NCIS is returning with a vengeance as Season 23 opens on a deeply personal note for Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker. After the shocking murder of his father, played by Francis X. McCarthy, Parker (Gary Cole) is poised to cross lines in pursuit of justice—and possibly revenge. The premiere sets the table for a tense, emotionally charged arc that will test loyalties, bend rules, and force the team to decide whether to hold their boss back or help him go all in.
A Team Under Orders—And a Choice That Could Change Everything
Executive producer Steven D. Binder teased to TV Insider that the team receives a clear directive: keep Parker from charging off and doing anything reckless. That’s easier said than done when grief and fury collide. While Binder kept the specifics under wraps, he hinted that fans will appreciate where the team ultimately lands—a sign that loyalty and heart will play as big a role as procedure.
That tension—between duty and devotion—will be the engine of the premiere. Parker is not a man who backs down, and the agents who trust him most are stuck between following orders and protecting one of their own. Expect the fallout from that decision to ripple across the season.
Premiere Details: “Prodigal Son (Part 1)”
Season 23 launches with “Prodigal Son (Part 1)” on Tuesday, October 14, at 8/7c, as the series returns to its longtime Tuesday-night slot after a stint on Mondays. CBS’s logline promises a relentless pursuit: reeling from his father’s death, Parker takes extreme measures to chase the person he believes is responsible—mob boss Carla Marino (Rebecca De Mornay). In doing so, he risks not only his own future but the stability of his entire team.
It’s a classic NCIS setup with a razor-sharp personal edge, and it positions Parker for one of his most volatile storylines yet.
A Nemesis Resurfaces: Why Carla Marino Is in Parker’s Crosshairs
The stage for this manhunt was set in the Season 22 finale, when Parker confronted longtime adversary Carla Marino. She revealed she blames him for her son’s death; after Parker exposed her criminal operations to the young man, he died in a car crash. Carla made it clear she wanted Parker to suffer more than a quick hit could deliver. Moments later, Parker discovered his father murdered—an act that all but pointed a finger back at Carla.
Now, with grief sharpening his instincts and hardening his resolve, Parker is prepared to do whatever it takes to bring Carla down. But justice, especially when tangled with vendetta, rarely runs in a straight line.
New Family Dynamics: Nancy Travis Joins as Vice Admiral Harriet Parker
The premiere also introduces Nancy Travis as Parker’s sister, Navy Vice Admiral Harriet Parker. Her arrival adds a compelling family dimension at the very moment the Parkers are grappling with loss. As a high-ranking officer, Harriet brings authority, perspective, and her own complicated history with Alden. Will she try to rein him in, or find a way to support him while navigating the strictures of military protocol?
Sibling dynamics under stress make for riveting drama—especially when both are trained to lead, both are grieving, and one is pushing toward the edge.
First-Look Photos: Clues, Partners, and a Case That Won’t Let Go
First-look images from the premiere offer tantalizing hints. Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), McGee (Sean Murray), and Knight (Katrina Law) converge at Parker’s apartment—the very scene where he found his father. The setup suggests the team will examine every detail for a lead, and one photo teases a laptop that could hold a critical thread connecting back to Carla.
The team stands with their boss—physically and emotionally—as the case turns personal.
McGee, ever the analyst, dives into a key piece of reading. Is it a file, an email chain, or a digital breadcrumb pointing to Carla’s operation?
Fernando (Shalim Ortiz) appears to be a potential source. What might he know about the Marino network—or about the night in question?
Knight keeps a sharp eye on Fernando. Is she reading his tells, or biding time to push for answers?
Torres and Knight tag-team the legwork, a reliable pairing when a case needs both finesse and intimidation.
A diner meeting hints at either a breakthrough lead—or a frustrating dead end. The stakes make every conversation feel like it could tip the scales.
Knight remains focused, balancing empathy with precision as the investigation heats up.
Unfinished Business: What Else Could Come to Light?
Beyond the central pursuit of Carla Marino, the premiere may weave in lingering threads that complicate the picture. There’s the question of what Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) uncovered on Parker’s mother’s original birth certificate—an intriguing nugget from last season that could take on new significance as family history resurfaces. And even among colleagues, there are secrets, fears, and individual lines they’re hesitant to cross. Does Parker know what Palmer found yet? If he doesn’t, learning it now could change how he sees the past—and what he’s willing to risk to settle the present.
Meanwhile, Torres and Knight appear to pursue a parallel avenue, meeting a contact at a diner that could either crack this case open or muddy the waters with false intel. In a manhunt this sensitive, the difference between a solid lead and a setup could be the team’s undoing.
How Far Is Too Far?
The CBS logline promises that Parker goes to extremes. That phrase matters. In NCIS, crossing certain lines can trigger Internal Affairs scrutiny, jeopardize clearances, and strain trust among partners. If Parker oversteps, will his team pull him back—or back him up? And if they choose the latter, how much are they willing to put on the line?
Binder’s tease that viewers will “like the answer” suggests a choice grounded in the show’s core values: integrity, found family, and doing the right thing—even when the rules get tight. Expect the fallout to be messy, heartfelt, and very human.
When And Where to Watch
NCIS Season 23 Premiere: Tuesday, October 14, 8/7c on CBS. The series returns to its classic Tuesday time slot, positioning the new season for a big audience as the case of Parker’s life takes center stage.
Why This Matters
NCIS thrives when personal stakes collide with procedural mastery, and “Prodigal Son (Part 1)” promises exactly that. By plunging Parker into the darkest chapter of his backstory, the show raises emotional and ethical stakes for everyone wearing the badge. It’s not just about catching a mob boss; it’s about what justice costs when the victim is family—and how a team holds together when the leader they trust is in danger of coming apart.
Season 23 is set to be a pressure cooker of loyalty, loss, and consequence. If Parker finds the answers he’s after, it could bring closure—or start a new war. Either way, it will redefine the team, and that’s a ride fans won’t want to miss.