Among those stubborn foes is the Reynosa cartel, which still looms as a significant threat to Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and his team. When last we tuned in, cartel kingpin (queenpin?) Paloma had just entered the store where Jackson Gibbs (Ralph Waite), Jethro’s pop, works.
In the aftermath of that showdown – and as seen in this Fancast first look photo from the Season 8 premiere – Gibbs gets a visit from his mentor, Mike Franks (played by returning guest star/’Prison Break’ alum Muse Watson).

The reason for Franks’ arrival on the scene? To offer Gibbs a much-needed assist in his campaign to neutralize the Reynosa threat once and for all.
Watson/Mike Franks isn’t the only encore to watch for this season. As previously reported by Fancast, both Robert Wagner (as DiNozzo’s dad) and Michael Nouri (as Eli David) are also due to return.
Fancast by Matt Webb Mitovich

In fact, the premiere — titled "Spider and the Fly" — finds all of Gibbs' team members as potential targets when their investigation of the murder of a helicopter pilot leads Gibbs (Mark Harmon) back to the vengeful Paloma Reynosa (Jacqueline Obradors), whose father Gibbs murdered.
Fortunately, it sounds like the team members are looking out for each other. "We'll get back into showing NCIS as the team that it's always been," Brennan says.

TV Guide
by Adam Bryant