NCIS Season 22, Episode 20 ‘Nexus’ is a good season finale that delivers action, suspense, and a shocking death that is sure to have repercussions going into Season 23, but one that doesn’t leave viewers wondering: is this even a show I still want to invest in? So, all in all, mission accomplished for NCIS in that regard.
The season still feels like it pulled on some storytelling threads the show never really delivered on, particularly when it comes to where the relationship between Jessica and Jimmy stands. But there’s also Nick’s love life in general, McGee’s possible promotion, not to mention the whole thing with Parker’s mother. That’s a little too much we didn’t get a resolution on. All in all, though, the season ends in a place that has us looking forward to Season 23 instead of dreading it, so we’re gonna call that a win.
BEING RIGHT WON’T HELP
The thing about what happened to Parker’s dad in NCIS Season 22, Episode 20 ‘Nexus’ isn’t just that Parker was right about Carla Marino, it’s that being right doesn’t make any of it better. The team will still feel responsible for pushing Parker to work with Carla. Parker will still feel responsible for deciding to do it. And he will absolutely feel like this only happened because he let Carla into his home that night, let her meet his dad.
But a woman like Carla would have probably found Parker’s weak spot anyway, because that’s what she was looking for. That had been not just her goal, but her obsession. Will anyone see it this way, though? Will they let themselves off the hook? Unlikely. And that sets up an interesting storyline for Season 23, not just for Parker, but for the entire team and even Vance. When was the last time this team went a little rogue?
On the one hand, Carla is an interesting villain to follow for more than one episode. On the other hand, she’s only really interesting if she shows up more than two times a season. There’s good setup here, for Parker and the team. I’m hooked. Let’s see how it pans out.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST?
NCIS Season 22, Episode 20 ‘Nexus’ brought back Carla and gave us closure to the LaRoche storyline, but that’s about it in regards to storytelling threads. Sure, we can say that Jimmy and Jessica’s storyline is more or less closed, but it was just ended in such an unsatisfying way that I kept waiting for the show to pick it back up at some point. Then there’s the thing with Parker’s mother. Why did that need to be a cliffhanger? And are we ever going to get payoff for the Sam hint about Hetty? I have been waiting for Henrietta Lange payoff for 84 years at this point.
It’s what makes this hour feel, ultimately, a little light. A lot happens! The case isn’t bad and tying it all to Carla Marino works, for now and for the future. But there’s just a lot this season that didn’t really go anywhere, and that even includes instances of personal growth—or suggested ones, like Nick and his love life, and Jessica and her future. And hey, at least they got some hint at growth, because we continue to get way too little of Kasie outside of the cases.
Season 21 felt a little bit of a wash in this regard due to the strike, but in Season 23, the show needs to pick back up all these storytelling threads because the reason we’re here, the reason we care, has never been about the cases. It’s always been about the people. And we want more of them.
Things I think I think:
- Look, we could have let the dude be evil!
- I guess this removes him from the job anyway?
- How is Jimmy supposed to keep up, Nick? How exactly?
- Vance and Parker being upset together is fun!
- Oh, joy, Carla Marino.
- Why are they all gossiping about Parker and Carla? Sure, chemistry, but also, psychopath!
- Am I supposed to like LaRoche now?
- I would have thrown her ass out, Parker.
- See, Parker was always right.
- “You killed my son. You destroyed my life.”
- If she let you live, Parker, you should be concerned.
- This feels too easy!
- Yeah, Parker already had mommy issues, now daddy issues on top of that. And what’s the secret about his mom?
- So, is everyone gonna go rogue?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS Season 22, Episode 20 ‘Nexus’? Please share with us in the comments below! And if you have any thoughts about the show, leave a review/rating of your own in our NCIS hub!
NCIS aired Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.
Here are our last 5 NCIS reviews:
‘I have been waiting for Henrietta Lange payoff for 84 years at this point.’
4 years, 2 cancelled shows, 1 breadcrumb with a massive TBC element to it. Feels like 2 different lifetimes.
And yet we still keep pushing forward, hoping that 1 day, the writers will listen to us and actually give us the comeback we’ve both been dreaming about for so long.