If you’re asking which NCIS crossover episodes to watch first, here’s a straightforward way to jump in without getting lost across the franchise’s crossovers. Short answer

• Start with the original NCIS and proceed in release order when possible, then add crossovers as they appear in the timeline of the connected shows. If you want a focused entry point, begin with the classic backdoor pilot crossovers that introduce NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans, then explore the Hawai'i and Los Angeles crossovers from later years.

Why this order helps

• The NCIS franchise has grown through backdoor pilots and large crossover events that introduce spinoff teams and ongoing storylines. Watching in release/air order helps you follow character introductions, recurring arcs, and the crossover-linked plot threads without getting bogged down in mismatched timelines. This approach also preserves the natural character dynamics you’d expect from team-to-team interactions across JAG, NCIS, NCIS: LA, NCIS: Hawai'i, and NCIS: New Orleans.

Key crossover milestones to consider watching in approximate release order

• JAG crossovers that served as backdoor pilots (early NCIS era) to establish the initial NCIS connection.
• The first major NCIS crossover with NCIS: Los Angeles as a backdoor pilot, which deepens the franchise’s cross-show collaboration.
• The NCIS: Hawai'i and NCIS: Los Angeles crossovers that led into the Hawaii-LA-NCIS triangle events.
• Later, multi-show events that include NCIS: Hawai'i, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS in a single overarching arc.

Tips for a smooth watch

• If you’re only interested in the core NCIS team, you can skip some of the backdoor-pilot episodes and still follow the primary crossovers that feature the main characters you enjoy.
• For the most cohesive experience, consider watching the crossovers in the order they aired. This preserves the intended continuity and character introductions as the franchise expanded.

If you’d like, I can tailor a precise watch order based on which NCIS series you’re most into (NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawai'i, NCIS: New Orleans) and whether you prefer complete crossovers or just the essential episodes that advance multi-show storylines.