NCIS Episode Ratings Heatmap
2003 · 5 Seasons · 113 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.2/10 (23 rated)
Season 1 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 1 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.32), maintaining an average of 7.2.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 7.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 2 | 7.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 3 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 4 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 5 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 6 | 7.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 7 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 8 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 9 | 7.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 10 | 6.9 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 11 | 6.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 12 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 13 | 7.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 14 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 15 | 7.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 16 | 7.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 17 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 18 | 7.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 19 | 6.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 20 | 7.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 21 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 22 | 7.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 23 | 7.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Season Avg | 7.2 | – | – | – | – |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 5 seasons and 113 episodes, NCIS has earned an overall series rating of 7.2 out of 10. The series displays remarkable consistency across its narrative arc, maintaining reliable ratings from premiere to conclusion.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 1, Episode 16 ("Bête Noire"), rated at an extraordinary 7.8/10 with 12 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 1, Episode 11 ("Eye Spy"), landing at 6.6/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 16 ("Bête Noire", 7.8) and Episode 17 ("The Truth Is Out There", 7.1), a swing of 0.7 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of NCIS
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 1, Ep 16 | Bête Noire | 7.8 | 12 | Mar 2, 2004 |
| #2 | Season 1, Ep 7 | Sub Rosa | 7.7 | 15 | Nov 18, 2003 |
| #3 | Season 1, Ep 5 | The Curse | 7.6 | 17 | Oct 28, 2003 |
| #4 | Season 1, Ep 8 | Minimum Security | 7.6 | 17 | Nov 25, 2003 |
| #5 | Season 1, Ep 12 | My Other Left Foot | 7.6 | 12 | Feb 3, 2004 |
| #6 | Season 1, Ep 6 | High Seas | 7.5 | 13 | Nov 4, 2003 |
| #7 | Season 1, Ep 13 | One Shot, One Kill | 7.5 | 11 | Feb 10, 2004 |
| #8 | Season 1, Ep 23 | Reveille | 7.4 | 12 | May 25, 2004 |
| #9 | Season 1, Ep 20 | Missing | 7.3 | 12 | May 4, 2004 |
| #10 | Season 1, Ep 9 | Marine Down | 7.2 | 13 | Dec 16, 2003 |