Katrina Law: What’s next for Knight after NCIS season 22 premiere
NCIS‘ Jessica Knight was ‘happy’ in California to start season 22, but actress Katrina Law revealed that the pull of being “home” in Washington, DC was too strong to keep her there.
Warning: Spoilers for NCIS Season 22, Episode 1.
“Knight is a very ambitious person, and for every person with ambition, you will take the job,” Law, 39, exclusively said We weekly of her character’s choice to move to Camp Pendleton in California and become Chief REACT Training Officer after a job offer at the end of season 21.
Knight ultimately took the gig because she “decided to step out of the shadow of her very powerful father, whom she loves and adores,” Law explained. She noted that Knight also realized that she was her father or then-boyfriend Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) “lucky” at the time, so she moved “based solely on my wants and needs.”
Katrina Law.
Art Streiber/CBSWhen season 22 kicked off on Monday, October 14, Knight had already been in California for six months and she and Palmer had broken up. (The two had an argument during the season 21 finale, which aired in May, hinting at their breakup.)
“When she got to California, she was happy. She really loved the job, she loved her REACT team. She loved everything about it,” Law said. “But I think there was something that was gnawing at her in the end that only came to light when she saw it [Alden] Parker’s face, walk into the REACT clubhouse.”
During the episode, Knight takes a villain hostage at Camp Pendleton in hopes of rescuing Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) lives, as he is undercover with a drug squad and goes missing.
Knight’s former boss, Parker (Gary Cole), is on the scene in California to help her solve the mystery of Torres’s whereabouts – and their rekindled working relationship forces Knight to see what she really wants.
“It all became crystal clear to her. “Yes, I love where I am now, but ultimately I want to go home.” And home is in DC,” Law shared Us of Knight’s decision at the end of the episode to forego another promotion and return to the NCIS team in DC
The actress explained that seeing Parker combined with rescuing Torres (yes, he’s safe and sound) made her realize she’s better as a field agent.
Law called Knight an “adrenaline junkie” who enjoys “finding fulfillment in the field, chasing bad guys, taking them down and finding justice.”
We’re moving forward, Law said UsKnight is “no longer on my father’s career path and I’m trying not to worry about my friend’s feelings. I’m just going to do what feels right in the moment, not necessarily what’s best for the career path.”
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Knight will throw her “completely structured point of view” out the window when she returns to DC after learning to embrace her lighter side in California.
“She’s just going to let go a little bit more,” Law said, noting that Knight has let go of the idea that she has to make others “happy” instead of herself.
Law revealed that Knight will be a “little bit of a wild card” for the foreseeable future.
“[Knight] started playing it safe [her] Dad, started playing it even safer for Jimmy,” Law explained, confessing, “It was a little crushing for her. Now she’s basically saying, ‘I’m free, I’m just going to do what I want’ and God knows what that will be.
When it comes to Knight and Palmer’s future, Law teased that their DC reunion will be “interesting and awkward.”
NCIS airs on CBS Mondays at 9pm ET.
