Mike Franks is one of the most iconic secondary characters inNCIS, and there are several episodes that are essential to watch to truly understand him.Franks, played by Muse Watson in the flagship series, was instrumental in shaping Mark Harmon’s Gibbsas anNCISagent. While he appeared sparingly throughoutNCIS, Franks often joined theNCIScharactersas they investigated difficult cases, using Franks' insight as a former agent and mentor to help them.
Since appearing inNCIS, Franks has become a major character in theNCIS: Originsstory, which looks at Gibbs' life upon joining NIS in the early 1990s. The prequel has given a deeper look at Franks' character as well as his close mentorship-turned-friendship with Gibbs. While theNCISspinoffhas been vital in expanding his storyline,the foundation of Franks' character was built inNCIS, with some episodes highlighting his enthusiastic personality more than others.
8Hiatus Part 1
Season 3, Episode 23
Arguably one of the most importantNCISGibbs episodes, “Hiatus Part I” is also an incredibly important episode for Mike Franks' character.“Hiatus Part I” is the penultimate episode ofNCISseason 3 and reveals the moment Gibbs found out about the deaths of his wife and daughterwhile on active duty in the Marine Corps via flashbacks. The outing also establishes that Franks was the agent in charge of their murder investigations and shows him revealing the identity of the murderer, Pedro Hernandez, as well as his image and location to a distraught Gibbs in a flashback to 1991.
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Even though Franks only appeared in a flashback,the episode introduced Gibbs' relationship with Franks as well as his idea of morals. Regardless of whether it was objectively right or wrong of Franks to conveniently leave Hernandez’s file around Gibbs while Franks left the room, he did it anyway because he believed it was the right thing to do. Franks' actions in the episode set the stage for his future interactions with Gibbs in the present day.
7Hiatus Part 2
Season 3, Episode 24
Whereas “Hiatus Part 1” was the firstNCISepisode to introduce Franks in a flashback, its continuation episode, “Hiatus Part 2” featured the first physical appearance ofMuse Watson’s Franksin the present day. In the episode, Gibbs deals with the effects of waking up from a coma and still thinking it is 1991. TheNCISdirector at the time, Jenny, gets into contact with Franks and urges him to return to DC. Given his respect for Gibbs,Franks returns to Washington almost immediately and helps Gibbs sort through his historyuntil his memories reach the present day in 2006.
It is a great episode to watch because it shows Franks' loyalty and kindness to one of the most important people in his life.
The significance of “Hiatus Part 2” went beyond Frank’s physical appearance. The episode also highlighted thestrength of Gibbs and Franks' current relationship, despite having spent years apart sinceMike Franks' retirement. While he wanted to dismiss Jenny’s call, he dropped everything to help his friend when he needed it the most. It is a great episode to watch because it shows Franks' loyalty and kindness to one of the most important people in his life.
6Anonymous Was A Woman
Season 11, Episode 4
NCIS' “Anonymous Is A Woman” is one of the best Franks episodes because of how much it reveals about him. In the episode, theNCISteam investigates the murder of a supposed Marine Sergeant who is actually an immigrant from Afghanistan who was posing as a Sergeant. As the team learns more about the woman, they discover thatthe victim was part of a larger women’s organization based in Afghanistan that was heavily supported by Franksas a means to keep women safe.
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The episode is another example of Franks' strong morals and how Franks separated his morals from the law. The irony is that he is a federal agent meant to uphold the law, but that does not mean he always sees the law as being just.His act of protecting the vulnerable women in the episode speaks to Franks' characterand how he has his own views of right and wrong that are completely separate from his job as an agent.
5Outlaws And In-Laws
Season 7, Episode 6
“Outlaws And In-Laws” fromNCISseason 7 is another essential Franks episode because it highlights Franks' relationship with Gibbs. When Gibbs' gifted boat to Franks washes up with two dead bodies, Franks becomes a prime suspect almost immediately. TheNCISteam then works hard to find the killer, whileGibbs questions whether Franks could really be guilty. Meanwhile, Franks fears for his family’s safety and reaches out to Gibbs for help. The episode once again showcased Gibbs and Franks' trust in one another, even when faced with suspicious evidence.
Franks' granddaughter, Amira, is also Gibb’s goddaughter.
