NCIS: Sydney

Summary

NCIS: Sydney is an Australian military action television series which was released on 10 November 2023 on Paramount+ Australia and is set to premiere on Network 10 in mid-2024.[2][3][4] The series is the first spin-off for the NCIS franchise outside the United States and features Australian actors and producers.[5] In March 2024, the series was renewed for a second season by Paramount+ Australia and CBS.[6][7][8]

NCIS: Sydney
Genre
Created byMorgan O'Neill
Based on
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Numeriklab
  • Maria Alfonsine
  • Damian de Boos-Smith
Opening theme"NCIS Theme"
Ending theme"NCIS Theme"
ComposerRoger Mason[1]
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
Producer
  • Michele Bennett
Cinematography
  • Geoffrey Hall
  • Carolyn Constantine
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time43 minutes
Production companyEndemol Shine Australia
Original release
Network
Release10 November 2023 (2023-11-10) –
present
Related

Premise edit

NCIS: Sydney is a spin-off of NCIS and its franchise, which follows a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigating crimes. The series is set in Sydney, Australia.[5] It follows a joint task force that involves NCIS agents and Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers working together on investigations involving American military and navy personnel.[9]

Although the show is set in Sydney, the closest real-life NCIS field office in Australia is actually located in Perth, which is 3,290 km (2,040 mi) away.[10]

Cast edit

Production edit

On 16 February 2022, it was reported that a spin-off set in Sydney, Australia, was in the works. NCIS: Los Angeles producer Shane Brennan was attached to the project.[5]

The series was created by Morgan O'Neill. It was executive produced by O'Neill, Sara Richardson, and Sue Seeary and produced by Michele Bennett.[3] It began filming in May 2023.[12]

On 20 March 2024, NCIS Sydney was renewed for a second season.[6][7]

Episodes edit

No.Title [13]Directed by [14]Written by [14]Original release dateProd.
code
Aus. viewers
(millions)
1"Gone Fission"Shawn SeetMorgan O'Neill10 November 2023 (2023-11-10)1010.310[15]
During an AUKUS ceremony at Sydney Harbor, a US Navy sailor dies of radiation poisoning, resulting in USS Ronald Reagan NCIS Special Agents Michelle Mackey and DeShawn Jackson partnering up with their Australian Federal Police counterparts, Sergeant Jim Dempsey and Constable Evie Cooper, with assistance from AFP scientist Bluebird Gleeson and Roy Penrose, a Forensic Pathologist with the AFP, to investigate. During their investigation, the team question a peace activist, who is cleared of wrongdoing. They also find another dead US naval officer who was killed by a mysterious woman. While attempting to enter a nuclear-powered US submarine, they are attacked by a group of deep cover infiltrators, who were seeking to steal classified intelligence from the US Navy. Following a firefight, the surviving infiltrators are killed when their boat explodes in a remote-detonated explosion. Following the incident, a joint NCIS/AFP task force is created to facilitate cooperation between the US and Australian officers.
2"Snakes in the Grass"Shawn SeetWritten by : Michael Miller & Morgan O'Neill
Story by : Stuart Page
17 November 2023 (2023-11-17)102N/A
The team investigate when a Navy compliance officer is found dead in a waterhole, leading them to begin uncovering the origin of the rare, deadly taipan which is uncommon to the area. During their investigation, Jackson and Cooper discover the taipan was part of a group of animals stolen from a pet shop. Mackey and Dempsey investigate the US Navy depot in Sydney and uncover an animal smuggling operation involving staff members and a corrupt US Navy officer. Jackson also discovers that the Navy compliance officer had infiltrated the smuggling ring but had been killed by his associates after learning he was a mole. Jackson and Cooper discover that the pet shop owner is part of the smuggling operation and are captured by her criminal associates. They are rescued by Mackey and Dempsey. Gleeson also adopts a rescued bird as her pet.
3"Brothers in Arms"David CaesarAndrew Anastasios24 November 2023 (2023-11-24)103N/A
When a shark spits out an arm that's wearing US Navy equipment, the team investigate a trio of former Navy divers, who have established a diving instruction business in Sydney. Penrose and Gleeson discover that the arm belonged to a former SEAL PFC Coleman, who was a business partner of the former Navy divers. During the investigation, Gleeson discovers that an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was present in the location where Coleman perished. The team discovers that the divers stole the UUV's data chip and that drugs were planted in their store to blackmail them into returning the stolen chip. One of the divers confesses to killing the murder victim while the team use the other two to lead them to the buyer seeking to reclaim the drone footage. The buyer is quickly detained by Department of Defense Attache Colonel Rankin, who blocks the group's investigation. After Gleeson learns that the drugs planted in the divers' store originated from a ceased DEA bust, Mackey blackmails Rankin into letting the remaining divers go in return for not leaking evidence suggesting that the Central Intelligence Agency was spying on the Royal Australian Navy. Dempsey and the others formally initiate Gleeson as a full member of the team.
4"Ghosted"Kriv StendersTamara Asmar1 December 2023 (2023-12-01)104N/A
When a US Petty Officer is found dead in the Rocks area, a historic and haunted area of Sydney, the team investigate with a decades-old Navy Cross medal giving them a motive for the death and sending them on a race to catch a killer.
5"Doggieccino Day Afternoon"David CaesarMichael Miller8 December 2023 (2023-12-08)105N/A
When Roy and his dog are trapped in a hostage situation at the local dog cafe, the team race to save him and end the siege peacefully.
6"Extraction"Catherine MillarJames Cripps & Clare Sladden15 December 2023 (2023-12-15)106N/A
While on a crowded bus in Bondi, a man wearing a US Navy jacket dies of a cocaine overdose. The resulting investigation sends Evie looking back into her past as an undercover narcotics officer with the AFP.
7"Bunker Down"Kriv StendersKim Ho & James Cripps22 December 2023 (2023-12-22)107N/A
Just before the agents of the NCIS team were scheduled to attend a glitzy AI tech launch event in a secret underground bunker, a researcher with the US Navy is found dead. Jim and DeShawn investigate the murder, while Mackey, Evie, and Bluebird go to the bunker. The event is sabotaged, trapping the guests—including the killer—with just two hours' worth of oxygen. Mackey, Evie, and Bluebird search for a way out of the bunker while Jim, DeShawn, and Rosie race to find them.
8"Blonde Ambition"Catherine MillarMorgan O'Neill29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)108N/A
When Jim's young son is abducted by an international assassin who wants to exchange him for a criminal in their custody, the NCIS: Sydney team race to save the young boy and stop the trading of one criminal from going ahead.

