NCIS: L.A. season 12 was rather different than what fans were used to. And a big part of that was the absence of "Hetty," played by Linda Hunt.

The fan-favourite was rarely seen last season as she had a secret mission and only called her team on video. "Hetty" did return for the finale, and fans now have even more reason to look forward to season 13.

NCIS: L.A.: "Hetty" is finally returning in season 13

"Hetty" will be making a full return in the upcoming season, TVInsider has reported. The dynamics in the team will change quite a bit, after all the cast changes in recent months.

In the season 12 finale, "Hetty" and the team lost both "Nell" (Renée Felice Smith) and "Eric" (Barrett Foa). But now "Admiral Kilbride" (Gerald McRaney) has been promoted to an integral role with NCIS: L.A.

About the collaboration between the two, producer R. Scott Gemmill told TVInsider: "They're both very smart and very stubborn, so it makes for a fun and volatile dynamic.

"Kilbride outranks Hetty, but he does respect her, even if he disagrees with her methodology and [sometimes] questions the cost of her successes."

So "Hetty" will be back with her team, but she'll still be followed by her secret mission from last season, Gemmill confirmed.

Fans should also be on the lookout for more returning cast members. The series producer said that "a couple of old friends" will be back this season, though they "may not be as friendly as we remember them."

Who could it be? It seems we'll have to wait and see when the new season gets underway this fall. NCIS: L.A. season 13 premieres on CBS on Oct. 10. That date comes several weeks after the premiere of NCIS and NCIS: Hawaii in September.