Jimmy Palmer has been part of NCIS for so long that it is easy to forget just how dramatically the character has evolved. When viewers first met him, he was an awkward young assistant working under Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, often appearing on the edges of major investigations rather than driving them. More than two decades later, Palmer is the chief medical examiner, a respected member of the NCIS family and one of the emotional anchors of the series. Season 24 could finally give him another major transformation. Brian Dietzen remains part of the returning cast, and CBS continues to describe Palmer as the fully licensed medical examiner running the morgue.
Palmer Is No Longer the Same Character
The biggest change in Palmer’s story is that he no longer needs to prove that he belongs at NCIS. Early in the series, his nervous energy and eagerness to impress Ducky made him feel like an outsider. Over time, however, he became increasingly confident in his medical expertise and eventually stepped into the role Ducky once occupied. That transition was one of the show’s quietest but most meaningful character developments. Palmer did not suddenly become a completely different person; instead, the series allowed him to grow naturally alongside the changing NCIS team.
Now, that experience gives the writers an opportunity to explore what comes next. Palmer has already reached a professional position that once seemed impossible for the younger character. The question is whether his next chapter should be about climbing even higher or discovering a different purpose. After so many seasons, simply having Palmer solve another case in the morgue may no longer be enough. His personal life could finally become just as important as his professional one.
Season 23 Already Started Something New
There were signs during Season 23 that the series was interested in exploring Palmer beyond his role as the team’s medical examiner. Brian Dietzen previously teased episodes focusing heavily on Jimmy’s personal life and the new challenges he was giving himself. He also indicated that another episode would focus on Kasie, suggesting that the show was deliberately giving its supporting characters more room to develop.
That matters because Palmer has often been used as the emotional glue of the team. He is the character who can make a difficult autopsy scene lighter, offer support when another agent is struggling and remind everyone that the people behind the investigations matter. But there is a difference between being the team’s emotional support system and having a storyline of your own. Season 24 could finally push Palmer toward the latter.
His Personal Life Could Take Center Stage
For years, Palmer’s personal life has developed in the background. His marriage to Breena was an important part of his story, and becoming a father changed his priorities. After Breena’s death from COVID-19, Palmer had to navigate grief while continuing to work in one of the most emotionally demanding environments imaginable. His relationship with his daughter also became a reminder that he was no longer simply the quirky medical examiner viewers met years ago.
That history gives Season 24 plenty of material to explore. Palmer has already experienced some of the biggest emotional changes imaginable, but his story does not have to stop there. He could be entering a period where he begins asking what he wants for himself rather than simply focusing on work and parenting. That could lead to a new relationship, a new professional ambition or even a decision that changes his role within NCIS.
The Jimmy and Jessica Story Still Matters
Another major part of Palmer’s evolution has been his relationship with Jessica Knight. Their romance gave both characters opportunities to grow, but it also demonstrated how difficult it can be for two NCIS professionals to balance demanding careers with a serious relationship. Knight’s career decisions have repeatedly affected their personal lives, particularly when she considered returning to the REACT program. Her eventual return to the Washington team left the door open for the couple to continue building their future together.
That relationship could become increasingly important in Season 24. Knight remains a core member of the NCIS team, while Palmer continues to run the morgue, meaning their careers are closely connected even when their responsibilities are completely different. The new season could ask whether they are finally ready for a more stable future or whether the demands of NCIS will continue getting in the way. Either possibility could give Palmer a more mature storyline.
Tony DiNozzo’s Return Could Bring Out Another Side of Palmer
Michael Weatherly’s return as Tony DiNozzo creates another interesting opportunity for Jimmy. Tony and Palmer knew each other during the earlier years of NCIS, when Palmer was still developing his confidence. Tony’s return means he will be walking back into an NCIS where Palmer is no longer the awkward assistant standing in the background. He is now the chief medical examiner and one of the most established members of the team.
The Season 24 trailer already shows Tony interacting with the current team, including McGee and Torres, while Palmer appears in the new era’s lighter moments. A reunion between Tony and Palmer could therefore highlight just how much Palmer has changed. Tony might still remember the younger version of him, but everyone else will see the accomplished professional he has become.
