Despite the decorations and a toy-drive subplot, NCIS Season 23’s fall finale doesn’t quite feel like a holiday episode. “Heaven and Nature” may be set during Christmastime, but its emotional weight lies elsewhere — and that choice leaves the episode feeling both satisfying and oddly unseasonal.
The hour is dominated by long-running revelations about Parker’s past. Fans finally learn the truth about his mother, Eleanor, her connection to Lily, and the abusive trooper Lester Burm — closing a mystery that’s been unfolding for multiple seasons. The payoff is heavy, tragic, and meaningful, giving Parker long-overdue closure and clearing the board for what comes next.
The Christmas element, meanwhile, is pushed to the sidelines. Torres and McGee investigate stolen toys meant for TAPS, but the storyline wraps up quickly and without much impact. The highlight of the subplot is the return of Adam Ferrara as Sammy Craig, who injects some charm into an otherwise undercooked thread.
What truly sets the finale apart arrives in its final moments. Emily Wickersham makes a surprise return as Ellie Bishop, revealed to be back from her CIA mission — and now wanted by NCIS ELITE. The bombshell instantly reframes the episode and guarantees intense speculation over the winter hiatus, especially given Bishop’s unresolved history with Torres.
