'NCIS' Had to “Go Big” for Episode 500 — and That Meant Raising the Stakes

For NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder, reaching its 500th episode comes down to something surprisingly simple: keeping the show both entertaining and emotionally honest. Speaking with Collider as part of Collider Rewind, our retrospective look at the franchise's storied history, Binder reflected on how the long-running series has managed to stay fresh for over two decades, pointing to its balance of twists, humor, and character-driven storytelling that feels grounded in real human reactions. That sense of truth, he explains, is what keeps audiences connected — viewers aren’t just watching cases unfold, they’re seeing pieces of themselves in the characters. It’s that relatability, combined with consistently engaging and heartfelt stories, that has allowed NCIS to evolve without losing what made it resonate in the first place.