Where Is Tony Dinozzo In NCIS Season 24, Episode 5? Michael Weatherly's Absence Explained

Published Nov 10, 2026, 9:00 PM EST

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Warning! Spoilers ahead for NCIS season 24, episode 5.When NCIS announced that Michael Weatherly would return to the series, all eyes were on how it would happen. There were plenty of questions about whether he would be back in the bullpen, offer support as a consultant, or only step in for a few episodes here and then.

Then, at the end of the NCIS season 24 premiere, DiNozzo became the Director of NCIS. It was an interesting development, as DiNozzo continued to help with cases in the field while also running the show from his office. He brought his own vibe and personality, even adding a popcorn machine and record player to the space to stand out as Vance's NCIS replacement and make it clear he was here to stay, which NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder also confirms.

Yet, during NCIS season 24, episode 5, he was nowhere to be seen. The team had a tricky case that involved an eight-year-old girl left on her own in her apartment. With signs of a struggle, there were fears that her mom had been taken, but as the case evolved, the team realized that her mom had chosen to leave her daughter to keep everyone safe. Chloe also became crucial to solving the case, as she spoke Mandarin and understood everything the criminals said at the beginning of the hour.

In the end, DiNozzo's presence wasn't even needed. This was an hour for Knight to connect to her own heritage and share stories about her father, even offering Chloe the opportunity to call whenever she wanted to speak Mandarin. However, when there is an absence, especially with a returning character, there are concerns about what this means for the future.

Director Tony DiNozzo Misses An NCIS Episode Since Coming Back For Season 24

CBS

When Weatherly returned to NCIS, it wasn't immediately clear if it was as a recurring guest star or as a series regular. Then he was added to the main credits, and the show made it clear to settle in for a ride with him as the boss. However, this is the first time he has been absent since coming back, and it's normal to be a little worried about that.

The good news is that this isn't going to happen every episode. DiNozzo has made it clear to McGee that when he feels the weight of the director position, he will want to blow off steam by helping to solve a case. He is far more involved in cases than his predecessors ever were, and that sets a new tone for the series. In fact, it felt like DiNozzo had forgotten what the job of a director was when he first started getting involved.

While he was gone, he was not forgotten. Knight took young Chloe into his office, where Chloe was able to create a fort and enjoy DiNozzo's popcorn. There was even a mention of "Mrs. Boss," making it clear that Ziva and Knight are still in contact to help keep DiNozzo's diet on track, and it clears the path for Ziva and Tali to make a cameo on NCIS season 24 with this connection.

Why Weatherly Misses NCIS Season 24, Episode 5

There was no official reason for Tony DiNozzo to miss the hour. Nor was there an official reason given for Weatherly to not appear. However, it's not unusual for a character to miss an episode here or there on network shows. NCIS has seen it happen plenty of times in the past few seasons, and most of the time, it's been linked to budget cuts. Instead of reducing episode counts by too many, creating a disappointing run of a season, shows have reduced the amount of times the main actors are physically on the screen to reduce pay.

It's also possible that this is linked to Weatherly appearing in an episode of NCIS: Origins. When Gibbs needed help to find the person who shot him, he knew that DiNozzo would be there, and sure enough, on NCIS: Origins season 3, episode 3, the two had a long-awaited reunion. Weatherly's contract will be for a set number of episodes, usually with a guaranteed minimum. An appearance on a franchised show could count toward that minimum, or it could have been negotiated at the time so that Weatherly didn't feel burned out from the series already.

The benefit of Weatherly's DiNozzo now being the Director of NCIS is that he can be absent without much of a discussion. He will have tasks to do at Naval bases, and he's already pointed out that he has a lot of meetings to attend. There are various situations to control. On top of that, Tali is in a boarding school in Boston, so he may want to take leave and visit her and Ziva.

Expect More Absences For DiNozzo In NCIS Moving Forward

While this is the first absence, there will likely be more as NCIS season 24 continues. For one, the guaranteed minimum contracts that the majority of TV shows now have set up for characters being absent here and there. There are going to be episodes when various characters are absent.

For DiNozzo, the absences make the most sense due to his position. While Rocky Carroll was a series regular, he wasn't in every episode physically, and his absence never needed an explanation. It was one of the reasons the idea of McGee being promoted to director didn't make sense, as it would mean less time with Sean Murray on the screen solving cases. As mentioned, a director has many other tasks to do, and it's easy for viewers to just assume this.

The good news is that DiNozzo is here to stay. At least, that's the case when it comes to NCIS season 24. The move to DiNozzo being in the director's office creates a new and mature Tony, allowing the other characters to see how much can develop when you're in another country and have to raise a child alone for some time.

As DiNozzo still likes to solve cases and uses it as a way to blow off some steam, it also means that when other characters are absent, there's someone competent to take on their work burden. For now, DiNozzo is likely to return on NCIS season 24, episode 6.

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  Sean Murray

  Timothy McGee

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  Michael Weatherly

  Tony DiNozzo

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.