Sydney Has Earned Its Spot in the Franchise

There’s been a lot of talk about the entire NCIS franchise these days.

The flagship series has been making noise with shocking developments. NCIS: Origins is one of the best shows on primetime, devoted fans will never give up on NCIS: Hawai’i, and the NCIS: NY spinoff has been one of the most polarizing announcements yet.

But one thing that has gotten lost in the noise is that NCIS: Sydney is one of the most underrated series of them all, and it’s time people put more respect on its name. Oi, oi, oi!

It’s been three seasons, and many franchise Fanatics still treat NCIS: Sydney like the redheaded stepchild in dungarees.

But in doing so, they’re missing out on one of the most fun and engaging shows in the franchise.

NCIS: Sydney emerged Stateside at the perfect time, when audiences were craving something comfortable and fun again.

And Sydney answered the call. It somehow strikes the right balance, bringing in some of the things we love most about the NCIS franchise while still putting enough of its own spin on it to carve out a unique identity.

NCIS: Sydney has that scrappy underdog vibe, but more importantly, it knows exactly what it is, what it wants to be, and doesn’t get distracted by the noise.

It just delivers, pretty consistently. And one of the perks of actually following this series from its inception is getting to see it come into its own and figure out a formula that works.

Sure, maybe NCIS: Sydney Season 1 was an acquired taste for some people because it strayed away from the things audiences had come to expect from other spinoffs in the franchise.

But when you power through the series, you come to realize just how cheeky and endearing it is. And then, suddenly, you’re watching NCIS: Sydney Season 3, and you realize that it truly has found its rhythm.

NCIS: Sydney is a fresh take on the franchise.

It’s more humorous and at times sillier than its counterparts, even going out of its way to toss in a few niche, kooky-themed hours that remind you of the glory days of the past when shows could take risks, have fun, and not take themselves too seriously.

And maybe that’s where the disconnect is sometimes, when people tune in and just don’t get it.

NCIS: Sydney is unafraid to have fun, get silly, and lean into a bit. It capitalizes on the cultural differences and vibes that come from an internationally linked operation and agency.

The series makes cultural clashes fun and breezy. And in doing so, it succeeds in combining the stylistic voices of American procedurals with those of Aussie ones to make its own appealing hybrid baby.

In less time, NCIS: Sydney manages to be more character- and team-centric than most shows, especially now, in an age where budget constraints often lead to fewer of our favorite characters sharing the screen at the same time rather than more.

Because of its smaller cast, Sydney was able to fast-track its way into an easy, fluid family dynamic that feels natural and remains one of the show’s biggest draws.

And while everyone has a role in this family, none of Sydney’s characters feel typecast into any specific archetype, especially given that the NCIS franchise is known for those.

While Blue is quirky, she is not so overt that she feels like something that has walked out of, well, a television show.

Mackey is a strong leader who is also allowed to be vulnerable, and often Sydney’s team feels more like a democratic unit than a hierarchy.

JD can be supportive, badass, silly, and serious in equal measure, and the series doesn’t glamorize the dark, emotionally constipated ruggedness that appears in many other shows.

DeShawn is earnest, but he’s competent, respected, and never underestimated. And Evie has a wicked humor and can be fun and quippy, but she’s undeniably a damn fine agent, and you never question that.

There’s a lighter quality to NCIS: Sydney that escapes the other shows in the franchise.

The characters don’t feel exaggerated or over-the-top in any way. Everyone is pretty grounded and laid-back, which reflects the vibes the series gives off in general.

Sydney is casual.

While they bump into bureaucratic obstacles at times, it’s a distant reality that rarely invades the show, leaving us with a bullpen that feels like a hangout spot along the gorgeous harbor, agents who are more “casual” than “business casual,” and team dynamics that never stop amusing or warming hearts.

Sydney’s easy camaraderie amongst its team is one of its greatest selling points. It doesn’t really bother with intrateam conflict, instead leaning into the merry band of crimefighters taking on the world instead.

And that works. The show didn’t even have to work hard to fall into this great dynamic; it just flows naturally, and there’s something comforting about that.

The show’s cases are pretty straightforward; they never bog us down with complicated, elaborate procedural arcs.

For the most part, it’s not so serialized that plot points weigh down the series. Of all the NCIS shows, Sydney is one of the only ones you can casually watch without overthinking.

It understands how to be engaging without being too taxing.

The show’s distance from others in the franchise is refreshing because it doesn’t come attached to a boatload of lore, mythology, or expectations tied to the larger universe.

It gets to be its own thing, which works, making it easier to consume for casual viewers, diehard fans, and even people completely unrelated to the NCIS-verse.

NCIS: Sydney gets to stand on its own, and it’s all the better for it, assuming people take the time to watch and appreciate that.

The show also just keeps getting better. NCIS: Sydney Season 3’s supersized finale was easily one of the most exciting watches not just of the franchise, but of the entire finale season.

It was the perfect cap on the series’s best season to date.

With a full-episode order, NCIS: Sydney proved that it had exactly what it took to fill a season with strong episodes, dive into the characters in new and compelling ways, and juggle an overarching plot that was actually interesting.

One of the best episodes of the season was NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 2, the Blue-centric hour in which the entire team took on a cult just to save one of their own.

And while on paper it could’ve been a ridiculous plot point, it turned out to be one of the darkest, best-written, and most unique hours of the series.

It was also a beautiful showcase for the delightfully eccentric Blue, as we learned about her past life and what made her tick while she realized just how much of a home she found with her colleagues.

Similarly, not only did NCIS: Sydney give Trigger depth and allow him to blend in with the others seamlessly, but it also did so without ever detracting from the other characters.

And two of the strongest episodes of the series, particularly the first installment of the two-episode arc, NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 12, served as an interesting exploration of his past while still making effective use of the entire team.

We got a character deep dive, but it wasn’t even exclusive to Trigger, as the arc explored JD and one of his closest dynamics, too. And thus Sydney achieves the kind of character balance that many procedurals struggle to achieve.

Let’s be real, it puts the Dick Wolf franchise to shame in that regard.

Of course, NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 15 borrowed from another franchise favorite by giving us the origin story of DeShawn and Mackey, thus putting their partnership and deep mutual respect and loyalty into perspective.

The finale brought the season-long Mackey/The Collective conspiracy to an action-packed, exhilarating end.

The series, having a full season to play around with, delivered narratively satisfying results. It’s one of many reasons the network slashing its episode count down to a paltry ten installments feels like such a disservice.

Because NCIS: Sydney has earned its bones.

Despite constant scrutiny, criticism, and catching strays for the crime of existing — standing in the ashes of those cut short or canceled — NCIS: Sydney unapologetically stands in what it is.

And that’s admirable and refreshing, making it a maverick and a franchise gem without even trying.

You come for the scenery and stay for the vibes. And it’s good vibes only.

It’s long past time to put some respect on NCIS: Sydney’s name, or at the very least stop making it the franchise’s punching bag when it’s been quietly delivering all along.

I’m just a girl, sitting in front of her computer, telling you why you should appreciate NCIS: Sydney. If you do and agree, holla at me in the comments.

If you’re not convinced, sound off below with your reasoning. Or, hell, share this with someone and kick off a debate. Those are fun sometimes.

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