International broadcast edit

In New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the series was also available to stream from 10 November 2023, on TVNZ+ and Paramount+ respectively.[16][17] It is distributed internationally[vague] by Paramount Global Content Distribution and is available for streaming on Paramount+ in selected territories internationally.[11][18]

In the United States, the series premiered on the franchise's parent network CBS on 14 November 2023 as part of 2023 Hollywood labor disputes replacement programming.[19] In Canada, the series premiered on Global and was simulcast alongside the CBS broadcast, also premiering on 14 November 2023.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ "Roger Mason Scoring CBS' 'NCIS: Sydney'". Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  2. ^ Knox, David (6 September 2023). "Airdate: NCIS Sydney". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Paramount's NCIS: Sydney Set to Launch November 10th". B&T. The Misfits Media. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ Knox, David (13 November 2023). "NCIS: Sydney to screen on 10 in 2024". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "NCIS: Sydney to launch in 2023". TV Tonight. 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b Hailu, Selome (19 March 2024). "'NCIS Sydney' Renewed for Season 2 at CBS and Paramount+ Australia". Variety. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b Mitovich, Matt Webb (19 March 2024). "NCIS: Sydney Renewed for Season 2 at CBS". TVLine. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  8. ^ Rice, Lynette (19 March 2024). "'NCIS: Sydney' Renewed For Second Season By CBS". Deadline. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  9. ^ Adams, Thelma (14 November 2023). "'NCIS: Sydney' Review: CBS Drafts a Promising Spin-Off of the Beloved Franchise". TheWrap. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  10. ^ "About NCIS – Locations". Naval Criminal Investigative Service. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Knox, David (13 June 2023). "Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance lead NCIS: Sydney cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  12. ^ Knox, David (5 May 2023). "Filming begins on NCIS: Sydney". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  13. ^ "NCIS: Sydney – Episodes". Paramount Press Express. 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  14. ^ a b "NCIS: SYDNEY (CBS)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Monday 27 November 2023". TVTonight. David Knox. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  16. ^ NZ Listener November 4, 2023 page 53 (Vol 288 No 4322)
  17. ^ "Paramount+ Original Series NCIS: Sydney. Streaming Now On Paramount+". Network 10 (Press release). Paramount ANZ. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  18. ^ "NCIS: Sydney,' SEAL Team Movie Coming to Paramount+". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (21 September 2023). "NCIS: Sydney Gets Mothership Series' Longtime Tuesday Slot In CBS Scheduling Changes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  20. ^ Sousa, Adrian (7 September 2023). "Global Heads Down Under With NCIS: Sydney Joining The Fall Schedule". Global. Corus Entertainment. Retrieved 27 October 2023.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Official website – 10Play
  • Production website
  • NCIS: Sydney at IMDb  
  • NCIS: Sydney at CBS.com (US)
  • NCIS: Sydney at GlobalTV.com (Canada)
  • NCIS: Sydney at TVNZ (New Zealand)