Gary Cole opens up about the ongoing tension between his character Special Agent Parker and NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), as well as the return of Roma Maffia as Vera Strickland in the NCIS half of the Origins crossover airing Tuesday, November 11.
Cole says he enjoys the dynamic with Vance, noting,
“We annoy each other to a great degree, which was fun to play.”
As for whether Parker and Vera will warm up to each other, Cole adds,
“I think progress in the case is the only thing. I would say it’s more one-sided — I’m more annoyed than Vera is.”
The Parker–Vance tension dates back to the Season 23 premiere, when Vance attempted to hold Parker back from pursuing his father’s killer. While the friction is easing, Cole hints it won’t disappear entirely anytime soon:
“There are a couple of things coming that have to do with the agency itself that are larger than their relationship that might keep them at some kind of odds. There’s conflict over agency power and structural changes.”
Secrets That Could Shake Parker
Beyond inter-agency conflicts, Parker faces personal challenges. Cole teases that Palmer (Brian Dietzen), Knight (Katrina Law), and Kasie (Diona Reasonover) are keeping two major secrets from him:
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Someone was with his father the night he died.
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Discrepancies in his mother’s autopsy report and death certificate.
“It’s a catch-22 for him,” Cole says. “They’re walking on eggshells about how much to reveal and when. Parker doesn’t have a long fuse; he gets irritated quickly, which is why they hold back things. But there comes a point where they can’t. Not having information irritates him even more.”
The crossover promises to deliver high-stakes conflict, team secrets, and the intricate character dynamics fans love.
Watch the full interview with Gary Cole for more insights on Parker’s arc, the crossover, and what’s ahead this season.
NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.
