Rocky Carroll has stepped into the director’s chair for two episodes on NCIS Season 22, with the most recent being “Baker’s Man,” which aired recently in the 2025 TV schedule. However, when it comes to his character, NCIS Director Leon Vance, one of his most significant episodes this season has been “Foreign Bodies,” where we were reacquainted with his almost-girlfriend Lena Paulsen, portrayed by Marem Hassler. By the end of that episode, Vance and Lena had taken their relationship to a more official level, leading me to anticipate seeing more of her. As for when we can expect this to unfold is uncertain, but Carroll did express his ideas about how this development might transpire in an interview with TopMob.
In a recent chat with Rocky Carroll, we delved into his ongoing discussions with Gabriel LaRoche, the new NCIS Deputy Director. I inquired from him whether his character’s bond with Lena would be further developed in the current season. To which, he initially responded:
The question you asked is insightful, as we had a captivating episode written by Marco Schnabel where we left the door open for a particular character. If they can manage to incorporate her into future episodes… I find these characters so appealing because when they reappear, it’s not just for a casual cameo like “Look, here’s my dinner date.” Instead, they are often connected to the narrative in some way. Since Lena has a background in an agency and was an operative herself, it seems they are trying to find a method to reintroduce her, while maintaining an air of mystery.
In “NCIS”, Lena made her second appearance during Episode 20’s “Guardian”, initially introduced as an agent for the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), or the Federal Intelligence Service. If you need a reminder, stream the episode with your Paramount+ subscription. Throughout their interactions, Lena and Vance had maintained a casual relationship without any strings attached. However, during most of Season 22, they continued to have a friendly rapport. By the end of the episode, Vance discovered he wanted a deeper connection with Lena, which she reciprocated by giving him a key to her new apartment in New York, indicating her willingness for something more between them.
Currently, Leon Vance and Lena Paulsen are an official couple, but their relationship is long-distance due to their busy careers. However, given that Rocky Carroll has been playing on NCIS for over a decade and a half, he believes that for Lena to become a recurring character on the show, her involvement would need to extend beyond just being there for romantic purposes, and instead be tied to a larger storyline. The actor added:
The aspect of the narrative that I admired was her ambiguity regarding why she returned to Vance’s life. Instead of revealing it directly, he had to uncover that this operative was reporting to her for this specific case. This created an atmosphere where everyone was evaluating each other and no one was entirely open about their intentions. If they can maintain this intrigue while reintroducing her character, I believe it will be effective. Fingers crossed she’ll return soon, though our season is nearing its end. I really enjoyed her comeback and hope for another one soon.
Although NCIS Season 22 has just begun, as Rocky Carroll mentioned, the team is already brainstorming for the season finale. With Lena Paulsen not appearing to be involved in these upcoming episodes, it seems doubtful she’ll reappear during this season. This makes a strong case for CBS to renew NCIS for its 23rd season, and Carroll is eager to delve deeper into Vance’s relationship with Lena, if she can continue utilizing her agent abilities in the new season as well.
Luckily for fellow rom-com fans watching NCIS, it was disclosed in “Baker’s Man” that Nick Torres is dating Robin Knight. The developments from “For Better or Worse” have added some spice to their relationship, so here’s hoping we get to see more of this dynamic duo in the future. As for Season 22, it seems we’ll delve deeper into Alden Parker’s mystery surrounding Lily and perhaps uncover the blueprint for the Kansas City mob saga.
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2025-02-05 21:39