As a long-time NCIS enthusiast with a soft spot for Jessica Knight’s character arc, I must say that the latest episode, “Knight and Day,” was a delightful surprise! Katrina Law delivered a captivating performance, and the plot twist about Melinda Radmore’s past was intriguing. It’s refreshing to see Knight make a friend outside of her work circle, and I hope we’ll see more of Melinda in future episodes.
Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Knight and Day” are ahead!
In the initial stages of NCIS Season 22 airing on the 2024 TV calendar, a lot has transpired for character Jessica Knight. In the opening episode itself, she declined a REACT promotion at Camp Pendleton and chose to rejoin her team in Washington D.C. Subsequently, her romantic relationship with Jimmy Palmer reached an end, and they managed to find closure. Moreover, in the most recent installment, she had the opportunity to participate in a lively ’70s-themed episode.
In this week’s installment titled “Knight and Day,” Katrina Law’s character formed an unexpected alliance amidst an ongoing case. What truly piqued my interest following the episode is the enigmatic villain hinted at in Alden Parker’s past, leaving me curious about potential future appearances of this intriguing figure.
Knight Made Friends With The Subject Of This Week’s Case
The plot of “Knight and Day” centered around Melinda Radmore (formerly Willis), a formidable figure in D.C. and wife of defense contractor Freddy Radmore. Their high-rise apartment was burglarized while Freddy was involved with Sheila, another influential society member. During the break-in, Melinda managed to shoot one of the intruders using a gun from the Radmores’ secure room. At first, it seemed as if the thief aimed to abduct Freddy due to his prominent position at Radmore Industries. However, it soon became clear that Melinda was actually the intended target.
Essentially, Jessica Knight was brought on board as Melinda’s bodyguard while the team was trying to identify who was threatening her. Initially, Melinda and Jessica didn’t see eye to eye, as Melinda had been rather abrupt towards Jessica upon their first meeting at the crime scene in her apartment. This attitude of Melinda’s extended to criticizing Knight’s attire. However, they managed to find some mutual interests when Knight joined Melinda at her exclusive country club and played a game of doubles tennis with her.
NCIS Executive Producer Discloses the Episode that Left Fans in a State of Excitement, but Made Him Understand that the CBS Series was ‘Assuredly Secure’.
As a devoted gamer diving into the latest plot twist, I’ve got to admit, the way they orchestrated Mark Harmon’s exit and introduced Alden Parker was nothing short of genius. Here’s how it all unfolded from my perspective:
Initially, it was assumed that Melinda Radmore was being targeted due to the $50 million donated to her charity, Brighter Days Fund, which helps orphans find homes. However, this wasn’t the actual reason, although the true motive did relate to an orphan. It was discovered that Melinda Radmore wasn’t the real Melinda Willis, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 18, but rather April Day, a high school graduate from a trailer park outside Kansas City, who was also the homecoming queen and valedictorian. Afterward, she mysteriously vanished.
In a romantic relationship was April, the homecoming queen, with Jason Morino, who was the son of Carla Morino – the influential matron of the most powerful crime family in the Midwest (details about her forthcoming). Jason wanted no part in his family’s illegal activities, leading him and April to flee together. To avoid suspicion, April assumed Melissa’s identity. Tragically, at age 20, Jason perished in a motorcycle accident while April was three months pregnant. Later, when organizing a memorial service for Jason, she encountered a reverend who persuaded her to place the baby up for adoption, hoping it would provide her with a better future. True to her word, she did so and opted never to discover the whereabouts of her daughter, fearing that Carla might one day seek her out.
20 years down the line, that’s exactly what transpired, with Carla orchestrating the kidnapping scheme. She even went as far as capturing both April/Melinda and Jessica Knight in order to obtain a genetic sample. This sample helped her trace the whereabouts of her granddaughter, Lauren. Fortunately, they thwarted Carla’s plan to meet Lauren, and soon after, she departed from town. By the finale of “Knight and Day” (notice the clever play on words with that title?), Knight and April had developed a strong bond. In fact, Knight joined April at her flower shop where Lauren was employed, so April could finally meet her for the first time. The two women also decided to engage in another friendly game of tennis together.
It’s uncertain if Melinda Radmore will reappear on NCIS frequently, but it’s enjoyable to see Knight forming a friendship outside of work. Hopefully, we’ll catch a glimpse of Melinda again in Season 22. As for the side plot, Jessica mistook a jacket at a party as Nick Torres’, but it actually belonged to Kyle, the son of Herman Goldweather from Bethesda. It seems unlikely that Kyle will show up on NCIS again, but who knows? This could mark the start of Jessica’s first relationship post-Jimmy.
We Met An Old Adversary From Parker’s FBI Years
As the events unfolded in the “Knight and Day” case, Alden Parker found himself in the same state of ignorance as everyone else regarding the situation. However, once he learned about Jason Morino, it became clear that he had a past connection with Carla Morino. In his time at the FBI, Gary Cole’s character had spent numerous years attempting to capture Carla in Kansas City, resulting in her becoming quite acquainted with him. When Carla was arrested at Lauren’s flower shop and transported to NCIS, Parker took charge of her interrogation. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep her in custody, as the kidnappers of Knight and Melinda didn’t incriminate her. Afterwards, she went back to Kansas City. But could this be the last time we encounter her?
From the intertwining of Parker’s history with Carla and the display of her photo near his desk, it seems unlikely that she is malicious. If Carla and Parker had no prior relationship, this might suggest otherwise, but as established by the NCIS writers, they share a significant past. However, it doesn’t mean Carla will turn out to be as villainous as Gabriel LaRoche has been portrayed. It would be gratifying if she appeared again, allowing Parker the chance to bring her to justice and potentially paving the way for Melinda/April’s return. This could provide an additional personal storyline for him, complementing the enigma of the title girl he hallucinated in the Season 21 finale.
The latest episodes of NCIS are broadcast every Monday at 10 pm ET on CBS, and following the telecast, you can stream them with a Paramount+ membership. Currently running is NCIS: Origins, while Season 2 of NCIS: Sydney and the upcoming Paramount+-exclusive series titled NCIS: Tony & Ziva are slated for release in the 2025 TV lineup.
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2024-11-26 06:37