Unlike Kate (Sasha Alexander) and Diane’s (Melinda McGraw) exits from NCIS, Jack Sloane’s (Maria Bello) departure is more of a happy one. She doesn’t get killed off, but leaves of her own volition, which is something that she has been hinting at in the setup to her sendoff. Bello’s exit hasn’t been kept a secret. In fact, it should have taken place at the end of Season 17. But when COVID-19 shut down production, Bello owed NCIS more episodes. The fact of her departure was revealed last July, but the manner in which the forensic psychologist would depart was left up in the air, and now we know.
Why does Jack Sloane leave NCIS?
In tonight’s “True Believer” episode, Sloane and Gibbs (Mark Harmon) go on a rescue mission to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A bus of 10-year-old girls being chaperoned to school by a woman named Darya is kidnapped by the Taliban, and “Sloane NCIS” is written on the dust of the window. “When I was a captive in Afghanistan, Darya was another captive, a local who they used as a servant,” Sloane explains. “She brought me food, water, I wouldn’t have made it without her.” When Sloane was rescued, Darya stayed behind to fight the fight. She eventually joined an NGO, and despite the best intentions, she and Sloane lost touch. But now, Sloane responds to the cry for help. “I made peace with this place,” Sloane tells Gibbs on their arrival to the village where Darya and the girls lived. “That being said, I wouldn’t mind getting out of here as fast as possible.” When one of the kidnapped girls is returned because she is epileptic, Sloane and Gibbs figure out that they aren’t being ransomed back, but are being sold into slavery. Then shortly after, a truck drops off Darya’s body. “This is why I want out,” Sloane says. “This! We chase bad guys, we put them away and nothing ever changes except for us. Darya risked her life to help me and we are all so twisted we couldn’t see that basic act of humanity for what it was. So, call it what you want, quitting, running, I don’t care. I’m out. I’m done!” With some help from McGee (Sean Murray), Bishop (Emily Wickersham) and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) back in D.C., a traitor is discovered and the girls are rescued. When Gibbs gets ready to leave, Sloane shares that she isn’t going to Costa Rica to open a bar on the beach as discussed, but is staying in Afghanistan because the town is still vulnerable to Taliban attacks. She jokes that she needed a change, and like Costa Rica, Afghanistan has a lot of sun and sand. “I have loved my time at NCIS,” she tells Gibbs. “You are a really good pal. You don’t need me anymore. I think I can make a difference here. I want to make a difference here and I know you understand that. I will call everybody when I’m ready. And as for you, if you ever want to visit…” And then the moment that was three years in the making and much discussed by Gibbs’ team and fans alike: Gibbs kisses Sloane goodbye!
Why did Maria Bello leave NCIS?
Bello’s original contract with NCIS was for three years, which would have been Seasons 15-17. Of course, that ran into Season 18 because of the pandemic. But, her exit seems to simply be the result of her contract ending. In November, Newsweek alleged that Bello might have left because she needed more time to focus on another project; she is currently in preproduction on The Woman King, Bello’s first movie as a writer and producer. Flip through our gallery to see some of Sloane’s best moments on the show. Next, see what Ryan Eggold had to say about New Amsterdam Season 3.
