NCIS Season 22: The True Villain? LaRoche or Marino? The Mystery Deepens
NCIS Season 22 kicked off with the intriguing introduction of Gabriel LaRoche as a potential villain, but episode 17 of the season has thrown a major twist into the storyline. As the season progresses, fans are left wondering: who is truly behind the season’s most dangerous schemes — LaRoche, or could it be someone even more ominous lurking in the shadows?
The Build-Up: LaRoche and Marino’s Connection
The seeds of a major villain arc were planted early in NCIS Season 22 with the arrival of Seamus Dever’s character, Gabriel LaRoche. LaRoche’s proximity to sensitive military information raised suspicions, and his rapid promotion to Deputy Director of NCIS, bypassing McGee, only deepened the mystery. By episode 17, the tension between LaRoche and the MCRT reached a boiling point, with LaRoche becoming an increasingly likely candidate for a season-long antagonist.
But then, NCIS introduced a new formidable foe: Carla Marino, a ruthless mob boss from Kansas City played by Rebecca De Mornay. Initially, Marino’s appearance seemed like a one-off villain arc. However, episode 17 connected her to LaRoche in a surprising way, leaving viewers to question how the two characters fit into a bigger picture. While their link has yet to be fully revealed, one thing is clear: the stakes have been raised.
Breaking NCIS’s Mold: Two Major Villains, One Season
What’s unusual about NCIS Season 22 is the presence of not one, but two major antagonists, a break from the show’s usual format. In past seasons, NCIS typically focused on a singular villain whose actions created chaos for the team. This year, however, the show has bucked tradition, with both LaRoche and Marino becoming central to the season’s tension.
For most of the season, LaRoche appeared to be the primary villain. His high-ranking position within NCIS, combined with his connections to sensitive government information, made him an ideal candidate for the role of villain. Yet the sudden introduction of Marino has thrown the season’s narrative into disarray. While both characters are formidable in their own right, their potential connection creates an unpredictable narrative dynamic, one that could lead to a more complex, and perhaps overcrowded, storyline.
A Risky Approach: The Potential Pitfalls of Two Villains
While having two villains certainly keeps things interesting, it presents significant challenges for NCIS in terms of storytelling. The show has always been known for its streamlined, easy-to-follow plots, and balancing multiple storylines can sometimes lead to confusion. With LaRoche’s and Marino’s stories introduced in different halves of the season, it remains to be seen how effectively the show will connect the dots.
The longer it takes for the connection between LaRoche and Marino to become clear, the greater the risk of the storyline feeling rushed. With so many moving parts, NCIS must wrap up the storylines efficiently to avoid leaving viewers with unresolved plot threads. If the two villains are revealed to be working together, the show will need to close the loop without relying on a cliffhanger, or else risk feeling incomplete as it heads into the season finale.
Who’s the Real Villain: LaRoche or Marino?
As we head deeper into NCIS Season 22, the question of who the real villain is becomes more difficult to answer. LaRoche’s access to top-secret information and his manipulation of those around him make him a prime candidate for the season’s antagonist. He’s a master at playing the innocent card, managing to convince McGee, at least for a moment, that he is free of any wrongdoing. His strategic positioning within NCIS is dangerous, and his ability to hide his corruption makes him a serious threat.
On the other hand, Carla Marino brings a different type of danger to the table. As a ruthless mob boss, she commands a vast network of criminal operations and has evaded capture multiple times. Marino’s understated presence throughout the season suggests that she could be pulling strings from behind the scenes, orchestrating larger plans that LaRoche might be unknowingly tied to. Given her criminal background, Marino may ultimately be the more powerful antagonist, with LaRoche simply a pawn in a larger game.
Ultimately, the question of who the better villain is might come down to what viewers are looking for. If they want a villain with political power and an inside track on government secrets, LaRoche is the clear frontrunner. But if they’re after an antagonist with the raw power and experience to manipulate everyone around them, Marino could easily come out on top. The bigger question, however, is whether the two are working together — and if so, how deep the conspiracy runs.
A Thrilling Yet Uncertain Future
With the possibility of a larger conspiracy involving both LaRoche and Marino, NCIS has successfully raised the stakes for Season 22. However, balancing these two significant villains presents a real risk. Will the show be able to tie together these complex storylines into a satisfying conclusion? Or will it struggle to wrap up these loose ends, potentially leaving viewers with a cliffhanger that feels more frustrating than thrilling?
As we approach the final episodes of the season, all eyes are on how NCIS will handle its dual villain setup. The key will be providing enough time to properly connect the dots while maintaining the clear storytelling that has made the show so beloved for years. Fans are hoping that the show can deliver a twist that makes this season’s villain arc one to remember.
