Ever since LaRoche became NCIS’ latest season villain, a few theories have floated around about what exactly he is up to. Seamus Dever’s Gabriel Laroche was first introduced in the NCIS season 22 premiere, but he only really started to appear more often in the latter part of the season, with a notable absence for most of the first half. However, because of his suspicious tendencies, it is not clear if LaRoche is actually a villain or something else.
Along with LaRoche’s introduction has come McGee’s distrust of him. While the NCIS characters in general do not like LaRoche because of his connection to Torres’ identity being leaked while he was undercover, McGee is the most suspicious of him. McGee’s behavior towards LaRoche has fueled NCIS’ mistrust of the latter, but it has not solidified him as the official bad guy just yet, since there are still a few other explanations.
5
LaRoche Is Undercover
LaRoche Would Have To Be Working Outside NCIS Jurisdiction
A major explanation for LaRoche’s villainous behavior could be that he is undercover. LaRoche’s work as an undercover agent would explain his strange possible connection to Carla Marino, as well as why he was the only one with the means to leak Torres’ identity during his undercover operation. In the case of LaRoche working undercover, it would have to be for a department outside NCIS.
If Seamus Dever’s Gabriel Laroche is working undercover, it has to be for a secret agency outside of Vance’s jurisdiction. That is the only way to explain why Vance also does not trust LaRoche. In NCIS season 22, episode 18, Vance provides McGee with LaRoche’s file to find evidence of government corruption. However, that would only make sense if Vance was not aware of the undercover operation.
4
LaRoche Is Working With The Nexus Cartel
The Nexus Cartel Could Be Connected To Carla Marino
NCIS season 22, episode 17, opened the door to a possible connection between LaRoche, the Nexus cartel, and Carla Marino via the episode’s case involving a high-end jeweler, Gemma. Somehow, all three names were connected to Gemma. Marino and a man with a Nexus cartel tattoo were clients of hers, while LaRoche was the next target of the Poet, a serial hitman who worked closely with Gemma.
The episode left the connection between all three villains unclear but heavily hinted at their involvement. Episode 17 was the first time that Marino and LaRoche were discussed together in the same episode. Given that it is also highly likely that LaRoche leaked Torres’ identity, which benefited the Nexus cartel, more signs point to LaRoche working closely with the cartel, maybe even as a member.
3
LaRoche Is A Double Agent
LaRoche Could Be Working Two Sides
Before being appointed the new Deputy Director of NCIS, LaRoche was previously the Department of Justice Inspector. His former role and his connections in the Department of Justice could be connected to his strange behavior in NCIS season 22. However, it could go deeper.
LaRoche could be working undercover for both the Nexus cartel and the Department of Justice as a double agent meant to infiltrate NCIS. In his new role, he can now obtain government documents for the cartel’s and agency’s benefits. While it may seem like a bit of a stretch, LaRoche has ties to both groups, which gives this possibility some likelihood.
2
LaRoche Answers To Someone Higher
LaRoche Is Not Working Alone
While some of LaRoche’s actions seem self-serving, others clearly have a larger purpose behind them. When LaRoche wrote the report that NCIS was too close-knit, which led to him being promoted over McGee, it could have been seen as an individual action. But LaRoche’s mysterious connection to the government code name “Nocturne” heavily implies that he is not alone in his villainous behavior.
LaRoche could be doing work for someone above him. This could be someone in the Nexus cartel, the Department of Justice, or even Marino. In any case, McGee’s suspicions of LaRoche would prove to be correct. LaRoche is actively betraying NCIS to serve a larger goal.
1
LaRoche Is Being Blackmailed Into Doing Dirty Work
A Blackmail Case Aligns With The NCIS Franchise’s Pattern
The only other possibility that points to LaRoche being a good guy is that he could have been blackmailed into doing the dirty work for someone else. This possibility aligns with the NCIS franchise’s pattern this year. NCIS: Sydney also featured a villain who turned innocent through the reveal that the character was being blackmailed all along. As a result, LaRoche’s potential blackmail case starts to make sense too.
The NCIS season 22 finale airs on Monday, May 5 at 9 p.m. on CBS.
The possibility that LaRoche is innocent in NCIS does not seem very likely at the moment, but his behavior towards McGee, as well as the harassment complaint he filed against him, could all be a cover to help LaRoche protect the MCRT from getting involved. From what NCIS season 22 has revealed so far, LaRoche can seem like a bad guy, but he can also appear as a good guy. As a result, it is possible he was a good guy all along who was just forced to do bad things.
