After more than two decades on the air, NCIS is still finding ways to surprise even its most dedicated fans. In Season 23, CBS’s flagship procedural is digging into its own history by bringing back a character most viewers probably forgot existed — Special Agent Vera Strickland, played by Roma Maffia.

Strickland was first introduced all the way back in NCIS Season 11, in the episode “Under the Radar.” The timing of her first appearance was relevant as it came immediately after Ziva David’s (Cote de Pablo) departure, and the team, along with the series, was making adjustments to its former setup. Strickland, who was Mike Franks’ (Muse Watson) former partner, was temporarily replacing Ziva for a few weeks until she retired. Although brief, her dry comedy and no-nonsense style left a favorable impression.

Now, after more than a decade, Maffia is back in the role as part of a crossover event between NCIS and the prequel spinoff NCIS: Origins, which is among CBS’s most highly anticipated entries within the franchise.

An ‘NCIS’ Throwback to The Years of Gibbs and Franks

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In NCIS: Origins, a younger version of Vera is portrayed by Diany Rodriguez, with the series following the early 1990s era of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and his mentor, Mike Franks. Showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal told TVLine that including Vera was a “deep pull,” but one that made sense for the timeline. “She would have been there [at Camp Pendleton]. She was described as Franks’ first partner,” Monreal explained.

The prequel allowed the creative team to flesh out Vera’s backstory beyond her brief NCIS stint. Monreal also teased that Vera has “mysterious elements,” giving the writers room to explore who she was before the events of the main series. That decision retroactively enriches Maffia’s portrayal — and now, NCIS Season 23 is taking advantage of that new context.

Bringing Vera back connects both ends of the timeline: the formative years of Gibbs’ career and the modern-day MCRT still navigating life without him. In this week’s episode, Maffia’s older Vera is set to cross paths with familiar faces, serving as a living bridge between Gibbs’ past and the present-day NCIS team.

Why ‘NCIS’ Brought Vera Strickland Back After 12 Years

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The timing of Vera’s return isn’t random. NCIS is currently in the midst of a subtle course correction after its ratings slipped in Season 22, when Tracker dethroned it as the most-watched show on network television. With the NCIS brand now expanding across three active spinoffs — Origins, Sydney, and Tony & Ziva — CBS seems determined to reinvigorate the mothership series by tapping into nostalgia and fan-favorite lore.

Vera Strickland’s comeback checks both boxes. For longtime fans, it’s a recognition of a transitional phase—the post-Ziva, pre-Emily Bishop (Emily Wickersham) era that often gets lost in the TV series’ expansive history. For newer fans who found their way into NCIS via NCIS: Origins, she adds a sense of interconnectedness in one shared universe here at the original show.

There’s also a meta layer to it. As Maffia reprises the role of “Old Vera,” Rodriguez continues to play young Vera on Origins, meaning audiences can now see two iterations of the same character existing simultaneously across the franchise. That kind of interconnected storytelling is exactly what NCIS has been leaning into to stay relevant.

Vera’s revival also subtly echoes another character’s potential return: Ziva David herself. With de Pablo and Michael Weatherly just wrapping NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+, there’s renewed fan interest in seeing the couple return to Washington, D.C. The series left them happily settled in Paris with their daughter, but showrunners have made it clear the door is open for another appearance.

The ‘NCIS’ Franchise Isn’t Afraid to Bend Its Own Rules

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Vera’s inclusion in Origins isn’t without controversy. The casting of Rodriguez, who previously appeared as a different character in NCIS: New Orleans, created a minor continuity wrinkle — one of several timeline inconsistencies the franchise has since come to terms with. NCIS: Origins has reused multiple actors from past installments in new roles, prioritizing chemistry and performance over strict canon accuracy.

For most fans, that’s a small price to pay for a cohesive and emotionally resonant universe. Maffia’s Vera brings familiarity, while Rodriguez’s version deepens her history, and together they reinforce the evolving identity of NCIS — a show that’s less about perfect timelines and more about enduring characters.

Reintroducing Vera, who entered the show directly after Ziva’s original exit, feels like poetic symmetry — a reminder of how much the series has changed, and how much of its legacy still lingers in its smallest details.