Source: CBS
NCIS star Pauley Perrette announced last fall on Twitter that she would be leaving the show after fifteen seasons, and fans are wanting to know what that means for her character Abby Sciuto. This week’s episode of the long-running CBS drama kicked off Perrette’s two-part exit, and it ended with a bang. Does Perrette’s departure mean the end of Abby’s life?
At the end of Tuesday’s episode One Step Forward, a mugger confronted Abby and Reeves (Duane Henry). He handed over his belongings, but she offered to help the man instead of giving him her purse. The episode ended with a gunshot, and that meant panic for many NCIS fans.
As for this week’s season finale, E! News is reporting that the promo for Two Steps Back didn’t help calm fans’ nerves.
In the clip, Abby lays in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, and Gibbs (Mark Harmon) tells her, “I know I let you down, Abbs. I said that I would always keep you safe.”
Things are not looking good for Perrette’s character. But, the show’s writers and producers have known for a while that the actress wouldn’t be coming back after this season, and have said they have a special send-off planned, so it’s possible that Abby could leave the show alive and well.
To get ahead of the news, Perrette tweeted her plans to exit last October.
“So, it is true that I am leaving NCIS after this season. There have been all kinds of false stories as to why (NO I DON’T HAVE A SKIN CARE LINE AND NO MY NETWORK AND SHOW ARE NOT MAD AT ME!),” she wrote.
Perrette went on to reveal that she made the decision last year, and she hopes that everyone will love and enjoy everything Abby – all the love, laughter, and inspiration. She concluded the announcement by saying that she loves Abby as much as the fans do.
As for why she wanted to leave, Perrette said she just had a feeling. She said that she believes in God and the universe so firmly, and it just suddenly became clear that now was the time. The 49-year-old says she put a lot of thought into the decision and opted to announce it herself, so it wouldn’t turn into anything shocking. She added that Abby leaving is “more than a cheap TV ploy.”
It looks like the second part of Abby’s goodbye could get quite emotional. Perrette says there are a lot of different feelings – a “cornucopia of emotions.” There is also a character from her past that shows up and becomes pivotal to the episode’s plot. Ultimately, Abby’s goodbye is full of tears, laughs, and love.
The season finale of NCIS – Pauley Perrette’s final episode – airs next Tuesday on CBS
