NCIS Season 23, Episode 2 ‘Prodigal Son (Part II)’ is a more than satisfying conclusion to Parker’s revenge arc against Carla Marino. In fact, the second part of the two-hour premiere is a superior hour than the first, as is almost always the case in two-part episodes. Here, we get not just the answers we need, we also get the right balance of story, emotional weight, backstory and a little tease for what’s coming up this season.
From a renewed focus on the dynamics between Jessica and Jimmy, to perfectly on point team interactions, to Parker and his sister finding common ground in the middle of their grief, without forgetting the Gibbs nods, this is the kind of episode that reminds us why so many people still tune in for this show 23 seasons later. Now, to see if they can keep it up.
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FAMILY CAN LOOK MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
‘Prodigal Son (Part II)’ showcases what family is, and the many different ways it can manifest. Because the team is Parker’s family, and they prove it going to bat for him over and over in this hour. But Harriet is also his family, and when Parker gives her a chance, he finds that there is still enough there in common to try having a relationship with her.
Family is… complicated. Navigating complicated family feelings in the middle of grief can be doubly complicated. And there are absolutely good reasons to cut out family for good. But Parker and his sister always felt like two people who cared about each other, even if they didn’t always express it the right way. That can be fixed. That should probably be fixed. Particularly considering the guilt Parker already carries about his father.
And yes, you can build your own family. One doesn’t take away from the other. If you find people you consider your family and lean on them day in and day out, that doesn’t mean you can’t still try to fix things with the sister you grew up with. And making up with her, or trying to have a relationship, doesn’t mean you think the found family you’ve made isn’t important. Life isn’t that black and white. And that’s a really good thing.
MORE: After this episode, you want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules. And we have one for you!
EVERYTHING FEELS DIFFERENT
NCIS Season 23, Episode 2 also cements a vibe about the show that was a little obvious from the first episode of this season. There is, indeed, a different vibe in the air in this show going into Season 23. NCIS has always done team dynamics well, no matter what the team has looked like, and this episode is no exception. But it feels like there’s a depth to what the show is trying to do with everyone that wasn’t always present last season. This is especially true of Jessica and Jimmy, but it applies to relationships like Parker and McGee too.
The show is at its best when it’s a show about a group of people who have each other’s backs and in the middle of that, solve some cases. That’s why it feels especially important that the show remembered that Jessica and Jimmy were a couple, yes, and they broke up and then decided not to get back together, but before that, they were friends. And even if they’re not together right now, they are still two people who know each other pretty well and who care about each other a whole lot.
Does that mean the show is going to put them back together soon? With NCIS, who knows? The answer to that should, of course, be yes. The best version of this show with this team had Jessica and Jimmy together, trying to figure out how to be a couple, work together and build for the future. But even if the plan is not to get there back there quickly (the plan better be to build there, because these two clearly belong together), it’s very good to see the show remember that they can and should still interact. We like their interactions. We love them together. That’s how the ship was born in the first place.
And yes, we also want every other dynamic to be explored further. The show has just done a better job with everyone else the last season or so. And yet, if they give us more of the trio of Jess/Nick/McGee, more of Jimmy and Kasie and more of Parker with everyone, we also won’t complain.
MORE: Is this the year Jessica and Jimmy finally get back together?
Things I think I think:
- I knew Parker wasn’t dead, and yet the first few scenes were still kinda hard to watch! Which means they did a good job.
- “It wasn’t a choice, it was an order.”/”That’s what we tell ourselves.”
- Vance with the deep (and correct) thoughts.
- Gibbs rule 51!
- “Sometimes you’re wrong.”
- And we also have Parker going to Gibbs? My heart.
- “You left your team behind.” Tell him, McGee!
- Jimmy is really, really bad at secrets. We know this. Thankfully, someone who knows him well is there to save him.
- I like when Vance knows things and pretends not to know things because that’s better for him and whatever the team is doing.
- I love when McGee’s inner nerd comes out.
- Man, that’s cold, arresting your brother “for his own good.”
- “I don’t need another lesson, I need a sister.”
- Jessica’s convo with Parker’s sister was very effective.
- Wilmer got to speak a line in Spanish!
- Oh, well. Bye Carla?
- Wait why is Nick staying behind? What’s he doing now? Where is he going undercover?
- Is the someone else who was there with Parker’s dad somehow tied to the Lily mystery? What else are we gonna learn about Parker’s mom?
- “He knew, Alden.”
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS Season 23, Episode 1 ‘Prodigal Son (Part II)’? 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 airs Mondays at 8/7c on CBS.
