Entertainment
After 23 Seasons, ‘NCIS’ Best Duo Is No Longer McGee and Parker
NCIS put the spotlight on Agents Parker (Gary Cole) and McGee (Sean Murray) back in Season 22 as they tackled their own individual storylines that led to major outcomes for the series. Even though these two took up the bulk of the runtime and, subsequently, our attention, they weren’t necessarily responsible for the most memorable moments on the show. In this case, that distinction actually belongs to Agents Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Knight (Katrina Law). At this point, these two have bounced off each other’s energy for a couple of seasons, creating a heartwarming friendship that is always a pleasure to watch. But it was in Season 22 that the duo proved that they’re the best pairing on the flagship show, not only because of their endless capacity for wry comedic relief, but also due to how solid their bond has become. Although that relationship might evolve into something more romantic, at its core, this duo has always been the best even when they were purely platonic.
Torres and Knight Have Always Had the Strongest Chemistry in ‘NCIS’
Torres and Knight have always effortlessly had banter, and that is what sets them apart. The characters’ dynamic is aided by the on-screen chemistry between Valderrama and Law, which translates perfectly to the relationship Torres and Knight share. But what’s most compelling about their humor in regular episodes of NCIS is how casually they are littered into the script because these two never miss a chance to verbally elbow one another in the ribs, often accompanied by a withering stare as a response. This makes their jokes unexpected and that much more enjoyable.
Of course, the writing plays into their interactions, as their dry quips are always clever enough to be interesting but never facetious and always relatable. This makes them more than just comic relief, especially during Season 22, where their personal arcs weren’t as consequential as those of Parker and McGee. That’s not to say they didn’t successfully fulfill the role of comedic relief, as they became that levity that we need as a reprieve from Parker’s visions and McGee’s obsession. However, watching their relationship slowly grow showcases a different side to the show.
Torres Dates Knight’s Sister in ‘NCIS’ Season 22
In NCIS Season 22, one of the standout storylines for Torres and Knight is when Torres starts dating Knight’s sister, Robin (Lilan Bowden). The mystery of who Torres is dating unravels over NCIS‘s month-long break, as it is revealed that Torres is dating someone new during the Christmas episode “Humbug,” and then we see him texting an unknown person. But we don’t find out until the next episode, “Baker’s Man,” that it is Robin. This plot point becomes a source of awkwardness between Torres and Knight, which lends itself to its own kind of comedy, especially as the secret is passed through a chain of intermediaries, including Jimmy (Brian Dietzen) and Kasie (Diona Reasonover), as the two avoid each other.
The two already had their relationships under a microscope even before Torres began a relationship with Robin. We saw Knight navigating her break-up with Jimmy, while Torres decided he wanted to make good use of his new gym regimen by hopping on dating apps. The fact that Torres starts dating Knight’s sister a couple of episodes after she helped him build a dating profile has its own flavor of ironic humor, but it also makes the conversation they finally have at the end of “Baker’s Man” feel more significant.
Despite claiming it was “no big deal,” Torres was actually uneasy about impacting the team’s dynamics with his new relationship. Meanwhile, Knight was more worried about her sister’s erratic behavior and the impact that it would have on Torres. Granted, she was also concerned that Torres would just be another face in the string of “bad boys” Robin dated, but the fact that she reacts to this news by giving equal thought to both her sister and her friend demonstrates how close she is to Torres. What could have been a moment that caused unnecessary drama in a different show ends up being one of the sweetest moments of the season, bringing forth the underlying mutual respect they have for each other. The growth we see between these two in Season 22 laid the groundwork for their relationship to grow organically in Season 3, even as it teased that the relationship could venture beyond just friendship.
‘NCIS’ Season 22 Sees Torres and Knight Get Married
The second scene that proves Torres and Knight are the best duo in NCIS also involves their love lives, but in an unexpected way. Funnily enough, the episode right after the one where Knight learns of Torres’ relationship involves the pair having a fake wedding during an undercover operation. Even though they had a wedding ceremony with a painful-looking kiss to seal the deal — and in Parker’s beautiful house no less — the actual marriage license was fake… right? In the penultimate episode of that season, we find out that they were actually issued a license, making it a legally binding wedding — Torres and Knight were officially married.
Naturally, their immediate instinct was to recoil in disgust and quickly sort out an annulment, but they changed their tune once they discovered the bounty of perks NCIS offers to married couples. It takes a certain kind of friendship to be able to happily stay married out of convenience, even for a day, while dating your “wife’s” sister. It emphasizes how comfortable they are with each other in their personal lives, as well as out on the field. Their subsequent no-brainer to annul the marriage when they eventually find out a married couple cannot remain on the same team is also heartwarming, especially since Knight just came back from REACT at the start of the season.
Considering that Season 23 teased the potential of a romantic relationship between these two, with showrunner Steven D. Binder suggesting in an interview with TVLine that that potential might become a reality, it’s important to look back on the key moments that prove just how strong Torres and Knight are, even when romance wasn’t a key factor. And after that surprising twist for Torres in the Season 23 finale, it is guaranteed that there will be more moments to come from NCIS‘ best partnership.
All episodes of NCIS are available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
- Release Date
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September 23, 2003
- Showrunner
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Donald P. Bellisario
- Directors
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Dennis Smith, Terrence O’Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright
- Writers
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George Schenck, Frank Cardea, Jesse Stern, John C. Kelley, Jennifer Corbett, Christopher Silber, Reed Steiner, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Jack Bernstein, Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett, Kimberly-Rose Wolter, Don McGill, Gil Grant, Frank Military, Nell Scovell, Steven Kriozere, Brian Dietzen, Kate Torgovnick May, Jeff Vlaming, Sydney Mitchel, Katie White, Richard C. Arthur, Laurence Walsh
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Sean Murray
Timothy McGee
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david mccallum
Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard
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