NCIS returns January 29 with "Hit and Run," an episode that focuses on Abby Sciuto.
Both in the present day and a long time ago, when she solved her first "case."
The NCIS team investigates a Marine’s car accident that really "strikes a chord" with Abby, according to show-runner Gary Glasberg, and triggers flashbacks to when she was a young girl.
The case of the week “gets her thinking about a situation from her past and gets Abby questioning some things about who she is, why she’s there and what she does,” Glasberg tells EW.
“We’ve done origin stories before, as you know, and it’s always been fun to look back."
The role is played by Brighton Sharpino, who was clearly well cast.
"With Abby specifically, I started to wonder if it might be more interesting to look back - not so much as when she joined NCIS - but when she became interested in forensics and solving puzzles."
"In my mind, that goes back to her as a child and the idea of seeing Abby as a child intrigued everybody."
"[We wanted to do] it in this almost To Kill a Mockingbird manner and [figure] out how we could flash back to see when those seeds were planted of who Abby would become.”
“I’m always interested in getting to know these people and getting to know where they come from and what made them who they are. After 10 seasons, to still have the opportunity to scratch away at that is a gift."
One fans seem to appreciate as much, if not more than ever. This week's episode, "Shiva," was the second-highest rated in NCIS history, so Glasberg and Co. must be doing something right.
Click to enlarge more photos from the episode below!
