The series has rebounded by putting Alden Parker in the spotlight this season, delving into his family after what happened to his father, Roman (Francis X. McCarthy), in NCIS Season 22’s finale. Parker and his team took down Carla Marino (Rebecca De Mornay) in Season 23’s two-part opener, but something was still haunting Parker until the midseason closer.
Alden Parker’s Mystery About Lilly And His Mother Explained
NCIS Season 23’s midseason finale finally resolves the mystery of what happened to Alden Parker’s mother. The story began nearly two years ago in NCIS Season 21’s finale, when Parker and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) got trapped on a decommissioned Navy ship. After experiencing a leg injury, Parker started to lose blood and experience visualizations.
That moment in Season 21’s finale is when Parker first visualized a little girl named Lilly (Kensie Mills), who Alden saw superimposed throughout the ship’s engine room and then in a vivid dream-like sequence featuring his mother, calling him “Aldie.” Parker began seeing Lily more frequently in NCIS Season 22, causing him to look into his mother’s death.
How NCIS Season 23 Resolves Parker’s Mother’s Mystery
Parker was angry at first, but had a change of heart in NCIS Season 23, Episode 7, and asked Jimmy to exhume Eleanor Parker’s body so that he could finally get some answers. However, when Jimmy and Kasie Hines (Diona Resonover) examine the body more closely, they discover another woman has been buried in Eleanor’s casket.
The revelation throws Alden Parker into a tailspin, realizing that his mother could have been murdered, or, perhaps, that she could still be alive. Parker momentarily grapples with the idea that his mother could have been alive for years, without ever reaching out. However, the team finally figures out exactly what really happened, easing Parker’s mind.
As the NCIS forensic scientist and Jimmy begin identifying their victim, the team uncovers evidence suggesting the woman was connected to a long-buried case involving Parker’s family. By following a trail of old records and recent clues, the team is led to a woman living nearby. When Jess and Parker visit her, they discover that she’s Lily.
NCIS Season 23’s Midseason Finale Is One Of The Biggest Episodes Since Gibbs
With Alden putting his mother to rest at the end of NCIS Season 23, Episode 9, the story comes to a heartfelt, resolute conclusion, giving the supervisory agent a sense of peace after an emotional journey. After losing his father and reconciling with his sister, Harriet (Nancy Travis), laying his mother to rest was a fitting end.
Wrapping up the biggest mystery since Gibbs’ exit, one that puts Parker in the spotlight, is a historic moment for NCIS Season 23. It proves that the Navy procedural can build engaging multi-season stories without Harmon’s lead, just as impactful. As the mystery lingered in Parker’s mind, it created a wealth of character growth for the show’s central leader.
