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Gary Cole, who plays Alden Parker in NCIS, spoke with TV Insider about Parker and Vance's long-running conflict. He expressed that he thinks it's slowly dissolving. However, he liked this dynamic between him and Vance, and now, when Vance is holding himself back, it is almost frustrating for Parker.
"I think it is softening, and I think it will soften, but I don't think it is going to be eliminated because we are told there are a couple of things coming that have to do with the agency itself that are larger than their relationship. I keep them in some kind of arch."
Read on to learn more about what the actor said in the interview dropped on November 7, 2025.
NCIS star Gary Cole addresses Parker and Vance's long-standing conflict
Gary Cole appeared in the TV Insider interviews recently and addressed his character Parker and Vance's long-standing conflict in NCIS. He mentioned how he has sort of liked the running conflict between the two characters and how the show is now going through a crucial point with the team spiraling about who is going to lead.
"There is a lot of conflict going on around who is going to stay in power in a certain agency. Are different agencies going to change? etc," said Col
He then mentioned that the two characters' rage is going to "soften" in the coming episodes, and for Parker, it's kind of frustrating, too.
"I like the fact that they are in conflict. But in this particular episode, it seems to soften a little bit. When Vance holds back from Parker, that is when Parker gets frustrated. He wants everything up front, and he is not getting it. "
Vance and Parker are the two experienced agents who are now finding a way to work with mutual respect. Vance has been the NCIS Director for many years and has had complex relationships with his agents. Parker came in later, after Gibbs' departure, to be precise, and began working under Vance's leadership. However, the makers are keen to show their relationship as smoother as compared to that of Gibbs and Vance.
What kind of relationship do Vance and Parker share in season 23 of NCIS?
By season 23 of the show, Vance and Alden are frequently in conflict, not because of any personal dislike but because of opinion differences when it comes to leadership style and ethics. Parker had replaced Gibbs, and since then, Vance sees potential in him as someone who could stabilize the team. However, Parker is also dealing with the personal loss of his father and has some morally grey zones. This is when he began to bend NCIS protocol to chase justice.
Vance is a cop who always goes by the book and therefore cannot tolerate such blurred ethics of someone in a leadership position. So when Parker starts making unilateral calls, intercepting suspects, and using off-the-grid contacts, Vance steps in to create obstacles.
Both officials have a distinct set of ethics and work processes. While Parker operates on instinct and moral impulse, Vance relies on structure and accountability. Parker is someone who can risk reprimand to protect someone or get her out, while Vance believes NCIS must answer to oversight and not emotion.
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Episode 5 of NCIS season 23 is about to drop on November 11, 2025.
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