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NCIS Season 23: Will Gary Cole’s Alden Parker Go Rogue?

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Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS Season 22 finale are ahead!

In the final episode of NCIS Season 22, which aired on the 2025 TV schedule, Gary Cole’s character, Alden Parker, learned that his father had been murdered by Carla Marino, leader of the Kansas City mob. This twist has been one of the most heart-wrenching season endings I’ve experienced as a long-time viewer of this well-loved procedural. The upcoming CBS 2025-2026 fall TV lineup will reveal how NCIS Season 23 unfolds in the aftermath of this surprising revelation, and I’m eager to learn more about what changes may be in store for Cole’s character based on his recent insights.

In my recent chat with Cole, the new regular cast member on NCIS, who took over after Mark Harmon left early in Season 19, I inquired about whether Parker would act independently to seek revenge on Carla or stick to legal methods to take her down. Although he doesn’t have the answer at this point, he did provide some insight:

It seems quite clear to me that he might exceed legal limits given the situation. It’s not typical behavior for him, but under these extraordinary circumstances, I can’t conceive of any other action he could take. He possesses the ability to do so, and this situation appears to be as extreme as it gets.

In the episode titled “Knight and Day,” we meet Carla Marino, who was pursued by Alden Parker during his time at the FBI. Later in the series “Nexus,” it appears that Carla might have been instrumental in taking down the drug cartel Nexus. However, the shocking truth unfolds when it’s revealed that Carla had assumed leadership of Nexus. Tragically, this included tricking Parker to obtain nuclear material for a dirty bomb intended to eliminate rival crime family leaders (this plot was thwarted). To add insult to injury, she also captured Parker.

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She discovered that it was Parker who informed her son Jason about her criminal deeds, which resulted in him leaving home and ultimately dying in a motorcycle crash. Carla desired Parker to endure consequences for what she perceived as pushing Jason away, but instead of taking his life outright, she allowed him to escape, so he could return home and discover Roman’s body that had been poisoned. In our subsequent conversation, Gary Cole expressed doubts that this situation wouldn’t result in a change in Parker’s character, stating:

It seems likely that following this season, there will be a need for some adjustments due to the unusually harsh conditions. I don’t believe we can continue as usual. Constantly dealing with darkness and heaviness isn’t something humans are naturally equipped to handle. However, there might be a slight shift in his demeanor, perhaps less cheerful or enthusiastic about bird watching as he has been before.

Beyond Alden Parker’s ongoing issues with Carla Marino and the enigma surrounding Lily, a girl from his past who appeared in the final episode of NCIS Season 21, Parker discovered in Season 22 that Lily is linked to his deceased mother. This mother perished when she crashed her car under the influence, but later on, Jimmy Palmer obtained a copy of her death certificate and shared with Jessica Knight that there were inconsistencies in it, though we haven’t yet been informed about what he uncovered.

It’s uncertain whether NCIS Season 23 will resolve both these storylines immediately or if one will be addressed before the other. Regardless, I’m eager to witness Parker venturing into this ominous path that Gary Cole predicts he will tread on. However, I don’t want him to delve too deeply, as I don’t want his role as team leader to be compromised.

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2025-05-11 20:17

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