I have discussed this briefly with @minikate–24-05 but here is a minor theory about Kate Todd for a #FanFriday.
This theory is only somewhat an in-universe theory. We all know about Caitlin Todd’s untimely death in Season 2, episode 23, named “Twilight”, years before that title took on a different, sparkly meaning. To those who were fans of Kate, of course the word twilight can sometimes serve as a grim reminder.
Of course, we know about Kate’s death, and the race for vengeance by the teams she left behind. In fact, unlike the characters who left the show in later seasons, specifically Ziva David and Anthony DiNozzo Jr., there have been somewhat fewer mentions or attempts to honour them.
Ziva David was mentioned in just eight episodes before being killed off screen. Most of the times were not by name. This treatment was no doubt related somewhat to the fact that the writers and producers were trying to move on in storyline. And while season 14 is just getting underway, Tony has been mentioned a grand total of once. And that was because McGee was taking his desk. Granted, it’s only six episodes in, and we’re likely to get more. But just like before, the writers and producers are eager to move on. They have new characters to write about, why worry about the old ones? They left, it isn’t important what happens now. Move on!
Let’s count, shall we? Kate was killed by Ari in the Season Two finale, and she was also the focus of the two-part premiere of Season 3, as the team raced to hunt down her killer. Only an episode after that, “Mind Games” she is mentioned by both DiNozzo and Cassidy. In “Silver War” she once again comes up, because of the subject of her desk. She is mentioned three more times and that is just in season three. Naturally, this makes sense as it was the season introducing Ziva David, and wrapping up any storylines related to Kate. BUT that isn’t the end of it. She isn’t mentioned again until the finale of season 6, “Aliyah”, and then mentioned again in “Truth or Consequences”. And then comes season eight. Where we meet Kate’s older sister, Dr. Rachel Cranston in “A Man Walks into a Bar”. It has now been five seasons since Kate died, but she is still getting mentions and flashbacks. By Season Nine, this treatment is continued. Rachel gets more appearances, but then comes “Life Before His Eyes”. Most will remember it as the episode that decided to do an alternate universe, or as the episode where Kate had Tony’s baby. More importantly, it explores the concept of “what if Kate lived?” an entire 5.5 seasons after her death! After once more being mentioned in season nine, she garners mentions in seasons eleven, twelve, thirteen and fourteen. As many as eleven years after her demise. Explain that one.
She appeared in the pilot, and every episode of the first and second seasons, but her impact as a character was felt long after Sasha Alexander left the show. Now, Sasha Alexander left, not because of any dispute with writers or producers, but simply (according to sources anyway) because the show was physically demanding, and she wanted to start a family. And now, eleven years after that, NCIS is the much-celebrated, forever mentioned Number One Drama in the World. What does that have to do with Kate?
Sasha Alexander was in the pilot, and her character was part of the core team that started the show off. If the actors and writers hadn’t banded together and made a great new crime drama, we wouldn’t be where we are today. No matter who was shipped from those first two seasons, the characters all had great chemistry, with the witty dialogue and intriguing cases. And no matter what, they gave us the beginning of the show we now have.
And finally, I want to thank Sasha Alexander for being a fantastic actress and bringing life and light to the first season of NCIS. I want to thank her for starting off and being the first character I saw when I started this show. And thanks for making such an impact on the show that Kate is still being mentioned all these years later.
