Emily Wickersham’s return as Ellie Bishop in NCIS Season 23 has finally provided the narrative closure fans sought since her abrupt departure in 2021. While her original exit was framed by a “traitor” storyline that left many questions unanswered, her guest appearance in the March 3, 2026, episode titled “Her” revealed she had spent the intervening five years leading a covert U.S. cyber team in deep cover.
This Season 23 return officially cleared the character’s name, confirming that the disgraced reputation she established during her exit was a calculated cover story. The development resolves a mystery that began when Bishop resigned from the agency during the Season 18 finale, “Rule 91,” after appearing to leak classified NSA documents.
The Real Reason for Wickersham’s 2021 Departure
For years, speculation persisted regarding why Wickersham left the long-running procedural after eight seasons and 172 episodes. The actress has since clarified that her departure was a personal choice, stating she felt ready to move on after nearly a decade in the role. While rumors at the time suggested her exit might have been linked to her first pregnancy, Wickersham revealed during an August 2024 appearance on the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast that she only discovered she was pregnant one month after she had already decided to leave the show.
Since her initial exit, Wickersham’s personal life has remained a focus for fans. She married actor James Badge Dale in September 2024 and gave birth to the couple’s second child in October 2024. These personal milestones coincided with her hiatus from the industry before her eventual guest arc in 2026.
Resolving the ‘Traitor’ Narrative
In the 2021 Season 18 finale, Bishop’s exit was written as a disgrace; she admitted to leaking documents years prior to her time at NCIS, a move that forced her resignation. It was later hinted that she did this to build the “burned agent” reputation necessary for an undercover mission with Odette Malone.
The 2026 episode “Her” finally confirmed the success of that mission. The narrative revealed that Bishop had been operating in the highest tiers of international cyber espionage on behalf of the United States. By returning to assist the MCRT (Major Case Response Team) in Season 23, the character was able to reconcile with her former colleagues and settle the “traitor” allegations that had hung over her character for five years.
Despite the resolution provided by this arc, fans should not expect a permanent comeback. Showrunner Steven D. Binder stated in December 2025 that there are currently no official plans for Wickersham to return as a series regular. The recent guest spots were intended to provide a definitive ending for the character rather than a relaunch of her full-time status on the team.
