'NCIS' season 13 spoilers, plot news: Showrunner gives details on Michael Weatherly's emotional departure after his 13-year stint as Anthony Dinozzo

Long-running police procedural series "NCIS" is nearing its season 13 finale, and viewers are wondering how Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo's (Michael Weatherly) departure in the show will affect the plot in general.

Weatherly has been on the show for 13 years, and it would be an "emotional rollercoaster ride" when he exits the show. Executive producer Gary Glasberg recently caught up with TVLine where he discussed Tony's sad departure. Will his character be just killed off? When characters leave shows, the most obvious assumption is that they will die in some way. The showrunner did not confirm nor deny the statement, but he said: "I would just say that he's prominent all the way through this final episode. I want people to understand that Tony DiNozzo will always be a part of this family — but they should also prepare for an emotional roller coaster."

Viewers will have to keep the tissue box close by because the EP mentioned that the episode will have "heart-wrenching moments." Moreover, they also should not miss touching exchanges between Tony and the other characters, plus one special moment with Gibbs (Mark Harmon) which the EP admitted that he "didn't see coming." Tony's father will also return for his send-off, which Glasberg sees as "a lot of reflection and a lot of soaking in what Tony DiNozzo was to the show for many years. Expect to see a significant guest cast, and expect to really reflect on what Michael Weatherly has meant to NCIS."

According to the official synopsis, Weatherly's final episode as Anthony Dinozzo is titled "Family First," which takes place when a manhunt for Jason Scott. He is an "MI-6 black sheep" out to hunt down NCIS agents from the past as well as the new ones. His first victim is ex-director Tom Morrow (Alan Dale). 

Stay tuned for the last few episodes of "NCIS" season 13, which airs Tuesdays on CBS.