Introduction: A Universe Expanding Across Time
NCIS is no stranger to weaving complex character arcs across years, spin-offs, and even decades. Now, as Season 23unfolds with Alden Parker stepping deeper into the spotlight, the timing couldn’t be better for a bold move: a crossover with NCIS: Origins. Yes, even with decades separating the timelines.
Think it’s impossible? Not in the NCIS universe — where memory, legacy, and hidden pasts are everything.
Let’s break down why Parker’s arc opens the door for a Gibbs-era crossover, how it could work, and why now is the perfect moment to unite these timelines.
The Rise of Alden Parker in Season 23
Gary Cole’s Parker Is Finally Taking Center Stage
After stepping into the massive void left by Gibbs, Special Agent Alden Parker has steadily earned his place. But in Season 23, we’re finally peeling back his layers — diving into his backstory, values, and what truly drives him.
His journey this season is personal, filled with emotional beats and subtle references to past experiences, including hints at former mentors and cases that shaped him.
And here’s where it gets interesting…
Season 23 Is Teasing Parker’s Mysterious Past
“A Mentor From My Early Days…” — Sound Familiar?
In a recent episode, Parker cryptically referenced a key figure from his early law enforcement days — a mentor who shaped his career approach.
While the character wasn’t named, fans immediately started speculating:
Could it have been Gibbs? Or someone from the Gibbs era?
It’s this mysterious reference that may serve as the bridge between timelines, especially as NCIS: Origins fills in gaps about Gibbs’ own formative years.
The Timeline Obstacle (And Why It Doesn’t Matter)
Yes, Origins Is Set in the 1990s — But That’s Not a Dealbreaker
At first glance, a crossover seems unlikely. NCIS: Origins takes place in the early ’90s, following a young Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell) as he begins his career. NCIS Season 23 is firmly rooted in the present.
But the NCIS franchise has never let time get in the way of storytelling. Flashbacks, case files, declassified footage, old recordings — these are tools of the trade.
There’s no reason Parker’s storyline couldn’t involve looking into an old case file, or discovering a key piece of his origin that ties directly back to a young Gibbs.
Flashbacks & Case Files — The Perfect Narrative Devices
Think about it: a cold case resurfaces in Season 23 that Parker worked on as a junior agent. As he digs deeper, he discovers the case was previously handled — or covered up — by Gibbs or another familiar face from Origins.
This opens the door to clever cross-editing, a parallel storyline, or even dual timelines where Parker investigates in the present while we watch it unfold in the past via the Origins cast.
It’s storytelling gold.
Why This Crossover Would Actually Enrich Both Series
It Would Give Parker the Depth Fans Are Craving
While Parker has been solid since joining, some fans still feel like his backstory is underdeveloped. Tying him into Origins would not only give him more history — it would legitimize his place in the NCIS legacy.
If he crossed paths with young Gibbs, or someone Gibbs trained, it would signal that Parker is more connected to the heart of NCIS than we ever realized.
It Adds Emotional Layers to Origins
In NCIS: Origins, we’re learning who Gibbs was before he became the legend. Showing how his early actions ripple forward into the present — impacting Parker’s life — gives the show higher stakes and a sense of lasting consequence.
This isn’t just “young Gibbs learns a lesson.” It becomes “young Gibbs made a choice that echoes across time.”
Creative Ways The Crossover Could Happen
1. A Dual Timeline Episode
We follow two storylines:
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Parker investigates a decades-old case
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Origins flashes back to Gibbs investigating the original incident
It’s seamless, cinematic, and compelling.
2. A Long-Lost File With Gibbs’ Notes
Parker discovers a file with hand-written notes from a then-rookie Gibbs — perhaps even challenging agency protocol. This builds character on both sides while deepening the mystery.
3. A Former Character Returns With Ties to Both Timelines
Bring back a secondary character (or their family member) who knew both Gibbs and Parker — possibly a retired agent, forensic tech, or witness — to provide connective tissue between the shows.
4. Parker’s Personal Connection to a Past Tragedy
Parker could have lost a friend, mentor, or partner in a case first handled by Gibbs in Origins. The emotional weight would deepen both narratives and offer a powerful bridge between generations.
What Fans Are Saying
Social Media Wants It — Badly
Fan forums and Reddit threads are already buzzing with theories about Parker’s mentor, and Origins fans are eager to see how the new prequel connects to the modern series.
Tweets like:
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“Give us Parker uncovering a young Gibbs investigation. That would break the internet.”
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“A Parker/Gibbs crossover could be the most emotional NCIS episode ever.”
…are gaining real traction.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time
NCIS Is in Transition — This Could Reground It
With Harmon’s Gibbs gone a
