NCIS has been one of the most popular and beloved crime dramas for decades. It premiered in 2003 and recently concluded its 22nd season with a heartbreaking conclusion, with a key character being killed off.
The unexpected departure of the character has prompted cast members to speak out about what it means for the future of the show. Wilmer Valderrama, one of the series’ main actors, has shared that the character’s departure sets the stage for a dramatic and explosive season 23.
Parker Loses His Father in Season 22 Finale
Fans are probably familiar with the character of Parker, played by Gary Cole to great effect. In the final moments of season 22, Parker returns home after a series of tense events; he had previously confronted mob boss Carla Marino. In a conversation, Carla expressed that she blamed Parker for her son’s death.
Carla’s deep resentment drove her to seek revenge on Parker. However, simply killing Parker wouldn’t be enough to cause enough pain, so in the final scene of the finale, Parker discovers that his father has been murdered, which could send him into a spiral of emotional turmoil by the end of the season.
The Reason Behind Parker’s Family Death
Steven D. Binder, executive producer of NCIS, explained to TV Insider why the writers decided to kill off Parker’s family. He said it was a way to unbalance a character who is usually so calm and steady:
“The writers got together and thought, ‘This character is so stable and balanced,’ and ‘something needs to knock him out of that,’ as a natural instinct. So the idea was to create something that would make him burn out.”
Wilmer Valderrama: Season 23 Will Be a “Deviation” From Before
After this major loss, season 23 will certainly focus on the aftermath and impact of the season 22 ending. Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Special Agent Nick Torres, shared that Parker’s father’s death will have far-reaching effects in the upcoming episodes.
In an interview with E! News, Wilmer said:
“It’s going to be very traumatic and really heartbreaking… It’s going to shake up the team, and I think it’s going to push us to go ‘off’ in season 23. The big idea is: ‘How do we disrupt the peace of season 22 and set the stage for season 23?’”
There’s no official air date for season 23 yet, but fans will likely see NCIS again sometime in September or October of this year.
