Why NCIS is a great series to introduce teens to crime dramas

As children get older, they start to expand their interests. Some will want to tune into crime dramas like you, and you’ll want to find the best starting point. NCIS is that starting point for teens.

This is rated TV-14, and there are some good reasons for that. It’s not overly gruesome, but it doesn’t shy away from the realities of crime. We see the heartache that it can leave, and we see just how twisted minds can get.

With so many other TV-14 shows, though, what makes this one perfect for getting teens into crime dramas?

The characters are relatable

There is a character for everyone. If you want a strong leader, you have Gibbs. If you want someone who is comedic but also kind, there’s DiNozzo. For those looking for someone quirky, Abby is the best. Teenagers will see themselves in at least one character, and that’s important. They need to see that you can be yourself and find success at work.

The characters do change. There are some heartbreaking deaths, and there are some shocking exits. That doesn’t stop the characters from being relatable.

It’s not all crime in NCIS

While the series is a crime drama, it’s not all about the cases. We get a look at personal lives, showing that work and personal lives can mix and can be kept separate. There is also a great look at how someone who is a federal agent can still have a family—just look at McGee and Palmer.

Teens will see that they can have a life outside of their work. And they don’t need to share everything if they don’t want to, including the books they write!

It’s fun to work out who the killer is in NCIS

Teens will want to start figuring out the storyline as it goes. They want to solve the crime with the agents, and NCIS makes it possible to do that. You’re given various suspects, and there’s time to figure out why someone could do something as more evidence comes out.

Teenagers need to build deductive skills, and not just for fun. This will help them in life, so start with this crime drama to build that up. NCIS is pretty straightforward with most storylines, so they’ll start to get the hang of it.

NCIS is available to stream on Paramount+.