Summary
NCIShinted at a dark moment for Gary Cole’s Alden Parker in the season 21 finale. After a large piece of metal trapped Parker while investigating a murder aboard a Navy ship, Parker’s physical health began to decline. The supervisory agent suffered a cut to his leg that continued to bleed after Katrina Law’s character freed him from the impairment. As such, Parker began to lose consciousness and experienced hallucinations while both agents remained locked in the ship’s engine room. Parker went in and out of consciousness while Knight prepared for their rescue, seeing anNCISmystery girl named Lily.
Lily first appeared to Parker as a hallucination projected onto the ship’s engine room of a girl playing hide-and-seek. Then, Parker’s visualization of Lily turned into a repressed memory of his past, which showed Lily playing the same game aboard a ship with a young boy she called"Aldie.“Context suggested that the boy playing hide-and-seek with Lily was Alden Parker, Lily’s brother, and the woman who scolded them was their mother. When Parker woke up and couldn’t remember Lily in theNCISseason 21 finale, it suggested Alden Parker experienced a dark and repressed fate.
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Parker May Not Really Remember Who Lily Is
Parker Didn’t Remember Lily
New comments fromNCISshowrunner Steven D. Binder shed new light on Parker’s harrowing experience in theNCISseason 21 finale. When theNCISshowrunner addressed Parker’s hallucinations, Binder suggested that it was not entirely clear to Parker who the girl in the flashback was. As such,Alden Parker told Jessica Knight the truth when he said he didn’t know a"Lily.“The revelation adheres to Parker’s character, who has been honest and straightforward as a team leader. Parker isn’t particularly open about his past, but isn’t guarded as Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs once was.
The most likely scenario is that Parker experienced a traumatic moment with Lily and that he subconsciously repressed the memory. However,Binder’s comment suggested that Parker didn’t know about Lily at all, meaning the incident was significant enough for Parker to blockallhis memories of his sister. As such, the repressed memory could be Lily dying from an accident, sufficient for Parker to repress the memory of his sister entirely. Plus, Parker would have formed memories of his sister after the incident if Lily was still alive, giving him something to remember when Knight asked.
How Lily’s Mystery Changes Parker’s Story In NCIS Season 22
Lily’s Mystery Will Enhance Gary Cole’s Character
A more complex narrative for the Alden Parker character suggests thatshowrunners will tap into Gary Cole’s impressive range inNCISseason 22. Gary Cole’s character added a different personality to the mix, and his presence clicks in the series. Still, Cole could add even more to the series ifNCISrevealed intimate details about his character. There has not been a profound dive into the Alden Parker character since Gary Cole took over after Mark Harmon exited the series in season 19. Unpacking the mystery of Lily inNCISseason 22 is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
NCISseason 22 premieres Monday, October 14, on CBS.
Revealing more about Alden Parker will further endear audiences to Gary Cole’s character. Parker has been with the series for about five years. While his performance has been stellar,adding complexity to Cole’s character is overdue. Leroy Jethro Gibbs achieved more depth at the end ofNCISseason 3 when the series revealed a drug dealer murdered his wife and daughter. Parker is due for a deep dive now that he has settled in. WhateverNCISreveals about Parker’s hallucination, the spotlight suggests that Gary Cole will have a strong presence inNCISseason 22.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
