NCIS’ Rocky Carroll Reveals Thrilling ‘Baker’s Man’ Mystery and Romance!

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Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Baker’s Man” are ahead!

As the storylines for NCIS’s Season 22 unfold in 2025, fans can anticipate intriguing developments for Alden Parker, such as exploring how the Lily mystery impacts him and potential hints regarding a plotline involving the Kansas City mob’s flight plan. However, tonight’s episode, titled “Baker’s Man,” shed light on one of Gary Cole’s character’s personal passions: his fondness for pastries. Viewers got a peek at one of Parker’s favorite bakeries, and Rocky Carroll, who plays Leon Vance, shared with TopMob his delight in directing the midseason premiere.

For over a decade now, Carroll has been a significant figure in the world of NCIS, stepping into the role of agency director following Vance’s introduction in Season 5’s “Internal Affairs.” However, since Season 12, he’s not only held that position but also become a regular director for the series. The episode “Baker’s Man” was his 25th time directing, and before its release, I had an opportunity to chat with Carroll about his latest experience as director:

I found the most captivating aspect of this production was delving into scenes focusing on Eleny and Parker’s relationship dynamics, rather than police work. It was intriguing to see their bond deteriorate, with Eleny taking legal action against Parker, causing his perceptions of her to crumble significantly. However, the plot twist unveiled that she too was a victim, just like everyone else. A noteworthy scene involved a rescue mission in a warehouse where an explosion occurred, and the drug-laced cookies ignited. Capturing this intense sequence presented several challenges, such as figuring out the best way to execute a large-scale explosion scene. Overall, it was an exciting journey filled with numerous creative hurdles.

The show “Baker’s Man” primarily focused on Alden Parker and his team unraveling the mystery of an employee’s murder at Kostakis Bakery, managed by Eleny, played by Melina Kanakaredes. Interestingly, Virgil, who wasn’t a Navy member, seemed crucial to Parker for resolving the murder. This was because Virgil was secretly being held hostage when Parker visited the bakery and he had warned Cole’s character about suspicious activities before his untimely death. As Eleny got involved in the case, it was evident that there was a mutual attraction between her and Parker. However, their relationship became complicated as the investigation progressed.

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According to Rocky Carroll’s explanation, the events unfolded with Eleny being compelled by a drug cartel to secretly mix cocaine into the sugar used at Kostakis Bakery. This led to a dire situation where she, Nick Torres, and Jessica Knight were taken captive at the drug lab, where Eleny was forced to continue producing her tainted products. Luckily, Torres managed to trigger an explosion as a diversion, enabling them to surprise their captors right when Parker and McGee arrived to save them. Although Leon Vance wasn’t present during that incident, Rocky Carroll had the task of finding the correct way to depict this sequence on screen, which he was eager to handle.

After “Baker’s Man” concluded, Parker and Eleny had mended their relationship significantly when he understood that she wasn’t involved in the drug scheme. Moreover, it was revealed that she borrowed money from the cartel to safeguard her nephew Manny, who was under threat due to a protection racket operated by his parole officer – also Virgil’s parole officer and the man responsible for his death. Since Eleny is planning to return to Greece to reunite with her family, including Manny when he’s released in a month, it remains uncertain whether she’ll reconnect romantically with Parker. If she does, I’d be eager to see an episode directed by Rocky Carroll that brings them back together.

Don’t miss the latest episodes of NCIS every Monday at 9 pm Eastern Time on CBS. You can also stream them later and access the entire NCIS series collection with a Paramount+ subscription. By the way, for those who are interested, it was revealed in “Baker’s Man” that Torres is dating Robin, Knight’s sister.

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2025-01-28 06:07