NCIS fans get ready for a wild ride because things are getting personal for Dr. Jimmy Palmer! In the latest episode "Close to Home" it's not just crime scenes and autopsies for our favorite Medical Examiner. His daughter Victoria is smack dab in the middle of an investigation and Jimmy might just be falling for a new neighbor. Yep you heard right romance and family drama all wrapped up in one NCIS case!
Victoria Palmer: From Cute Kid to Case-Cracking Teen!
Remember baby Victoria Palmer? Well time flies in the NCIS world because Jimmy's daughter is all grown up and helping solve cases! Actress Elle Graper is back as Victoria and this time she is not just visiting the office. She actually kicks off the whole episode's mystery.
Turns out Victoria stumbled upon a big bag of cash near a naval library dumpster and being the smart cookie she is she texted Uncle Nick Torres about it. How cool is that? Jimmy is super proud of his daughter. Brian Dietzen who plays Palmer says Jimmy just loves how close they are and how much Victoria trusts the NCIS team especially Nick.
But being a teenager Victoria also keeps secrets from her dad like not mentioning the cash right away and fibbing about where she found it. Teenagers right? It leads to some funny moments with Jimmy trying to navigate dad mode and crime-solving mode at the same time especially when Victoria ends up in the interrogation room! Talk about awkward family moments.
Undercover Palmer? Doc Goes from Autopsies to Acton (Sort Of)
Speaking of Jimmy being out of his comfort zone get ready to see him go undercover! Yes our mild-mannered ME is doing some field work. Turns out the stolen cash is linked to a 15-year-old bank heist and the team thinks the thief might be living in Jimmy's suburban neighborhood. Who better to investigate than the friendly neighborhood ME himself?
Under the guise of finding Victoria's "stolen bike" (wink wink) Jimmy and Knight stroll around the neighborhood. But Jimmy's undercover op is not exactly Jason Bourne style. He ends up hosting a neighborhood sangria party to collect DNA samples from potential suspects. Picture Jimmy Palmer charming neighbors with spicy sangria and secretly swiping their cups for evidence. It is comedy gold.
Brian Dietzen joked that it’s fun to see Jimmy outside his usual element. He is more used to bodies that are "not moving" not mingling with possibly dangerous neighbors. But hey after two decades on NCIS even Jimmy Palmer can learn some new tricks!
Wendy Enters the Scene: New Love Interest or New Suspect?
And now for the romance angle! At the neighborhood party Jimmy meets Wendy Hill played by the hilarious Erinn Hayes. And sparks might be flying! Wendy is a new neighbor and she and Jimmy seem to hit it off talking about running and neighborhood stuff. Is this a new love interest for our recently single Jimmy?
Well on NCIS things are never that simple. While Jimmy is busy being charming Knight is watching from the surveillance van and she is not exactly thrilled about Wendy. Is it jealousy? Is it suspicion? Maybe both!
Turns out Wendy is connected to the case in a surprising way. Her townhouse was bought with cash right after the Saratoga Specter heist 15 years ago. Could Wendy be involved? Is Jimmy's new crush a potential criminal? Things get complicated real fast and poor Jimmy might be in a bit of danger as Knight frantically tries to warn him that Wendy could be the Specter!
Knight's Reaction & the Lingering Jimmy-Knight Chemistry
Let's be real fans are still shipping Jimmy and Knight right? Even though they broke up in the last season finale the chemistry is still there. And Knight's reaction to Wendy definitely hints at unresolved feelings. Katrina Law who plays Knight totally sells the subtle jealousy and protectiveness of Knight watching Jimmy with Wendy.
There are funny moments with Knight and Victoria “cyberstalking” Wendy online showing a fun dynamic between them too. And even though Jimmy and Knight are not together romantically they are still clearly family. As Knight tells Jimmy "That’s just what family does" at the end of the episode. Awwwww. Executive producer Steven D. Binder even hinted that maybe Jimmy and Knight are "better off together" and we will see them figuring things out even if Wendy throws a wrench in the works for now.
Case Closed (Sort Of) and a Happyish Ending for Palmer
Spoiler alert Wendy is not the Saratoga Specter after all! Turns out her dad was the real thief and he stashed the stolen money in her townhouse. The HVAC guy Marcone was just trying to steal some of it and Rhonda the neighborhood security guard was the actual killer. Who saw that coming?
So Wendy is innocent (of murder anyway) and maybe still a little interested in Jimmy despite the whole arrest thing. Jimmy is left a bit flustered but still hopeful about finding love again. And Victoria? She is thrilled to have helped solve a real NCIS case even if she did stretch the truth a little. She and Jimmy end the episode with a sweet father-daughter moment proving that family is always at the heart of NCIS even amidst all the crime and drama.
Key Moments & Funniest Bits from "Close to Home":
- Victoria texting Uncle Nick first about the money instead of her dad.
- Palmer putting Victoria in the interrogation room "because this is where the liars go."
- McGee and Parker sweetly delivering snacks during Victoria's interrogation.
- Palmer and Knight's awkward bike-searching stroll and Rhonda's golf cart interruption.
- Knight's epic eye-roll at Wendy's flirting with Jimmy.
- Cheeky Victoria telling Jimmy she called Nick because "he’s a federal agent and you’re just the ME."