The BEST episodes of NCIS season 12

Every episode of NCIS season 12, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of NCIS season 12!

Explore the inner workings of the government agency that investigates all crimes involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. Leading this team is NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a skilled investigator and interrogator who is smart, tough and willing to bend the rules to get the job done.

Last Updated: 12/13/2024Network: CBSStatus: Continuing
The Lost Boys
star
7.81
1245 votes

#1 - The Lost Boys

Season 12 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/5/2015

The NCIS cyber case turns into a united global effort after evidence confirms “The Calling,” an international terrorist group that recruits children through the internet, has been purchasing S-bombs off the black market.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
House Rules
star
7.77
1429 votes

#2 - House Rules

Season 12 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/16/2014

The NCIS team consults with three cyber-terrorists they imprisoned after a city-wide Internet shutdown the week before Christmas. Also, McGee reflects on the case and Gibbs' infamous rules as he pens a heartfelt letter to his father.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
So It Goes
star
7.73
1564 votes

#3 - So It Goes

Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/2014

When an NCIS case reveals a connection to Ducky's estranged childhood best friend, he and Special Agent Bishop travel to London for interviews with family and co-workers of his friend. While there, Ducky finds himself reminiscing about the choices he made in his past and the subsequent impact they had on his adult life. Adam Campbell and Alice Krige guests star.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Parental Guidance Suggested
star
7.72
1543 votes

#4 - Parental Guidance Suggested

Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/2014

The NCIS team must determine if the murder of a Navy commander's wife is linked to her profession as a therapist or an act of terrorism after finding the commander's name on a Jihadist target list. Meanwhile, the team discusses Halloween costumes and Tony's recent dating habits.

Directors: Thomas J. Wright
Watch Now:Apple TV
Troll
star
7.70
1280 votes

#5 - Troll

Season 12 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/28/2015

Special Agent Ned Dorneget from NCIS cyber operations assists the team when a Navy ensign who worked in the Office of Naval Intelligence is murdered. Also, the team discovers that Jake and Gibbs have become good friends.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Searchers
star
7.66
1531 votes

#6 - The Searchers

Season 12 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2014

After investigating the murder of a retired Master Sergeant, the NCIS team uncovers a fraudulent charity that preys on those searching for missing military personnel. Meanwhile, Bishop agonizes over the results of her probation evaluation, and Tony contemplates adopting stray cat that followed him home.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:Apple TV
Grounded
star
7.65
1505 votes

#7 - Grounded

Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/2014

While stuck at the Dulles airport due to inclement weather, DiNozzo, Bishop and her husband Jake work an NCIS case involving an elevated terrorist threat at Northeast airports during the Thanksgiving travel surge. Jamie Bamber guest stars.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:Apple TV
Neverland
star
7.65
1140 votes

#8 - Neverland

Season 12 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/12/2015

NCIS feverishly investigates a global terrorist group that is recruiting teens via the Internet, following a deadly bombing overseas that results in an emotional and surprising loss for the team.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Enemy Within
star
7.63
1400 votes

#9 - The Enemy Within

Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/2015

The NCIS team searches for a home-grown terrorist after a rescue mission in Syria reveals an American was involved in the capture of a social worker. Meanwhile, McGee and Bishop question DiNozzo's unusual behavior. Joe Spano and Marisol Nichols guest star.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Twenty Klicks
star
7.63
1656 votes

#10 - Twenty Klicks

Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2014

Gibbs and McGee travel to Russia to safely escort home an NCIS computer engineer connected to classified intel, but their mission is compromised and they are forced to go off the grid while hunted by a Russian mercenary group. Meanwhile, the team in D.C. frantically uses every asset and inter-agency contact they have in an attempt to locate their missing team members.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:Apple TV
Choke Hold
star
7.61
1582 votes

#11 - Choke Hold

Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2014

The Secretary of the Navy assigns the NCIS team to a joint terrorism task force after a Naval research scientist is murdered and the lead suspect is wanted by the Russian government. In order to get a jump on the case, Gibbs has DiNozzo run interference with the leader of the task force, FBI Agent Leia Pendergast. Stephanie Jacobsen guest stars.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Apple TV
Lost in Translation
star
7.61
1291 votes

#12 - Lost in Translation

Season 12 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/14/2015

Gibbs and Bishop travel to Afghanistan after the murder of a Marine in D.C. is linked to a terror group holding another Marine hostage overseas. Also, DiNozzo is upset that McGee was chosen to be the new face of NCIS for all recruitment brochures,

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:Apple TV
Patience
star
7.61
1322 votes

#13 - Patience

Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/31/2015

The murder of a petty officer sparks a lead in a 40 year old airport bombing cold case that Gibbs and DiNozzo have been assigned to for the past two years. Also, McGee is jealous that he was not previously briefed on the cold case.

