NCIS season 23 is set to show off a different side of Parker (Gary Cole), and the change to the MCRT's leadership is long overdue after the way Gibbs (Mark Harmon) treated his team. Throughout NCIS' long run, Gibbs' tendency to be a lone wolf was his biggest downfall. NCIS season 23 will prove just how different Parker is as a leader.
While Gibbs left the long-running series early on in NCIS season 19, viewers are still adapting to the new normal of the team after decades of seeing the same leadership style oversee the MCRT. As fans have adjusted to Parker, it's become obvious that his leadership style is often more effective, and opens the team up to more collaboration than before.
Despite there being a lot of moving parts on NCIS, Cole has been able to stand out as Parker, and an upcoming storyline teased for NCIS season 23 makes it clear he's prepared to show off his range. With his sister, Vice Admiral Harriet Parker (Nancy Travis), in the mix, Parker's character will finally cement what makes him so different from Gibbs.
Parker Is More Collaborative Than Gibbs Ever Was
Gary Cole as Alden Parker in NCIS
Throughout his first seasons on NCIS, it's been clear that Parker is able to loop the team in on cases and work through problems more collaboratively, which was a struggle for Gibbs. For years, NCIS fans struggled to deal with the Gibbs lone-wolf style, which meant the team always was on a need-to-know basis. The MCRT struggled with his lack of transparency.
While Gibbs had a hard time trusting that he could or needed to divulge key case details, Parker seems to understand the benefits of having a team work together. Quickly making it clear that he's a leader who's open to other voices coming into the mix, Parker was able to connect with the team in new ways. Always direct, Parker's been a welcome shift.
Gibbs' Lone Wolf Tendencies In NCIS Were Too Often A Team Liability
Mark Harmon As Gibbs in NCIS
NCIS fans spent years frustrated with Gibbs, especially knowing that his unilateral decisions often put him in jeopardy. While Gibbs' tendencies often went against the spirit of collaboration, he was perceived as the best of the best, which kept him secure in his position. Despite often putting himself and his team in danger, Gibbs was able to continue working more independently.
The MCRT expressed their frustrations at times, but often the tension between team members and Gibbs was left to simmer on the surface as things got worse. While there was often obvious resentment between the team and Gibbs, it rarely boiled over into genuine conflict. Regardless, Gibbs operating in a way that endangered himself and the team didn't display true leadership.
Parker May Surpass Gibbs As The Better NCIS Team Leader
Gary Cole as Alden Parker in NCIS
As NCIS season 23 has teased a storyline that's more personal for Parker, who's looking to bring down the mob boss responsible for his father's murder, Carla Marino (Rebecca De Mornay), it's clear his leadership has invited more collaboration into the team dynamic. Rather than siloing himself and working on his own, Parker's turning to the MCRT for some help.
In a move that's unlike any Gibbs ever made, Parker is making it clear that he's going to rely on the team he trusts in order to take care of a massively personal case. It's clear that after years of tough storylines and isolation, NCIS is finally leaning into teamwork, making Parker a genuine leader, working better than Gibbs by far.
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