chief Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Clayton Reeves | Duane Henry | Officer with MI6. |
Recurring Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Tobias Fornell | Joe Spano | FBI Agent. |
| Emily Fornell | Juliette Angelo | Fornell's daughter. |
| Young Donald Mallard | Adam Campbell | Ducky in his youth. |
| Young Angus Clarke | Adam Croasdell | Angus in his youth. |
Other Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Young Mrs. Victoria Mallard | Caroline Lagerfelt | Ducky's mother. |
| Balthazar Kilmeany | Charles Shaughnessy | Victoria Mallard's fiancée. |
| Takumi Rin | Clyde Kusatsu | Ducky's former gardener. |
| Logan Chase | T.J. Linnard | Captain Mason Green's son-in-law. |
| Haley Chase | Hannah Barefoot | Captain Mason Green's daughter. |
| Mason Green | Brent Anderson | Navy Captain and the main murder victim. |
| Louis Lancaster | Scott Subiono | |
| Peg | Amanda Jaros | |
| Anton Vlastefin | Mikie Beatty | Driver. |