Rocky Carroll has been a part of NCIS since 2008, which means he’s witnessed numerous actors join and leave the hit CBS show. For quite some time, he collaborated with Mark Harmon, often portraying conflicting scenes between their characters, Leon Vance and Leroy Jethro Gibbs. After Harmon left NCIS, Gary Cole’s Alden Parker assumed the role of team leader in Season 19, creating a distinct dynamic compared to what Vance had with Gibbs.
Carroll shared his thoughts on the matter during a conversation with TopMob, and I fully concur with him regarding the unique aspects that distinguish the two relationships they’re referring to.
Recently, Carroll has been in charge of directing Season 22’s “Baker’s Man”, making it his 25th time at the helm on NCIS. As this episode that aired recently was heavily focused on Parker, I asked him what he enjoys most about collaborating with Cole and what he finds appealing about the relationship between Vance and Parker. Following our discussion about their shared background as stage actors, Carroll shared his thoughts on their characters:
Recently, Carroll directed an episode of NCIS (Season 22’s “Baker’s Man”) for the 25th time. Since this episode was centered around Parker, I asked him about working with Cole and what he likes best about Vance and Parker’s dynamic. He talked about bonding with Cole over their past as stage actors. Here’s what he had to say about their characters:
As a film enthusiast, I find the dynamic between Vance and Parker subtly distinct from the one between Gibbs and Vance. The bond between Gibbs and Vance was primarily shaped by shared adversity, forging a relationship that had a rockier path before reaching a level of mutual respect and camaraderie. In contrast, Vance’s longstanding position as director might have made his interactions with Parker more straightforward due to their history together in the NCIS. It’s even become a running joke among the technical advisors on set – “The director of NCIS, no one has ever lasted 17 years in this role, but you’re the longest-serving director of NCIS.
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In the fifth season of NCIS, Leon Vance made his entrance. After the demise of Jenny Shepard, he assumed command as head of the agency. Initially, Vance and Leroy Jethro Gibbs had a frosty rapport, with neither man confident in the other. However, over time and through the passage of years, they grew to accept each other more warmly.
Rocky Carroll shared with me that a significant part of their bond formed due to them both having experienced tragic losses. Specifically, Gibbs lost his first wife and daughter to drug dealer Pedro Hernandez (a storyline recently delved into on NCIS: Origins), while Vance’s wife Jackie was fatally caught in the crossfire when Eli David, Ziva David’s father, was killed at their home during NCIS Season 10. It so happens that Parker entered this narrative at a crucial moment.
With his recent tenure, it seems to me that Vance has become slightly more open-minded, especially considering the loss of his wife and the struggles he faced with his son and daughter. I believe that this connection with Parker emerged at an opportune moment, as both men seem to have grown more comfortable with their identities.
In recent years, Leon Vance has had the opportunity to mourn Jackie’s death and address his challenges with his daughter and son (the latter being a focus of the 1,000th episode in the NCIS series). Currently, he is in a healthier emotional state and even has an official relationship with Lena Paulsen. However, it’s uncertain when we will next see her.
Regardless of Alden Parker’s complex past, Rocky Carroll believes it’s fortunate that Vance and Parker crossed paths when they did because while their dynamic with Gibbs was enjoyable for over a decade, the new interplay between Vance and Parker offers a refreshing change.
On Mondays at 9 pm Eastern Time, you can catch new episodes of NCIS on CBS. Although they haven’t decided if there will be a 23rd season, the NCIS franchise offers other shows for your enjoyment such as NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, and the Paramount+ exclusive, NCIS: Tony & Ziva (with a release date still to be announced).
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2025-02-13 18:08