NCIS is one of the most compelling and well-written shows on television, and over the decades, the franchise has evolved in many different ways. Season finales are often the time to conclude overarching plot threads, and have major villains emerge, or be taken down, and plot twists can help to shape future seasons in a big way. NCIS season 22 has been one of the most frustratingly inconsistent seasons of the show to date, and the finale episode’s villain focus was a great example of this.
The show flipped-flopped between setting up two NCIS characters – DOJ Inspector Gabriel LaRoche’s undercover mole or mob boss Carla Marino – as the main Big Bad. The stakes were high going into the season finale, especially with the team confronting LaRoche in the penultimate episode, but the ending became something of an audience rug pull, revealing that LaRoche was actually a double agent working for the Department of Defense to give the impression of a mole, and help bring down Nexus.
The finale episode then pivoted to focus on Carla’s revenge mission against Alden Parker (who she blamed for the death of her son), which culminated in her murdering his father, Roman Parker. But I believe that NCIS season 22 wasted its most promising villain in years due to its cop-out in the finale.
NCIS Season 22 Set Up LaRoche As Its Big Villain But Didn’t Pay It Off
It Felt Like The Show Cheated Fans Slightly
NCIS season 22 spent time setting up LaRoche as the main villain of the season, in a storyline that could have spanned into season 23 as well. The stage was set in the penultimate episode of the season, when the team apprehends LaRoche, and he states, “It’s time you know the truth.”
It all seemed like the show was setting up an explosive finale, with LaRoche as the principal villain, which would have had very high stakes, and could have presented a multitude of potential problems and difficulties for the future of MCRT. However, the series then committed an unforgivable sin of television cliffhangers: it pulled a bait and switch.
The big plot twist of the finale episode revealed that LaRoche was actually a good guy, and was working on trying to bring down Nexus as a fake mole. However, this felt like a cheat to the audience, who had invested in LaRoche’s villainous storyline and the implications it could have. The show’s decision to make him a good guy felt like a cop-out, and the reveal was handled in such a clunky manner that it almost felt like it wasn’t how the story was originally intended to play out.
The lack of payoff from this storyline made it feel flat, and I feel like this tarnished what could have been a really strong finale episode. And this was compounded further by the Carla storyline, which ended up providing the season’s true antagonist. But, in all honesty, this felt anticlimactic due to the failure to deliver on LaRoche.
LaRoche Is A More Compelling Villain Than Carla (Despite Roman’s Murder)
LaRoche’s ‘Threat From Within’ Arc Would Have Been More Gripping with Wider-Reaching Implications
There is no question that Carla Marino is one of the most dangerous NCIS villains, and one who, as the head of Nexus, is going to have a big impact on the show’s forthcoming seasons. But there is the feeling that a focus on LaRoche as the season’s main villain might have been more satisfying and compelling. Carla’s arc is inextricably intertwined with Parker’s, and he is sure to be out for revenge on her in NCIS season 23. However, she’s a villain who has more of a personal connection to the team, and, despite Nexus’ plans, LaRoche would have felt like a more tense and gripping villain.
The threat of a mole inside the organization, particularly one in a position of power, would have been far more immersive, and have had much higher stakes. LaRoche is not the first mole MCRT has encountered, with NCIS characters such as Carl Brown having betrayed the team in the past. However, with the power and influence LaRoche yields, it could have been a very genuine threat to the agency, and he could have been set up as a long-running villain who would force the team onto the edge in order to take him down.
NCIS Could Have Saved Carla’s Story For Season 23
The Season Already Had Plenty Going On
It would probably have worked better if the season had ended with a focus on LaRoche as the villain, alongside the overarching threat of Nexus acquiring nuclear materials. The reveal that Carla is the head of Nexus, and her taking steps to murder Parker’s father, could have been saved for next season, presenting more opportunities to explore both plot threads in more detail. McGee’s investigation into LaRoche was a prominent part of the season 22 plot, and it should have culminated in a thrilling and dramatic confrontation, and a cliffhanger that could have presented multiple outcomes for the season ahead. It felt like a lot was invested in this particular plot point, and it deserved to have a strong and satisfying conclusion.
With the breathless and gripping Nexus storyline as well, there was more than enough packed into the show’s climactic episodes that it felt unnecessary to shoe-horn in the Carla side story. This is something that could, and probably should, have been held back for next season, and there would have been more time to devote to it.
What’s more, Parker’s personal storyline was already occupied with the mystery of Lily haunting Parker in NCIS season 22 and his mother’s death in a car accident. This was already a strong and interesting arc for Parker, and the revelations about Carla later in the season felt rushed and detracted from other strong plot threads throughout the season.
Can LaRoche Still Be A Factor In NCIS?
LaRoche Could Play A Role In Season 23
While it is true that NCIS definitely underutilized LaRoche’s potential villain arc, there is a good chance that the character will play a role in the next season. The team confronting him as a mole, along with LaRoche having blown Torres’ cover with the cartel, led to an unstable dynamic with the team, resulting in the deputy director stepping down from his role.
Despite this decision and the character’s potential departure, it would not be surprising to see LaRoche feature in a recurring capacity in season 23. He could appear in flashbacks, showing his process of working undercover as a mole, and this is a plot that could feature heavily in the upcoming season.
While it is true that NCIS definitely underutilized LaRoche’s potential villain arc, there is a good chance that the character will play a role in the next season.
It is unclear how prominently he will feature in NCIS season 23, if at all, but there is a good chance that he will get a recurring role, and he could even be back in the fold at MCRT at some point. He could also come into conflict with McGee, especially if NCIS’ longest-running character applies for a promotion, and takes LaRoche’s position. Carla is certainly poised to be the primary antagonist of the show moving forward, and is bound to be the focal point of the season, but LaRoche’s story is not finished yet, and there’s a chance the show could turn his arc around and give him a satisfying conclusion.