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'NCIS' Season 17 Episode 9 leaves fans shocked with Gibbs using emojis and IM: 'This is stretching credulity to the limit'

As the NCIS team goes about trying to solve a live-streamed murder, what fans busied themselves in was the curious case of Jethro Gibbs mastering the art of texting with emojis.

This article contains spoilers for season 17, episode 9: 'IRL'

Tonight's episode 9 of 'NCIS' season 17 took us further along the wholesome road that agent Gibbs has taken with his new neighbor and friend, Phineas. But befriending a way younger person also comes with adapting oneself to all the fun things that your young friend is into, and that includes technology. Specifically, instant messaging. So when Gibbs decided to dabble in some good ol' texting with his new best friend and ended up using an emoji (cue the gasps!) of all things, fans were left pretty shocked and shaken.

When it comes to the case for the night, a NAVY official slash online gamer gets murdered and to make things worse, his murder is streamed online. But as the NCIS team goes about trying to solve the case, what fans busied themselves in was the curious case of Jethro Gibbs mastering the art of texting with emojis. It's just something very unlikely of the tough as nails team lead whom we have seen jumping into action and solving cases like a pro. You don't expect Gibbs to sit around and send the 100 percent real emoji to his friends! Shocking as it might be, it turns out he actually does know how to ace the task. And that has viewers having a hard time digesting the little info.

"Does anyone really believe Gibbs knows what a smiley face emoji means? And how and when to use one? This is stretching credulity to the limit," wrote a fan on Twitter. Another quipped with less judgment for the older man, tweeting: "Next thing you know, he'll start using emojis and text speak! #NCIS Great episode!!! bet it was fun to shoot and the bloopers are hysterical?"

For other more neutral fans, the revelation at the end of the episode was a sheer example of how good at adapting Gibbs is. "A little bit (surprised), but if anyone can adopt, it's Gibbs. Glad he gets to continue to hang out with Phineas. Phineas allows Gibbs a 2nd chance to be a father figure. I like that. Especially for this time of year," tweeted one fan. Another one with an absolute lack of surprise over Gibbs' newly revealed talent, shared: "Not really (surprised), he adapts to situations, that's what he does best. I love his newfound neighbors and love where the story might be going !!!!"

'NCIS' season 17 airs on Tuesdays at 8pm only on CBS.