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NCIS Season 22, Episode 8 Review: ‘Out of Control’

NCIS Season 22, Episode 8 ‘Out of Control‘ is, despite first appearances, not just an episode about an out-of-control car, unless we want to think of the out-of-control car as a metaphor for Parker himself. It is, however, an episode about the drawbacks of technology and how Kasie is smarter than all of us combined, while at the same time being an episode that finally delves into what Parker saw in the Season 21 finale and what that means for him.

We don’t get all the answers, because, of course, we don’t. But we didn’t expect that. We just wanted the show to start asking the questions, and the fact that this episode does already has the season start feeling much more balanced. Or, perhaps, it’s not just that the show asks the questions, it’s how it asks them.

MORE: Do you need a refresher on the NCIS Season 21 finale and the first Lily appearance? Here’s our review!

PARKER

Parker is a very interesting character because he’s very much not Gibbs, and yet he very much fits into NCIS and into the NCIS team we’ve got today. And yet NCIS Season 22, Episode 8 ‘Out of Control’ is the perfect episode to showcase how he fits in a different way than Gibbs ever did and how the two don’t actually take away from each other, something that the show is very good at reminding us from time to time. We don’t have to dislike Gibbs to like Parker or prefer one over the other. There’s no competition.

NCIS isn’t saying the version of the show with Gibbs was better, or that this one is. It’s just saying that this is what the show is now. Things change. Gibbs changed too. And as things evolve, we all have to evolve with them. Some members of the team moved on. Some didn’t. But even the ones who didn’t changed. Nick Torres isn’t the Nick Torres he was when Gibbs was around, and McGee isn’t the same man, either. That’s the thing, though. People evolve.

But Parker isn’t a character we have seen evolve as much as some of the other characters, so these issues we’re going through with him are important. Just as it’s important to see how the team handles Parker having issues. This is the true measure of this team, not Parker at his best, but Parker at his—I hesitate to call this at his worst, but at his most vulnerable. Because the thing is, the team will have his back. And for Parker, that’s a pretty new and marvelous thing.

MORE: Do you want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We got one for you!

PARKER AND THE TEAM

The best part of this episode is how everyone is, in their own way, looking out for Parker. From the subtle nods to Parker getting help, to Jess outright asking and at times pushing for him to get help, the team has Parker’s back in a way that at times baffles him and at times annoys him, but that gets the intended result—he goes back to his shrink. And in a way, this episode is a very good representation of what family is.

Sometimes they’re annoying, and sometimes you would love for them to go away, but they often do the things they do and say the things they say with your best interest in mind. Because that’s why Jessica asks, that’s why Jimmy and Kasie have that conversation about therapy, and that’s why Nick is all Nick in his convo with Parker. They all care. Simple as that.

Having people who care is, of course, not a cure-all. But it is the reason we watch shows like this one, and for someone like Parker, who hasn’t really had a team like this one, it might perhaps be the difference going forward. We don’t know yet. The mystery about Lily is still ongoing, and she did make it clear he should tell no one. But the lone wolf Parker who kept things to himself, well… that man is no more, so we’ll see how long that secret is truly going to last, no matter what it is.

MORE: NCIS: Sydney is coming back soon! Need a reminder of how it ended? Here’s our review of the NCIS: Sydney Season 1 finale.

Things I think I think:

Abby liked blood spatter? ABBY?
Oh, hello Lily.
Your special new friend Sweeney? LOL
“Are you okay?” is giving me feels.
He is right, the buttons are gonna break.
Parker, what in the actual…
“Russian retirement special” HA.
Thank God he called a shrink. THANK GOD.
“That’s the problem. I got no idea.”
Pretend I’m Gibbs.” LOL
Being kind to yourself can sometimes be the hardest thing ever.
What a way to steal a car.
Mommy issues might be cliche, but you can’t argue with a classic.
Kasie and Jimmy need more funny scenes, their comedic timing is top-notch.
Torres too! Him being like nah, I don’t need to know, let me know if you need help, I got your back, ok good talk, bye.
This team is A+.
“Giving me the push.” I love Knight and Parker.
What can’t he tell?!

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS Season 22, Episode 8 ‘Out of Control’? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

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Lissete Lanuza Sáenz

Lawyer. Writer. Editor. Former Senior Editor in charge of Features, Lists, and News at CBR. Freelancer at TV Guide & Remezcla. Eternal optimist. Fangirl since the dawn of time. Hates the color yellow, olives and cigarettes. Has a recurring nightmare where she’s forced to choose between sports and books. Falls in love with fictional characters.