NCIS Season 23, Episode 3 may have just sealed the fate of Jessica Knight and Jimmy Palmer — and it’s not looking good.
After the chaos of the two-part premiere centered on Alden Parker’s showdown with Carla Marino, the team returns to business as usual. But beneath the Halloween-themed mystery in “The Sound and the Fury,” a more personal story takes center stage.
With Dale Sawyer’s return shaking up the dynamic, Knight and Nick Torres are forced into unfamiliar territory. Separating the longtime partners brings buried emotions to the surface — and Knight’s vulnerable confession hints that her feelings may no longer lie with Palmer.
Subtly but unmistakably, the episode signals the effective end of Knight and Palmer’s once-stable romance. Their breakup in the Season 22 finale — sparked by Knight’s potential move to Camp Pendleton — felt abrupt but reversible. Until now. If Knight has truly moved on, reopening that chapter may be impossible.
Ironically, Knight and Palmer were once the franchise’s most mature and drama-free couple. Now, the show appears to be pivoting toward a slow-burn, will-they/won’t-they arc between Knight and Torres — echoing the classic tension that once defined the series.
While reconciliation isn’t entirely off the table, the emotional momentum suggests otherwise. As Season 23 unfolds, it seems increasingly clear: Knight and Palmer’s love story may really be over.