Scott Grimes’ character Flynn is the only member of the cast of NCIS: Red to return to television. The mythical spinoff of the NCIS franchise was in the works from 2012 to 2013, but the plug was pulled by CBS before the cameras ever started rolling. The series remains shrouded by an air of mystery, with fans left to wonder what stories may have been in wait, and why exactly CBS lost faith in the series.
NCIS: Red would have followed a team of investigators who were not tied to any one location, and instead traveled across the country solving cases. Though the series never made it to air, the main characters of NCIS: Red were introduced to viewers before CBS dropped the hammer with appearances on the popular franchise installment NCIS: Los Angeles. Scott Grimes debuted as agent Dave Flynn, along with co-stars John Corbett and Kim Raver, in the two-part episode “Red”, which was intended to set up the ill-fated spinoff.
“Red” turned out not to be the last audiences would see of the NCIS: Red team, or at least of one of them. Scott Grimes reprised his role as Flynn in 2017, returning to NCIS: Los Angeles in season 8 episode 18: “Getaway.” In the episode, Flynn travels South to LA from the San Francisco NCIS cyber office to run operations for Nell and Eric while they go undercover at a couple’s retreat to uncover a husband-and-wife team tied to a hack of the United States Treasury Department.
It was really nice to see Dave Flynn NCIS: LA, especially for fans who had enjoyed the character during his appearance in season four. Dave even made some kind but blunt observations about Nell and Eric’s romance that only an outsider can make. But fans who were burnt by NCIS: Red’s failure to launch may not have gotten their entire fill, as Scott Grime’s co-stars Raver and Corbett were nowhere to be seen. It’s still validating to see the series acknowledge the existence of these characters (and the hard work of the entire NCIS: Red production team) by having Flynn help the LA team again.
TV shows getting canceled is a fact of life, but a TV show getting axed before it ever gets a chance always stings. Bringing back Scott Grimes helps make good on at least some of the promises made by teasing the NCIS: Red in the first place, even if it was only Flynn who got to return. Flynn hasn’t been seen since, but he’ll always be welcome on NCIS: Los Angeles.