As "NCIS" season 16 was given the green light last April, the end of season 15 has left fans with Pauly Perrette's departure from the show. Much of the challenge from season 15 has been endearing many of the new main cast introductions to the show's audience.
Introduced in season 15, Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane is one of the more recent main cast members introduced late into the "NCIS" series. Portrayed by Maria Bello, the introduction of Jack Sloane may have been a conscious decision follow the season 14 departure of Special Agent Alex Quinn, portrayed by Jennifer Esposito, with a character that can also fill some of the gaps that Perrette's character, Abby Sciuto, left behind by her departure in season 15.
As a forensic psychologist and an Afghanistan veteran, it is hard not to speculate how Jack Sloane will be different from Abby Sciuto as a character in "NCIS" season 16. Abby Sciuto's characterization in the early seasons was one of a goofy goth girl who was extremely good at her job as a forensic scientist. Jack Sloane, on the other hand, seems to bring a more mature character to replace the shell-shocked Abby by the end of season 15.
In the season 15 finale, we get the full reveal of Jack's past as a prisoner of war in Afghanistan, with the man who killed her friends and tortured her for nine months having been finally revealed.
With the way the ending went down south, how is this going to affect who Jack Sloane will be for “NCIS” season 16? Will we see a more shattered character that has brushed too close once again to her source of trauma? Will she get a chance to find some sort of healing from her colleagues in the “NCIS?" How will the showdown's results in the season finale round out the cast for the 16th season?
While there has yet to be a confirmed actual air date for “NCIS” season 16, the show has had a consistent airing schedule for its past 14 seasons. Expect the series to air once again by September.
