No! No! No! I won't even entertain this thought

[dragonheart]

But now that someone (actually several someones) have planted it in my brain - I can't seem to let it go.

I have read more than one posting that folks are starting to suspect that this will be Ducky's last season.  That TPTB are setting him up for retirement or even medical leave.

My little brain doesn't want to accept it, but the longer I ponder it, the more I am starting to believe it.

Help, I need some sane arguments to balance the insanity in my brain.

Comments

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen this anywhere on my flist. *Wibbles*

However, if it's any comfort at all a) I've been speculating this for several seasons now based on what they keep doing to his character & the increased sitting down he does and b) DMc has always said he will stay as long as MH does. Now I know that doesn't mean TPTB will write him out - but it does mean he won't (unless something awful has happened to him or his wife health-wise) be going by choice.

[direwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

NOOOO *HOWLS*

I love Ducky :(

But, considering recent episodes, I sadly fear you are most likely correct :(

[ophelias-heart.livejournal.com]

As much as David McCallum loves Ducky I seriously doubt he would choose to leave. And even TPTB wouldn't be that stupid. Ducky is the one character I have never heard an unkind word about. This is the first I've heard of this and it makes me nervous, but I really think that unless David McCallum is sick that he wouldn't leave.

[zaedah.livejournal.com]

Shall we establish a Facebook group for DDD? (Ducky Departure Denial)

[dragonheart]

More like a support group if the speculations pan out. :(

[alidiabin]

I don't think Ducky will leave until DMc or his wife gets sick.

I personally don't think they'd ever write out the first four (Gibbs, Tony, Abby or Ducky) it just would annoy to many people.

If they do write him out, I hope they don't kill him. So he can at least cameo. Maybe they could make him recurring, with Jimmy taking the regins as ME but consulting Ducky every few episodes.

[proseac]

I think Alice has hit the nail on the head - he probably wants to scale back - but not retire. How long can Jimmy go on being a trainee, after all? They either have to send Jimmy off to another job, or let him take over the reins as principal ME. It's even more ridiculous than Tony still not having his own team - at least he's a full-fledged agent.

That said, I think this is a classic case of TPTB deliberately allowing the pot to be stirred in the fandom, to get everyone talking. They're probably laughing behind closed doors at how upset everyone's getting, and they'll pull a fast one on us at the end of the season to make us think he's leaving. Then of course he'll be back next year.

That's my theory, anyway. Feel better now?