The New Era Could Give Palmer More Authority
Season 24 is arriving after a major shake-up at NCIS, including the death of Director Leon Vance and the unresolved fallout from the Season 23 finale. Parker remains the team’s leader, while McGee, Torres, Knight, Palmer and Kasie form the core of the current group. In that environment, Palmer’s institutional knowledge becomes more valuable than ever.
He is one of the people who remembers the NCIS that existed before many of the current agents arrived. He worked alongside Gibbs, Ducky, Tony, Ziva and other former members of the team. That history gives him a unique perspective. If the agency enters another period of uncertainty, Palmer could become one of the people holding the team together. His influence might become much larger even if his official job title remains exactly the same.
Could Palmer Take on a Leadership Role?
It would be interesting if Season 24 allowed Palmer to take on more leadership responsibilities within the medical side of NCIS. He already runs the morgue, but there is a difference between managing a department and becoming a mentor to the next generation of forensic professionals. Palmer has learned from Ducky for years, and he now has the opportunity to become that kind of mentor himself.
Such a storyline would bring his character arc almost full circle. The nervous assistant who once needed Ducky’s guidance could become the experienced professional helping someone else find their confidence. It would also preserve one of Palmer’s most important qualities: his compassion. He does not need to become tougher or more cynical to become a leader. His greatest strength has always been his ability to understand people.
Kasie Could Be Important to His Next Chapter
Palmer’s professional relationship with Kasie Hines could also become more significant. The two characters work in different areas, but their scientific and forensic responsibilities frequently overlap. Kasie has become increasingly confident in her own role, and Season 23 gave viewers more insight into her personal history. Brian Dietzen’s earlier comments about upcoming Jimmy- and Kasie-focused episodes suggest the show recognizes the value of giving these characters stories beyond simply supporting the field agents.
That could continue into Season 24. Palmer and Kasie have the potential to represent the scientific heart of NCIS while the agents handle the action. Their friendship could provide some of the season’s lighter moments, but it could also become an important professional partnership. If the writers want to expand the show’s medical and forensic side, these two characters are perfectly positioned to lead it.
Palmer Does Not Need to Leave NCIS to Change
There is always a temptation in a long-running series to create a dramatic exit whenever a veteran character needs a new storyline. But Palmer does not necessarily need to leave NCIS for his story to evolve. In fact, his continued presence may be more valuable precisely because he has been there for so long. He represents continuity in a franchise that has undergone enormous changes.
A promotion, a new professional responsibility, a deeper relationship with Knight or a stronger focus on his family could all transform Palmer without removing him from the morgue. The current Season 24 cast information continues to list Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer, so there is no indication that the character is preparing to disappear from the show.
The Real Question Is What Palmer Wants Now
Perhaps the most interesting direction for Palmer is not another career achievement at all. It could be the simple question of what he wants after spending so much of his life serving other people. He has spent years helping investigators understand victims, supporting his colleagues and raising his daughter while carrying enormous personal responsibilities. He has rarely been selfish about his own future.
Season 24 could change that. Palmer might finally decide that he deserves to pursue something for himself, whether that means a deeper commitment to Knight, a new professional challenge or a different role within NCIS. That kind of storyline would not erase everything that came before. It would show the natural next step for someone who has spent decades growing into the person he is today.
Palmer’s Next Chapter Could Be One of NCIS’s Best
After more than two decades, Jimmy Palmer has become much more than the medical examiner who works in the morgue. He is one of the few characters who can connect the original NCIS era with the current team, and his presence gives the series a sense of continuity that cannot easily be replaced. With Season 24 bringing back Tony DiNozzo and introducing another major period of change for the agency, Palmer’s experience could become more important than ever.
The most exciting possibility is that his story changes without losing what fans already love about him. Palmer does not need to become a completely different character. He simply needs the chance to grow again. After years of standing beside the agents, solving mysteries from the morgue and quietly supporting everyone around him, Jimmy Palmer may finally be ready to step into a new chapter of his own — and Season 24 could be the perfect time to begin it.