When NCIS returns for its 23rd season, it won’t just be another round of criminal cases and forensic puzzles. According to series star Wilmer Valderrama, the long-running CBS juggernaut is about to deliver its most emotionally charged, combustible, and character-driven season in years — one that will “set the fans on fire.”
Valderrama, who has played the unpredictable yet fiercely loyal Special Agent Nick Torres since 2016, is teasing a reinvention of the show’s core — not through its villains, but through the raw emotional unraveling of its heroes. After Season 22 ended in tragedy, the actor promises that NCIS Season 23 will be “personal, painful, and powerful” in ways fans have never seen before.
“This season is about the scars our characters carry — and what happens when those scars start to burn,” Valderrama told Us Weekly.
The Season 23 Storm: Revenge, Loss, and Fractured Loyalties
Season 22’s devastating finale saw Alden Parker’s (Gary Cole) father murdered by mob boss Carla Marino, setting the stage for a revenge arc that will test the entire Major Case Response Team. For Valderrama, this story isn’t just about vengeance — it’s about moral lines blurring, loyalties breaking, and family being redefined.
“Parker is spiraling,” he shared. “He’s a man who has lost his moral compass, and Torres — who’s been there himself — recognizes that pain. But it’s going to pull the whole team into dangerous territory.”
The season premiere, aptly titled “Prodigal Son (Part 1),” will reportedly open with a rogue mission that divides the MCRT. Some follow Parker into the darkness; others try to pull him back. Caught in the middle? Torres, whose own history of emotional trauma gives him a unique perspective — and a dangerous temptation to cross the line once more.
“Torres has always lived in gray areas,” Valderrama said. “This year, he has to decide whether being loyal means saving Parker — or joining him.”
A Show Reborn: The Turn to the Personal
For a series in its 23rd year, NCIS is taking bold steps. Rather than relying solely on high-tech crimes or military conspiracies, the focus is shifting inward — toward the emotional fallout of a life in law enforcement.
Valderrama calls it “a character-forward reinvention,” designed to breathe new life into every agent’s story.
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Parker’s Breakdown: His descent into obsession threatens to destroy the team’s unity.
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McGee’s Crossroads: He faces a moral dilemma that could endanger his career.
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Kasie’s Reckoning: She takes on a case that forces her to confront her own mortality.
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Knight’s Rebirth: Torn between grief and ambition, she must decide who she wants to be — and who she can trust.
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Torres’s Evolution: Haunted by his past, he steps into the role of emotional anchor, balancing empathy with volatility.
“Season 23 is not about chasing suspects,” Valderrama teased. “It’s about chasing your soul after you’ve lost it.”
The Fire Everyone’s Talking About: Torres and Jessica Knight
But beyond the bullets and betrayals, one question dominates the NCIS fandom: Are Nick Torres and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) about to cross the line from partners to something more?
Their chemistry has long been undeniable — a crackling mix of banter, trust, and barely-contained attraction that mirrors the slow-burn dynamic once shared by Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David. Fans have dubbed them “TorrKnight,” and speculation has only intensified after the collapse of Knight’s relationship with Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) last season.
When asked about the rumors, Valderrama was careful — but cryptically playful.
“There’s definitely fire,” he said with a grin. “But fire can warm you or burn you — and in Season 23, Torres might find out which one it is.”
He added that his character’s connection with Knight will be pivotal — not necessarily romantic (at least not yet), but transformative.
“Nick is instrumental in Jessica’s rebirth,” he said. “They’re both survivors. Whether that turns into love or just deep mutual understanding — we’ll have to see.”
A Triangle of Tension: Knight, Palmer, and Torres
The NCIS writers appear to be setting up a volatile triangle that could fracture team harmony.
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Knight and Palmer’s breakup in Season 22 left unresolved feelings. Showrunner Steven Binder has hinted that their “complicated” relationship isn’t over — but it won’t be smooth sailing.
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Torres, meanwhile, is “getting back into dating,” according to Binder — in ways that will “cause a lot of problems for everybody.”
Fans can expect jealousy, emotional confrontations, and moments of romantic tension woven throughout the new episodes.
“There’s definitely going to be chaos,” Valderrama admitted. “But that’s the point. NCIS has always been about family — and sometimes, family gets messy.”
Why Season 23 Matters
More than two decades into its run, NCIS could have easily rested on formula. Instead, it’s embracing what Valderrama calls a “spiritual and emotional reboot.”
Showrunner Binder agrees: “We know we can do action. Now we want to make sure every gunshot has an emotional echo.”
This evolution means deeper character arcs, bigger risks, and a renewed focus on the emotional cost of justice. As Valderrama puts it, “Every explosion this season comes with a heartbeat attached.”
A Legacy of Fire and Family
With original icons like Gibbs and DiNozzo long gone, the current MCRT — Parker, McGee, Torres, Knight, Palmer, and Kasie — have officially become the new heart of the show. Season 23 will test that family in ways both external and internal, forcing each to question their loyalty, purpose, and identity.
Valderrama sums it up best:
“This isn’t just another season. It’s the reckoning of everything we’ve built — the love, the loss, the loyalty, the guilt. By the end, nobody’s walking away the same.”
So buckle up, NCIS fans — Season 23 isn’t just back. It’s about to burn.
