The NCIS Season 22 Finale Death Explained (And How It Sets Up Season 23)

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Contains spoilers for “NCIS” Season 22, Episode 20 — “Nexus”

In the episode “Nexus,” the beloved character Alden Parker (Gary Cole) is left reeling when his father, Roman (Francis Xavier McCarthy), is brutally murdered by an old adversary, Carla Marino (Rebecca De Mornay), the leader of the Midwest’s largest Mafia syndicate. This tragedy occurs shortly after Roman expresses his deep love and pride in Alden, making the moment even more heart-wrenching. Overwhelmed with grief, Alden can only cry, vent his fury, and smash his dad’s cherished television set.

Clearly, Carla has motives for gunning down Roman and leaving only a lipstick-stained wine glass as evidence – she’s seeking retribution against Alden, whom she holds responsible for the demise of her son, Jason. As Alden was tasked with investigating Carla years ago, if he hadn’t revealed the extent of her wrongdoings to Jason, then perhaps Jason wouldn’t have fled and met his tragic end in a motorcycle accident – this is what Carla thinks.

In essence, Season 23 will primarily focus on Alden’s vengeful pursuit against Carla for murdering Roman. However, should he manage to take her life, his conscience will be heavily burdened: he has collaborated with Carla in the Nexus investigation and granted her entry into his home, thereby providing her a pathway to his father. This additional factor intensifies Alden’s intense, all-consuming anger – paving the way for him to exhibit a more sinister side during Season 23.

NCIS’ executive producer promises a new kind of Parker in Season 23

Alden Parker’s pursuit of revenge against Carla could lead to a significant shift in the usual peaceful demeanor of the characters. One of the show’s producers assures us that this will not be a calm chase, as he tracks down his former adversary. As per “NCIS” executive producer Steven D. Binder, the writers aim to alter the characters’ conduct by subjecting Parker to various trials and tribulations. The anguish and fury stemming from Roman’s death will serve as the primary driver for Parker’s character development throughout Season 23. Binder explains that choosing to kill Roman to fuel the narrative was a straightforward decision.

In simpler terms, the character mentioned is an adversary of Parker’s who holds him responsible for a significant loss – losing a parent versus losing a child, the latter being much more devastating. This individual harbors intense resentment and malice towards Parker, not content with merely killing him, but rather choosing to inflict pain upon him. The person chosen to torment Parker is this particular character. It’s been revealed that this revelation will have a profound impact on Parker, causing him great emotional distress and pushing him to maintain a delicate balance between unrelenting anger and team loyalty. Viewers won’t be able to witness how Parker copes with this situation until the fall of 2025 when the 23rd season of “NCIS” premieres.

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2025-05-06 22:47