Directors: Thomas J. Wright
Watch Now:Apple TV
Kill the Messenger
star
7.58
1597 votes

#14 - Kill the Messenger

Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2014

When a Navy Lieutenant is killed on his way to a private meeting with the President, the NCIS team must determine if the murder was part of a recent stream of muggings in the area or a targeted hit to keep intel secret. Tony Gonzalez guest stars.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Artful Dodger
star
7.58
1326 votes

#15 - The Artful Dodger

Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/10/2015

Evidence in an NCIS murder case reveals a rare painting on loan had been swapped for a fake, prompting DiNozzo, Sr. to share his knowledge and contacts of the black market art world with the team.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Apple TV
Check
star
7.58
1443 votes

#16 - Check

Season 12 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/2015

The NCIS team must investigate a series of crime scenes that appear to be copy-cats of previous cases. Also, two of Gibbs' ex-wives, one of which the team has yet to meet, show up at a crime scene to discuss something important with him. Jeri Ryan guest stars.

Directors: Alrick Riley
Watch Now:Apple TV
We Build, We Fight
star
7.56
1308 votes

#17 - We Build, We Fight

Season 12 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/3/2015

Gibbs and the team investigate when a Navy lieutenant who is set to be the first openly gay servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor is murdered. Also, as his wife's due date approaches, Palmer prepares for fatherhood with an NCIS baby shower. Rocky Carroll makes his directorial debut.

Directors: Rocky Carroll
Watch Now:Apple TV
Semper Fortis
star
7.54
1561 votes

#18 - Semper Fortis

Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/2014

While the NCIS team investigates the cause of a hit and run accident that resulted in the death of a Petty Officer, Gibbs searches for a way to clear a Navy Hospital Corpsman, who has served two medical tours in Afghanistan, after she's indicted for illegally providing medical aid to the victims of the crash, even though the surviving victims swear by her life-saving techniques.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Status Update
star
7.53
1294 votes

#19 - Status Update

Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/24/2015

After the body of a thief is found in a Marine’s house, NCIS discovers the calling card of a terror group Delilah and the Department of Defense have been tracking.

Directors: Holly Dale
Watch Now:Apple TV
The San Dominick
star
7.51
1487 votes

#20 - The San Dominick

Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/2014

During a joint Coast Guard and NCIS training exercise at sea, Gibbs and CGIS Agent Borin spot a deceased man overboard, who is discovered to be a missing crew member from a ship 60 nautical miles away. Upon boarding the ship for questioning, Gibbs finds himself on a vessel that has been commandeered by pirates. Diane Neal guest and Jim Beaver guest star.

Directors: Arvin Brown
Watch Now:Apple TV
Blast From the Past
star
7.45
1225 votes

#21 - Blast From the Past

Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/24/2015

A covert identity created for one of Gibbs’ undercover cases 20 years ago resurfaces after a murder victim is found living under the alias.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Cabin Fever
star
7.43
1281 votes

#22 - Cabin Fever

Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/17/2015

The NCIS team suspects Gibbs' arch-nemesis is behind an explosion at a global terrorism summit. Gibbs elects to sit out the investigation in order to help a grief-stricken Fornell, whose life is on the verge of imploding following his wife’s murder.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:Apple TV
Cadence
star
7.38
1314 votes

#23 - Cadence

Season 12 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/2015

DiNozzo returns to the military academy he attended as a teenager after a murdered Marine and alumni of the school is found clutching the photo of a current student. Also, Bishop and her husband invite Gibbs and the team out for a special dinner.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:Apple TV
No Good Deed
star
7.37
1258 votes

#24 - No Good Deed

Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/7/2015

DiNozzo is partnered with his girlfriend ATF Special Agent Zoé Keates after evidence reveals that the murder weapon in an NCIS case was originally purchased for the controversial ATF sting operation “Operation Fast and Furious.” Also, Anthony DiNozzo Sr. returns to town for a special dinner to meet his son’s girlfriend.

Directors: Arvin Brown
Watch Now:Apple TV