Before NCIS's 23rd season premieres on CBS, fans of the acclaimed military police procedural series have been getting a lot of exciting news. For example, Netflix users learned they can stream two more NCIS seasons starting in October 2025. If that wasn't enough, there have been hints that the show may celebrate the series that it was spun off from, JAG, in the near future.
As great as all that news was, it pales in comparison to what has been revealed about the upcoming plans for one of NCIS's most important characters. During a recent interview, NCIS's boss revealed that Gary Cole's character will be depicted in a much more in-depth way than the show's viewers likely would have expected.
NCIS season 23 will depict Alden Parker's history in a new way
In September 2025, TVLine published an article about the plans for NCIS's upcoming 23rd season. For that piece, the outlet spoke to NCIS's showrunner, Steven D. Binder, about the plans for the show's upcoming episodes. According to the show's boss, season 23 will feature flashbacks featuring Aldean Parker
when he was a teen. Steven also told the outlet about how those flashbacks will depict Parker.
"He was a rough kid — in juvie homes, in trouble, arrested all the time, breaking the rules, not caring about who was between him when he wanted to go from A to B."NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder
As interesting as it will be to see what Parker was like as a young man, it is important to note that the flashbacks will reflect on the character's storylines as an adult. While he was still talking to TVLine, Steven explained that Parker's relationship with his adult sister, who is portrayed by Nancy Travis, will feel similar to what the flashbacks will depict.
“The dynamic between Parker and his sister as adults is going to revert to the dynamic between them when they were [younger]. Alden Parker is a competent former FBI, current NCIS agent who seems pretty squared away. His sister was the good child. He was causing a lot of problems for himself, for their family, for their father, which is a regret he has now. If you’re a family member, his actions have gotten dad killed. Take that dynamic from childhood and bring it to the present with a brother and sister, and sparks are going to fly.”
Given that people are often profoundly affected by their experiences from their teen years, it will be fascinating to see what Parker was like as a teenager. After all, getting such a personal view of the character will almost certainly give viewers an all-new perspective on who the character has become as an adult.
NCIS season 23 premieres on Tuesday, October 14 at 8/7c on CBS.