CBS’s NCIS: Sydney Decision Highlights 1 Harsh Reality About The Franchise

Published Aug 21, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Kim has been writing about television for the past 13 years, covering NCIS, FBI, Will Trent, and Ghosts. She is also not opposed to diving into previous favorites such as Gilmore Girls, Third Watch, and ER. CBS' decision to renew NCIS: Sydney for season 4 was a stark reminder for loyal viewers of another NCIS spinoff. While NCIS is roaring into season 24, two other shows in the NCIS universe will also be on CBS's schedule. NCIS: Origins will be debuting its third season, and the new series NCIS: New York will premiere. The newest series will feature the return of popular character Sam Hanna (LL Cool J), who previously appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles, as well as guest-starring in episodes on other franchises. Meanwhile, longtime NCIS viewers can't help but feel a bit cheated that NCIS: Hawai'i was canceled after season 3. The series, which premiered in 2021, detailed the adventures of Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) as she and her team investigated military-related crimes in sun-soaked Hawaii. Naturally, Jane was adept at her job and confident. These traits allowed her to rise to the position of Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor. In addition, because Jane was the first female to ever hold this position, it added a layer of complexity to how she navigated the world, her job, and handled her team. Unfortunately, the abrupt cancelation of NCIS: Hawai'i in May 2024 was reflected in the season 3 finale. The show ended with a cliffhanger when Maggie Shaw made herself at home in Jane's living room. The former CIA double agent's shocking appearance led to a wealth of questions and lost story opportunities. Now, the renewal of NCIS: Sydney is reminding me of some hard truths about the NCIS universe. NCIS: Sydney Is Officially Coming Back For Season 4 Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic NCIS: Sydney made waves as the first installment of the franchise set outside the United States. The series premiered in 2023, and the premise, as with all NCIS series, involved investigations related to naval personnel and the military. Special Agent-in-Charge Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) and NCIS agent DeShawn Anthony Jackson (Sean Sagar) joined members of the Australian Federal Police to solve crimes. Members of the Aussie crime-fighters include Sergeant Jim "JD" Dempsey, Bluebird "Blue" Gleeson, a scientist specializing in forensics, forensic pathologist Roy "Rosie" Penrose, and Constable Evie Cooper. The relationship and banter between these two groups of law enforcement professionals is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series. Compared to other NCIS franchises, NCIS: Sydney falls more into the straight procedural category. Now, season 4 is set to premiere mid-season once again, rather than in fall 2026. Of course, CBS's schedule is already full, with NCIS, NCIS: New York and NCIS: Origins taking over Tuesday nights. However, the number of episodes for season 4 has been decreased to 10, just like NCIS: Origins. Still, there are plenty of tantalizing possibilities on the horizon for the upcoming season, including a romance between Trigger and Evie. NCIS: Sydney’s Renewal Makes NCIS: Hawai’i’s Cancellation Worse Paramount+ / ©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDB It is a bitter pill that NCIS: Sydney will log more seasons than Jane's team on NCIS: Hawai'i. While the Hawaii-centered spinoff had more ties to the NCIS universe, it was subject to a premature ending. During season 3, Sam joined the series as a recurring guest, quickly relating to the trauma that Jane experienced. In addition, several members of the mothership, including characters Jessica Knight, Nick Torres, and Alden Parker, were guest stars in the short-lived series. Naturally, these appearances bolstered the bond between these characters within the world of NCIS. Meanwhile, this connection to other franchises is glaringly absent in NCIS: Sydney. Somehow, this makes the Australian series feel less like an actual part of the NCIS universe. Plus, NCIS: Hawai'i received plenty of attention throughout its run. Its stunning location and dynamics between the characters made the series an interesting watch. Jane's backstory as a former CIA agent is a fascinating one, adding layers of dimension to her personality. And the sweet romance between FBI Agent Kate Whistler and Lucy Tara was fun. Still, even with all this attention, CBS decided to lower the hammer and cancel the beloved procedural. With so many storyline prospects for a possible season 4, this decision hurt. The renewal of NCIS: Sydney reopened this wound, causing questions about why the Hawaii-themed spinoff was axed. How Does NCIS: Sydney's Performance Compare To NCIS: Hawai’i? After NCIS: Hawai'i's cancelation, cast member Jason Antoon, who played Ernie Malik, re-shared a social media post, taking aim at CBS's decision. The post stated that the series ranked #16 in total viewership for the 2023-2024 season. While the series never generated blockbuster ratings, it boosted its ratings in season 3, indicating a promising future. So, why would CBS opt to cancel NCIS: Hawai'i? It seems that ratings weren't the only factor that decided the franchise's fate. The series, which was filmed on location in Hawaii (per Variety), was reportedly expensive to produce. This factor may have been the overriding reason for CBS pulling the plug on the procedural. Still, the network could have found a way to produce an abbreviated season 4 to wrap up storylines and the characters' journeys. However, with NCIS: Origins sliding into the show's time slot, there also seemed to be a lack of space on CBS's schedule. As a result, ending the franchise, which is set in the Aloha State, was a sacrifice that CBS was willing to make. Unfortunately, the show was not picked up by a streamer, as some viewers had hoped. Still, there is the potential for characters from the Hawaiian spin-off to pop up in other NCIS franchises. It would certainly be a treat to see Jane reunite with Sam in NCIS: New York. In contrast, NCIS: Sydney's ratings for season 3 were, on average, 2.749 million viewers, which was a decrease of over 33% from the previous season (via TV Series Finale). Naturally, this is a huge disappointment for fans of Jane and her team. It seems as if NCIS: Hawai'i scored a win in the popularity department, while the Aussie edition was probably less costly to produce. Naturally, NCIS: Sydney does have a global reach, being an Australian-produced show as well as part of Paramount+'s streaming offerings. Perhaps the most upsetting note to NCIS: Hawai'i's demise is that a jam-packed schedule probably led to the show's untimely final bow. Now, we will have to see if NCIS: Sydney is able to increase its ratings to secure a season 5 renewal. Release Date November 10, 2023 Network Paramount+ Showrunner Morgan O'Neill Cast Olivia Swann Michelle Mackey Todd Lasance Jim 'JD' Dempsey Directors Jennifer Leacey, Shawn Seet Writers Andrew Anastasios, James Cripps, Morgan O'Neill Franchise(s) NCIS Creator(s) Morgan O'Neill