NCIS season 22 proves how much Alden Parker (Gary Cole) has rubbed off on his new team, entirely replacing Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). Special Agent Parker has only been with the team for three years in NCIS season 22, and yet, he has successfully spearheaded McGee (Sean Murray), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), and the rest of the team into solving tricky cases. A scene involving Special Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) in the NCIS season 22 premiere, however, solidifies Cole’s character as the new proper leader of MCRT.
Suffice it to say, Parker’s predecessor was hard to replace. Gibbs was the face of the series for 19 years until Mark Harmon’s NCIS exit in season 19, prompting a new era of leadership. Knowing that whoever replaced Gibbs would be held to a high standard, NCIS didn’t try to replace him. Instead, Parker took over after being fired from the FBI for helping Gibbs. The new leader subverted the Agent-in-Charge’s leadership qualities and introduced a more caring, laid-back management style to the NCIS bullpen.
Knight Brings Pastries To Her Subordinates, Just Like Parker Does With MCRT
Parker Brings The MCRT Treats
As the supervisory agent for the MCRT, Parker brings his team pastries in the morning to start their day. This trait initially surprised the team since Gibbs maintained a strict leadership style that allowed little room for small talk and casual starts. In NCIS season 19, episode 6, “False Start,” Parker left his team a box of Polish kolaczki cookies with a note that read, “Help Yourselves!” Agent Torres was skeptical of the treats and thought the whole thing was a mind game due to conditioning from being on Gibbs’ team.
Knight oversees a group of trainees as REACT Chief Training Officer at Camp Pendleton, and she brings her team members a pastry box full of protein pastries.
Jessica Knight, who had been with the MCRT for less than a year in season 19, thought Parker’s gesture was nice. In the season 22 premiere, Knight oversees a group of trainees as REACT Chief Training Officer at Camp Pendleton, and she brings her team members a box full of protein pastries. Knight’s actions are a prominent example of Parker’s impact. When she has her own team, she takes after his leadership style, highlighting how much her former boss has influenced her.
Knight Taking After Parker’s Leadership Quirks Proves He Has Fully Replaced Gibbs
Knight Models Her Leadership After Parker
Nick’s assumptions represent the impact Gibbs had on his agents after his season 19 retirement. Gibbs never brought treats, so the team had difficulty adapting to Parker’s new style.
However, the team has come full circle, even anticipating Parker’s pastries. In NCIS season 21, when Parker was on a health kick, the team longed for his pastries but were subjected to his wheatgrass shots instead. Knight’s actions in NCIS season 22 prove that the team has moved on from Gibbs’ stricter leadership style, and Parker has endowed his team with a more laid-back quality instead.
Several years have passed since Gibbs retired in Alaska, where he still is. While he will always be touted as an agency legend, Knight taking Parker’s leadership quirk in NCIS season 22 and the remaining team getting used to how he does things professionally is an indication that he has fully made this team his own. Considering Gibbs’ commitment to justice and responsibility, it’s safe to say that he won’t have any qualms about it.