NCIS Season 23’s Premiere Brings a Dark Change for Alden Parker

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The new season of *NCIS* takes a dramatic turn for Alden Parker (Gary Cole), who stepped into the role previously held by Mark Harmon’s iconic Leroy Jethro Gibbs. While Parker has become known as a calm and adaptable leader of the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), the season begins with a shocking shift. The premiere opens in the wake of his father, Roman Parker’s (Francis X. McCarthy), murder.

The original *NCIS* show has had some challenges lately, with viewership declining as it’s evolved. However, the *NCIS* universe is still thriving thanks to successful spin-offs like *NCIS: Origins* (now in its second season) and *NCIS: Sydney* (airing its third). The main show was ready for a refresh, and the storyline featuring Parker in “Prodigal Son, Part I” provides just that.

NCIS Season 22 Finale Ending Explained

In the season finale of NCIS Season 22, Alden learns a shocking truth: Carla Marino, a mob leader he previously arrested and a long-standing enemy, was responsible for his father’s murder. Last season focused on Parker’s personal journey, triggered by a disturbing event on a Navy ship. This experience caused him to have persistent hallucinations, leading him to investigate his mother’s death and ultimately uncover more about his father.

Roman’s death marked the peak of the mob boss’s long-running feud with Alden. She had previously kidnapped Alden, revealing her belief that he was responsible for her son’s death. Marino’s plan for revenge started when she pretended to be an informant for the Nexus cartel, which allowed her to abduct Parker. However, instead of simply killing Alden, Marino devised a crueler plan: she befriended Alden’s father and then murdered him, aiming to inflict maximum suffering.

Carla skillfully manipulated Alden, and in the first episode of *NCIS* Season 23, Parker is determined to find her. Despite being exhausted and emotionally invested, Parker stays focused on the case. However, the situation becomes deeply personal, causing him to act impulsively as he seeks justice. This reveals a new, more unconventional side to Parker, reminiscent of the rogue tactics often employed by Gibbs.

Alden Parker Shows a Darker Side in NCIS Season 23’s Premiere

The search for Carla Marino is pushing Parker to his limits, especially since he was already struggling with the truth about his mother’s death. Throughout Season 22 of *NCIS*, Parker has been experiencing disturbing hallucinations – a recurrence of a similar breakdown he had on a Navy ship at the end of Season 21. This shift in his personality isn’t sudden; it’s been building as he deals with a series of major life changes.

Despite recent developments for Parker, this is the turning point that fully changes him. Alden takes drastic, unauthorized measures to locate Carla, mirroring his past behavior – he fabricates bomb threats across the East Coast to halt transportation. This questionable tactic leads Director Vance to suspend Alden and remove him from the case. Nevertheless, Parker and the rest of the MCRT team continue their investigation.

Once the team found Carla’s accomplice – the man pretending to be an FBI agent – they attempted to arrest him, resulting in a street shootout and a reprimand from Vance. Although the suspect initially escaped, Parker’s team eventually tracked him down. However, the case took a troubling turn when Cole orchestrated a car theft involving the truck the suspect was in, and then resorted to aggressive tactics during the interrogation, physically intimidating their key witness by pinning him against the vehicle.

Parker’s changed behavior doesn’t go unnoticed by the team. Timothy McGee repeatedly tries to get Parker to go home, but each time, Parker disappears and continues investigating on his own. When boarding the ship carrying the suspect, Carla, Parker pulls a risky maneuver that reminds McGee of Gibbs. He angrily points out that a similar tactic failed for Gibbs in the past, especially when Kasie suggests Parker might be acting alone to keep everyone safe.

Parker’s Life Hangs in the Balance in Season 23

The arrival of Harriet also makes viewers question what they thought they knew about Parker. Through flashbacks, we see Harriet examining Alden’s past crimes and how they affected their father – a resentment she still holds. She hints to Dr. Jimmy Palmer that her brother might have a hidden, complex history, suggesting Parker’s storyline will become more intense.

The first part of “Prodigal Son,” titled “Prodigal Son, Part I,” emphasizes the differences between Harriet and Alden. Harriet always follows the rules, while Alden often bends or breaks them – and he really pushes this in the premiere episode. This contrast is especially clear when Alden goes after Carla on the *Quentin*, while Harriet takes charge of stopping Marino. Harriet receives orders to destroy the ship her brother is on and gives the order without hesitation, right before the episode ends on a cliffhanger.

Following the season 23 premiere of *NCIS*, Parker’s life is in serious danger. Though it seems likely he’ll survive the attack, how he’ll manage it remains to be seen. If he recovers, Parker faces a significant season as his personal story continues to evolve. While the loss of a family member is heartbreaking, it’s been compelling to watch Parker’s growth, particularly as he’s become a central figure in the show.

The recent NCIS Season 23 premiere is giving Parker’s character the development he deserves. While Parker has stepped in well following Mark Harmon’s long run as a central figure on the show, he hasn’t had the same opportunity to grow. Considering Harmon was with the series for 19 seasons, that’s understandable, but it’s clear that Cole’s character is now undergoing significant development in Season 23.

NCIS airs on Tuesday nights at 8 pm Eastern on CBS.

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2025-10-16 23:38