How Parker’s First ‘NCIS’ Season 19 Episodes Hint at His Future on the Team
We understand if you’re not over Mark Harmon‘s exit from NCIS just yet. But the show — and the team — must go on. There are still cases to solve. And one of the orders of business for the CBS drama is revealing just how Gary Cole‘s Alden Parker will fit in going forward.
The NCIS team — Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) — met Parker while they were investigating the serial killer Gibbs was after and joined forces with the FBI agent. During the course of that, Gibbs set off with that serial killer on his own, leaving behind the other member of the road trip (Parker). The FBI subsequently issued a warrant for Gibbs’ arrest.
Parker followed Gibbs and McGee to Alaska but was convinced to let them finish their work there and helped close the case. He also let Gibbs go even when the other man was surrendering himself at the end of the episode. As he saw it, if he didn’t testify to the fact that Gibbs stole the government vehicle he did, there’s no case. As a result, Parker was fired.
But Cole is a series regular in Season 19, and he’s already seen in the photos and promo for the next episode, “Face the Strange,” working alongside the team (with a Visitor badge, pictured above). How do his first three episodes suggest how we’ll see him going forward? We examine that below.
Vance Hires Parker
Parker did let his agent (even if Gibbs was suspended at the time) and friend go, after all. Maybe the NCIS director (Rocky Carroll) repays that favor by bringing him into his agency. And while the argument can be made that Parker has more years of experience on the job than McGee and should maybe then be the new team leader, McGee is ready (even if he’s still finding his rhythm) to do the job. Plus, they can say that since he’d been fired from one federal agency, he has to face some sort of consequence at his next job.
Parker Becomes a Consultant for NCIS
Maybe Parker can’t even officially join NCIS as an agent due to the FBI firing him. Consultant does seem to be the role he’s stepping into in the promo (above) for the next episode since he is at the scene with the team when a van explodes.
Parker Teams up With Fornell
There might be a reason why Parker mentioned in “Great Wide Open” that he called his old coworker Fornell (Joe Spano) and it was the now-private detective who convinced him Gibbs didn’t belong behind bars. Maybe the two former FBI agents team up, and Parker just so happens to work with the team a lot.
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P
Sorry, don’t much care for Cole. Didn’t like him on Chicago Fire either. Just plays the same type of guy.
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C
Loved Mark Harmon. Respect his decision to move on. The show has new stories to explore. I like Gary Cole. He brings an interesting dynamic to the show. Look forward to tuning in on Mondays to see how the team moves on.
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I hope McGee takes over as the leader of the team. I was not a fan of Bishop and glad she is gone. Gibbs will be hard to replace. I liked his wife Pam Dawber on there. Definitely a Torres and Casey fan. It was nice seeing Ducky.I didn’t like Abby-I know I am probably in the minority on that one. Not a Gary Cole fan on there yet. Palmer is fun to watch too.
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It is hard to replace popular characters on any show but this is going to be impossible. I am not looking forward to Gary Cole or Katrina Law joining the series. I am just not a fan of either one. I think the most successful role was Diona Resonover that took over when Abby left. The only person that could come close to taking over for Gibbs is Tony Dinozzo and we know that isn't happening. Rocky Carroll taking over the role as director was also successful. Was NOT a fan of Lauren Holly either. Too bad Ned Dorneget isn't around to come and join the team full time. They killed him off too soon. I am concerned about the future of NCIS. I will wait and see how it goes. Good Luck to all the characters. Love Jimmy and Ducky. Still on the fence concerning Torres.
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Mc Gee is just not a leader in my opinion
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O
Don’t care for Cole. Not looking forward to future NCIS shows without Gibbs. No chemistry among current characters 😞
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I don't care for Gary Cole but McGee, Torres and Knight are just fine as a team.
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Remember had Gibbs always consulted Frank, his old boss, even after Frank died.
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I don't care for Gary Cole. He needs the other actors to carry him ad he can't act well enough on his own. The man needs acting lessons, and the creators of the show should have looked around more as he will kill the show. That Katrina Law is another weak link as well. You should have look for someone else who is stronger both mentally, physically and have something that defies her character.
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Not interested at all. NO GIBBS----NO NCIS for me!!
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If McGee doesn't get Gibbs's job, I'll watch something else.
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I've always liked Gary Cole's performances so I like him as a character on NCIS although I think McGee should be in charge. I also like Knight. I didn't like Bishop at all until she finally grew in me, but I've liked Knight immediately. She won't appeal to everyone as she is a strong, independent female. She's more in the mold of Ziva than Bishop ever was. Maybe more accurate to say she's a female Torres, although I'm not a Torres fan. I can't stand the Fornell character so I hope he's not involved.
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It may have been interesting to see the cycle Coin Hank's back around. His character did earn the team's (and Gibbs' trust). And there was a good chemistry between them all after he humbled himself.
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HWe will all miss Gibbs, after all he started the show and he was the main character in he show. But as time passes characters will out grow their positions ( ex. Tony who we all loved was getting a bit to mature and old to just be a field agent and we would have to wonder why he does not move on up the chain of command and have his own team - yes he wanted to stay with Gibbs, but he was getting to old for the part) . As in real life people do come and go . We have lost many of the original cast members the show started with. Their replacements were not always liked by all, but the one thing I found is that the more you watch the show with the new cast the more they show they do fit in and have the heart the rest of the characters have. I love the team they have put together on NCIS for 2021 - I think its a great fit and that if we have to lose Gibbs , Cole is a great replacement and will bring the heart, the drama and the humor we are accustomed to seeing over the years. I personally hope he remains with the show.
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Absolutely not the same thing!!! NCIS without Gibbs IS like I Love Lucy without Lucy!!! No thanks
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Kate was fired from the Secret Service Gibbs hired her. Fornell used to refer to NCIS as Ex- MP’s and re tread cops and at one point even referred to them as cowboys.
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I was just coming to say this
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I love NCIS and of course I will miss Gibbs. I want NCIS to stay on and let McGee be the boss. It’s going to take time to get use of Gibbs not being there. Others that there needs there jobs. Just because Gibbs not there, the show must go on for the other actors. You can not ruin others that have jobs on the show. I will continue to watch.
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I think Scott Bacula would have made a great stand-in for Gibbs. He's already been an NCIS leader and he's out of a job...
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