When NCIS first aired in 2003, fans had no idea the show would become one of TV’s longest-running hits. Apart from the brilliant storytelling, it was the characters that truly captivated the viewers. So, it came as a huge shock when Special Agent Kate Todd was killed off heartbreakingly in Season 2.
Played by actress Sasha Alexander, Kate was a fan favorite, and her death hit hard. Years later, Alexander’s castmate Michael Weatherly broke down what went wrong and how viewers could’ve spotted Kate’s death. He talked about a key scene that may have accidentally spoiled the surprise before it happened. Let’s dive deeper!
The NCIS episode that secretly hinted at Kate Todd’s shocking exit
Over the years, NCIS has delivered some shocking season finales. But nothing left fans more stunned than what happened in the Season 2 finale titled Twilight. Just when everything seemed calm, Special Agent Kate Todd (played by Sasha Alexander) was brutally shot in the head. This was so sudden and unexpected that it forever changed the direction of the show.
Now, Michael Weatherly, who played Tony DiNozzo, has revealed something interesting. According to him, fans could’ve seen Kate’s death coming if they paid close attention. On his podcast Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, which he co-hosts with Cote de Pablo, he shared a small behind-the-scenes detail that gave away the twist.
In the final rooftop scene, Weatherly stood behind Alexander just before she was “shot.” A blood pack was hidden on the back of her head to create the effect. He further added:
If you watch the scene in slow motion, this is a little Easter egg for the people at home. If you watch just before the dot appears that they digitally put there, but there’s a blood pack on the back of your head that Larry Fuentes or whoever exploded, and blood goes all over my face. But Larry was in front of me. So I flinch right before the blood.
It was a funny detail, especially in such a serious scene. But it also shows how tricky filming can be, even for experienced actors. Moreover, Weatherly also compared the moment to that uncomfortable puff of air during an eye test, you know it’s coming, but you still react too early.
Despite the flinch, Kate’s death is still one of the most powerful moments in NCIS history, as it led to the arrival of Ziva David, played by Cote de Pablo.
This obviously shaped the show in a huge way, and now both Weatherly and de Pablo are getting their own spin-off, perfectly detailing how one small moment changed everything.
The real reason why Sasha Alexander left NCIS after Season 2
Fans loved Kate Todd for her strong personality and chemistry with the team. So, when her character was suddenly killed off in Season 2, it left viewers shocked and in utter disbelief. Many thought it was just a twist for the storyline, but years later, Sasha Alexander herself explained the real reason she quit the show.
In an Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, she shared that her decision had more to do with burnout than the story. That’s right – the actress added that the filming schedule of the show was just too much for her. She added:
Yeah, it did. It did [no work/life balance]. I mean I think before NCIS, the shows that I did somehow had more of a balance like they were either true ensembles. NCIS, Mark, Michael, and I, and you later were on every single scene.
She was working on NCIS for long hours almost every day, as she, Weatherly, and Mark Harmon were in nearly every single scene. So, there was no room to breathe or slow down, as the show required nonstop work from its leads.
And while her death was heartbreaking for her loyal fans, it opened a new storyline for the show – Tony and Ziva. In the end, Alexander stepped away to protect her mental well-being, without any on-set drama like many had speculated.
You can currently rent all the seasons of NCIS on Apple TV, Hulu, and Paramount+.
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