NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder recently came to the defense of Wilmer Valderrama (Torres) after his troubling comments ahead of the season 22 finale. At the time, Valderrama had hinted that there would be a “shocking” and “painful” death, one that worried about a boss going away. However, as viewers have seen, the person who died was not a main cast member, but agent Alden Parker’s father, Roman Parker. His death was revealed to have been orchestrated by Carla Marino, a crime boss from Kansas City, after she briefly worked with the NCIS team to break into the Nexus organization. According to TV Line, Binder emphasized that Roman’s death was a shock to the heroes, especially Parker, who had just lost his father and faced a vengeful villain. He said that this was the “personal perspective” that Valderrama was referring to when he used the word “earth-shattering.” Binder shares:
TV | Wilmer said in an interview that there would be a death that was “close to home,” “heartbreaking,” and “shocking” – do you think that’s true?
The Binder | It’s clear that Wilmer is more attached to Parker’s father than people think. I assume he was referring to a shocking situation with a team member – and that’s true for Parker.
What’s in store for NCIS season 23?
A dark and deeply personal season
The shocking ending of season 22 has opened up a new, deeper direction for NCIS season 23. As Parker’s father’s death becomes a personal motivation, the story of the confrontation with Nexus becomes more tense and emotionally charged. Parker may be caught in a spiral of justice and vengeance, as he is determined to take down Carla Marino – his sworn enemy – at all costs. This will certainly affect the investigation process and the internal NCIS team.
In addition, the details of Parker’s mother’s death certificate – which is said to have many surprises – will likely be explored further. But the focus of the new season will still be Parker’s full revenge and Carla’s dangerous plot with nuclear material from Nexus. NCIS season 23 promises to be a dramatic, emotional journey that will test the moral limits of the main characters.
Roman Parker’s Death Effect: Parker’s Life Will Never Be The Same
Parker is one of the most psychologically profound characters in NCIS, but this loss could have completely changed him. Season 23 is expected to delve deeper into this character – not only the process of capturing Carla Marino, but also the battle between reason and emotion. This would be a huge step not only for the Parker character, but could also impact the long-term future of the entire franchise.
