Spoilers Ahead for NCIS Season 22
Season 22 of NCIS highlights just how much Alden Parker (Gary Cole) has influenced his team, fully stepping into the leadership role once held by Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). Despite joining only three years ago, Special Agent Parker has effectively guided McGee (Sean Murray), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), and the rest of the team through complex cases. A key moment in the season premiere with Special Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) cements Parker as the new, fitting leader of the Major Case Response Team (MCRT).
Replacing Gibbs was no easy feat; after all, he led the series for 19 years until Mark Harmon’s exit in season 19. Knowing that any successor would face high expectations, NCIS didn’t try to replicate Gibbs’ leadership style. Instead, Parker stepped in with his own approach after being dismissed from the FBI for helping Gibbs. The new Agent-in-Charge brought a refreshing shift to the team, combining care and a laid-back demeanor that has revitalized the NCIS bullpen.
