NCIS

Characters are judged primarily by their competence and merit within the law enforcement and military structures. The Israeli agent, Ziva David, is a non-white, non-American agent, and the show acknowledges the cultural prejudice she sometimes faces, but the narrative frames this prejudice as an evil to be overcome, not a systemic truth for the audience to be lectured on. There is no focus on intersectional hierarchy, no vilification of 'whiteness,' and the main villain is a white male arms dealer.

The show is explicitly centered on protecting and serving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and frequently depicts the main characters confronting threats from foreign terrorists and criminals. This narrative structure actively promotes gratitude for the national institutions of law and order. The sacrifices of ancestors and the necessity of institutions are respected as integral to the mission.

Competent female characters, such as Director Jenny Shepard, Agent Ziva David, and forensic scientist Abby Sciuto, hold positions of high authority and specialized skill. Ziva, an ex-Mossad agent, is a highly effective field agent, demonstrating the 'Girl Boss' trope but without its accompanying 10/10 trait of male emasculation. Male characters like Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Ducky are equally capable and competent in their roles. The show portrays a complementarian work environment based on professional respect, not a narrative of gender war.

The season contains no explicit or implied LGBTQ+ themes, characters, or ideological discussions regarding alternative sexualities or gender theory. The major personal storylines center on heterosexual relationships, such as Tony DiNozzo's undercover dating of Jeanne Benoit and Gibbs' relationship with Army CID Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann. The structure remains firmly within the normative male-female pairing as the standard.

Traditional faith is not a central theme, but when religion is mentioned, it is either as a neutral characteristic (Ziva's Star of David necklace) or as a source of strength. The show's morality is rooted in objective truth where murder, terrorism, and arms dealing are clear, absolute evils that the protagonists must fight against. There is no narrative where traditional religion or Christian characters are depicted as the root of evil or as bigots.