NCIS Season 22, Episode 10 ‘Baker’s Man’ is a very atypical episode of the show—and yet, a mostly fun one nonetheless. The NCIS team finds themselves in the middle of a gang drug war, all because Parker has a favorite bakery—and baker—and the two end up in danger. Which, you know, sounds kinda silly but it’s also very much the kind of silly NCIS pulls off well.
In the background of it all, the show finally reveals who Torres is dating—and it’s none other than Jessica Knight’s sister. All in all, it’s the best possible answer they can give us for Torres’ love life at this point. They clearly don’t want to put Knight and Palmer back together yet (but why?), and yet Torres would not make sense with Knight after seasons of sibling-like banter. So, the next best thing is indeed her sister.
The episode also gives Parker a love interest of sorts, or a potential one, and drops a little bit of lore on a character that has remained somewhat of a mystery for us. It all works to enhance Gary Cole’s Alden Parker and to make us like him even more. Again, who knew?
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WHO IS ALDEN PARKER?
We play games with these characters because, when the show works, it provides little tidbits of development in bursts, never all at once. In that regard, what we’ve gotten from Parker so far works—and I’ve said it before—it works in a very different way than Gibbs worked. In this episode, we get a little hint about his mother and the fact that she loved to bake and passed on to her son her sweet tooth. And though Parker might not be able to make pretty baklava’s, at least he can make edible ones!
How that ties into a possible romance that we don’t know if we will even see develop, we’re not sure. But this show needed to bring in an outside character as a love interest for Parker because there are no other options between the series regulars. I’ve seen some suggest that he and Knight might have a romantic spark, but I think that’s as far from the truth as it’s possible. Liking someone, having a connection with them, respecting them—all of those things don’t translate to romance all the time. Sometimes, people are just friends. That’s all Knight and Parker give.
And sure, they shared a very intense moment in the Season 21 finale, but the show has already invested years in setting up Knight with Jimmy Palmer. They established earlier in the season that there’s still love there. So sure, even if they’re separated right now, in procedural land, that typically means they’re waiting for a good time to bring them back together, not that they’re going to bring in new love interests for either. It might be a little frustrating how long they’re taking to resolve the Knight and Palmer thing, but that doesn’t mean I think they’ve forgotten about it.
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ROBIN KNIGHT
Torres spends the entirety of NCIS Season 22, Episode 10 ‘Baker’s Man’ trying not to tell Jessica that he’s dating her sister until he’s put in a position where he has to come clean thanks to the fact that Jimmy cannot keep a secret. And in a way, it makes some sense. If he doesn’t feel like it’s anything serious yet, it’s normal to not want to rock the boat. But then again, do you even start dating the sister of a coworker (a friend!), if you don’t think it could be something serious? Robin wouldn’t really be the character for him to have a casual fling with.
Plus, let’s add to this the fact that Torres made it clear he kinda wanted something serious at this point. All of this considered, it seems like him saying it’s not serious is more about him trying to take pressure off the two of them and the relationship, instead of actually feeling that way. And of course, he’s worried about how this affects his relationship with Jessica, who he truly values. But Knight’s main issue is that he lied, and they kept this from her. Not that they’re dating. At least, for now.
It’s an interesting storyline because it gives Torres a love interest that could really last, with the right ties to the team. And hey, we’ve been saying he and Jess had siblings-like banter for a while, so thanks to the show for making it official.
Things I think I think:
- If only Parker had tried the cookies before getting to work.
- Still, this isn’t on Parker. And I’m glad the team is telling him.
- “Scare me off from what?” Indeed.
- Jimmy, you are the worst at secrets, omg, how does anyone trust you?
- Well, cocaine in the cookies is new.
- Kasie is ruthless to Nick, I kinda dig it.
- “Messi and Ronaldo playing soccer.” JIMMY, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE MAKING THIS REFERENCE?
- But are you over Jimmy, Jess? Truly?
- Lol, the power of positive thinking? Truly, Nick?
- Ofc it was the parole officer. Called it.
- “We can work on that”??
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS Season 22, Episode 10 ‘Baker’s Man’? Please share with us in the comments below!
NCIS airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.
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