NCIS just pulled a shocking turn that may have included a surprise return of a beloved character, along with hints at the future!
Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for NCIS season 23 episode 19
NCIS season 23, episode 19 had Former Army CID director Rogers, the man behind Vance’s death, on trial for his various crimes. The man tried to cut a deal by offering information on his criminal contacts, angering the team. When someone tried to shoot him in the courthouse, NCIS was forced to protect Rogers.
It was all connected to a criminal cartel outfitted with weapons by none other than Parker’s sister, Harriet (Nancy Travis). She’d overseen giving them to a rebel group only for them to turn into a crime cartel. It also turned out that Rogers was actually working with the group to escape. The team caught up to him with Torres holding Rogers at gunpoint, only for Rogers to already be on the phone, cutting yet another deal with the federal prosecutors.
Speaking to TV Insider, Wilmer Valderrama discussed the episode and confirmed that if Rogers hadn’t already been on the phone, Nick might have shot the man then and there.
“He would have taken the shot. I think there’s a part of the new Torres that held him back, but the old Torres would have just not missed the opportunity to get the job done. Even if that means that he loses the badge. For him, I think ‘justice at all costs necessary’ is really who he is.”
It was a telling scene, especially given the twist ending that hinted at justice done!
Who pulled the trigger on Rogers?
The episode ended with the team hearing that Rogers had been killed when someone took a shot at him. A shot from 400 yards away that very few men could make. Harriet confronted Parker about how Rogers' car had been sabotaged so it could be stopped for the sniper, and he had experience with cars. Parker just brushed it off as he cooked a special meal: fresh Alaskan fish.
It’s not hard to put the pieces together and realize it was Gibbs behind the shot, with the mystery as to who called him to avenge Vance. While Parker seems the obvious suspect, Torres hints that just maybe it was Nick himself. “I don’t know who called Gibbs, but definitely someone who knows him. I’ll tell you that.”
That would make more sense as Torres knew both Gibbs and Vance far longer than Parker had. It also plays into how Torres has been driven by his passions and is willing to cross the line at times.
Valderrama said that one way or another, this episode shows how Torres feels more frustrated by NCIS having to play politics and next season may show Torres bucking the rules more.
“I think Torres has had such an interesting ongoing frustration with how we do things on NCIS. Since he got there, now 10 years ago, he’s had to kind of really assimilate to how they do things, the rules, the protocols, how they’re going to go about it. So, needless to say that he was thrilled to see that we were drawing outside the lines. That’s really where he thrives the most. That’s really where he wants to live. For Torres, you’re going to see that being a common theme in the next season as well. We’re building towards something pretty big with this character.”
Notably, Valderrama is approaching his 200th episode as Torres, marking a terrific run for the character. It hints that Season 24 will have more dramatic turns for Torres that could shift his NCIS future.
NCIS season 23 finale airs Tuesday, May 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
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