Spoiler Alert for NCIS Season 22, Episode 3, “The Trouble with Hal”
NCIS Season 22 has been monumental for the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), with each episode building on big developments from the last. Episode 3 continues this trend by tackling a lighter yet meaningful subject: the team’s plans for Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard’s office.
The season opened with Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) in a high-stakes hostage situation and saw NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) pursue a romantic connection after she, too, was held hostage. The suspense has even hinted at a mole within NCIS. But in the midst of these intense arcs, Episode 3 gives fans a heartwarming breather with the team navigating a smaller yet significant decision: repurposing Ducky’s office.
In this episode, Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) suggests transforming Ducky’s old office into a gym, sparking a team-wide conversation about what they each envision for the space. Kasie (Diona Reasonover) wants it to serve as a tribute to Ducky, while Parker hopes for a place to eat lunch away from his desk. Jimmy Palmer sees it as a valuable spot to preserve Ducky’s old files. Ultimately, the team collaborates to create a multi-purpose room, with something for everyone, naming it the Doctor Donald Mallard Memorial Multi-Purpose Room, affectionately dubbed “Ducky’s.” Torres gets his weights, Parker has his lunch table, Kasie a meditation spot, and Jimmy a place for Ducky’s files.
This new break room signifies the shift in team dynamics since Alden Parker (Gary Cole) took over from Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Unlike Gibbs’ regimented leadership, Parker’s approach is more relaxed and balanced, understanding that his agents need a place to unwind. This difference in style is apparent as Parker is quick to support the idea of a break room—something that would have been low on Gibbs’ priority list.
In addition to adding this personal touch, “Ducky’s” gives the team a private space for conversations away from the bullpen’s hustle, bringing a laid-back vibe without disrupting the office. Gibbs’ team used the bullpen as their main shared space, often sacrificing breaks due to his intense work ethic. Parker’s style, in contrast, encourages his agents to recharge, and now he has a dedicated spot to enjoy his signature morning pastries.
As NCIS progresses into this exciting new season, the multipurpose room is likely to become a key space for private conversations and character moments. And with unresolved storylines like Jessica Knight and Jimmy Palmer’s break-up still lingering, this space might just offer the privacy they—and the rest of the MCRT—need.
NCIS continues its action-packed Season 22 on CBS, following the team as they tackle high-stakes cases involving everything from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, all under the guidance of the ever-calm and witty Alden Parker.