While the team believes that Franks is guilty, given the incriminating circumstances around him, Gibbs does not. He views Franks with so much respect that he can not believe that his mentor could do something like that. In the end, Gibbs is right, and he is able to not only find the true killer but protect Franks' family at the same time.Franks and Gibbs' loyalty is unwaveringand this episode does a great job of portraying how far the two men will go to protect each other.
4Judgment Day Part 1
Season 5, Episode 18
“Judgment Day Part 1” is another great Franks episode because it showcases Franks' loyalty towards Gibbs. In the episode,NCIS' Jenny Shepardreaches out to Franks for help when a past case they worked on together comes back to haunt her and threatens the lives of everyone involved, which includes Jenny, Franks, and Gibbs. While the pair are not close in any way,Franks returns toNCISto help Jenny because he knows it is the only way to protect Gibbs. As his character has shown, Franks would do anything to help his old friend.
While the scene signaled the last of Jenny’s appearances onNCIS, it portrayed both her and Franks' commitment to protecting Gibbs.
Unfortunately, the episode takes a turn for the worse, and Jenny is killed in a gunfight near the end. While Franks eventually kills their opponents, he can not do so before Jenny is fatally injured. While the scene signaled the last of Jenny’s appearances onNCIS, it portrayed both her and Franks' commitment to protecting Gibbs. Neither one told Gibbs about the fight nor the case at hand, wanting to keep Gibbs out and protect him from any potential danger. They both knew that Gibbs could handle himself, but they also wanted to keep him safe.
3Judgment Day Part 2
Season 5, Episode 19
“Judgment Day Part 2” is theNCISseason 5 finale and holds all the consequences and fall-out of the last episode. With Jenny dead, the team struggles with coming to terms with what took place the previous day. At the same time,Franks tells Gibbs that Jenny died because she was protecting Gibbs. Of all the people who could have had this conversation with Gibbs, Franks is the best person for the job because of their shared history and the respect and care they have for one another.
Jenny was killed because she did not have the emotional capacity to take out Svetlana, the fiancé of a Russian arms dealer, back in 1996. It was Svetlana’s vow for revenge for the murder of her partner that led to Jenny’s death in 2008.
Beyond the emotional weight that the episode holds for Jenny, the team, and Franks' friendship with Gibbs, “Judgment Day Part 2” also showcases howFranks does not think twice about protecting Gibbs. When the final opponent from their past returns to kill Gibbs, Franks takes a shot, killing the villain and saving Gibbs' life at the same time. While the “Judgment Day” episodes were some of the more gruesome episodes ofNCIS, they both highlight Franks and Gibbs' loyalty and friendship.
2Life Before His Eyes
Season 9, Episode 14
“Life Before His Eyes” is a notable Franks episode because not only does it show the extent of his and Gibbs' friendship, but it also shows just how much they cared for each other.It is also the first time that Franks appears as a hallucination, as he died in the previous season. The episode is filled with flashbacks of Gibbs' life from when he left his hometown up until the present day as anNCISspecial agent. Franks appears in a significant portion of the flashbacks, highlighting his importance as a mentor to Gibbs.
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The most significant moment in the episode is when Gibbs' flashbacks end, and he hallucinates a conversation he has with Franks. While it is not technically an episode that reveals insight into his' character,Gibbs' knowledge of Franks makes him worthy of imagining a realistic conversation with his old mentor. Franks has always wanted to help Gibbs, and the imagined conversation does just that. As Franks talks to Gibbs about his life choices, Gibbs listens trustingly as if it were a real conversation.
1Pyramid
Season 8, Episode 24
While"Pyramid" is the saddestNCISFranks episode to date, it is vital in understanding Franks' role as Gibbs' mentor and friend. The episode marked the end of the Port-to-Port killer, a former Lieutenant who went rogue and became a serial killer as a result of the psychological stress he had endured while working with the CIA. Franks was, unfortunately, one of many of his victims.
It is best to watchNCISbefore watchingNCIS: Origins, as the flagship gives key moments some added context.
While Franks' appearance in the episode was short, it highlighted the significance of his character inNCIS. He was targeted for being important to Gibbs, which is what made his murder hurt so much. Franks' death made him one of manydeadNCIScharacters that could only return inNCIS: Originsand, fortunately, he has a leading role in theNCISspinoff. Franks' story may have ended in the main show, but there are still many more stories he can have in theNCISprequel.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
