NCIS season 22 started off strong with a possible villain introduction, but episode 17 just changed all of that. Since its premiere, NCIS has featured notorious criminals, with many of NCIS’ most terrifying villains appearing in the earlier seasons of the show. While there has been a lull in criminal masterminds in the procedural, NCIS season 22 is bringing them back in the best way possible.

The NCIS characters have been dealing with multiple points of conflict in the show’s latest season with personal issues, moles, and even hallucinations. While season 22 may not be the show’s most intense season, it has featured many interesting storylines that all seem to be moving in a separate direction. However, NCIS season 22, episode 17, may have just connected two of the season’s biggest antagonists.

NCIS Season 22 Sets Up Gabriel LaRoche & Carla Marino As The Year’s Big Bad
NCIS Hasn’t Revealed How LaRoche And Marino Are Connected Yet

The NCIS season 22 villain storyline has been set up since NCIS season 22, episode 1, with the introduction of Seamus Dever’s Gabriel LaRoche. The suspicions surrounding LaRoche have to do with his proximity to delicate information that has been leaked, leading the MCRT to believe he may be a mole. No one is more convinced than McGee, who was rejected for a promotion in favor of LaRoche, who is now the new deputy director of NCIS.

A few episodes later, NCIS introduced Parker’s foe, Carla Marino, the mob boss of Kansas City. However, it was not until NCIS season 22, episode 17, that the two names were connected. While working on a case involving hit men and high-end jewelry, Marino’s name popped up. In the same episode, LaRoche became a target. The episode ends without a clear explanation as to how the two villains are connected, but it is clear that something bigger is happening behind the scenes.

Having 2 Big Villains Breaks The NCIS Mold (And Isn’t The Best Storytelling Approach)
The Two Storylines Don’t Have A Clear Intersection

NCIS does not always have a season villain, but when they do, it is typically just one. At most, the villain may be connected to a larger mob or a cartel, but overall, NCIS has usually had singular villains that have wreaked havoc on the MCRT. That is partially why NCIS season 22 is so unexpected and partially confusing. For most of the season, LaRoche seemed to be the only villain. Then, Marino’s introduction seemed more like a one-off. However, now it seems that the two are connected.

Having two distinct villains is outside NCIS’ usual approach to major criminals. It also has the potential of making the storyline that connects them too crowded and busy. Many of NCIS’ storylines are simple and easy to follow. That is one of the reasons the procedural remains so popular. Its storylines are not always expected, but they always follow the same format. NCIS season 22 seems to be changing that, hopefully for the good. However, there is a risk that the overlap of the two stories might harm the season as a whole.

Seeing as how Marino and LaRoche’s possible connection was also only introduced in the latter half of the season, not much time has been given to tie off any loose ends of the story. If it is discovered that the pair not only know about each other but are also working closely together, NCIS has to wrap up the story soon or risk facing a cliffhanger ending in the finale. This increases the stakes for the season but also acts as a risk for incomplete storylines.

Which Is The Better NCIS Season 22 Villain: LaRoche Or Marino?
Both Characters Have Their Strengths As Villains

NCIS season 22 has set up LaRoche as the season’s villain right from the start, which makes it hard to imagine anyone else taking over the role. However, after episode 17, I am not so sure of who is the true, and therefore, better, season 22 villain. LaRoche has direct ties to major government corporations with access to sensitive information and the means to hide any corruption on his part. He is also smart and knows the exact thing to say to feign innocence. He even almost convinced McGee that his hands were entirely clean in episode 17.

LaRoche may be a strong contender for best season villain, but Marino has the power to come out on top.

On the other hand, Marino is the leader of a major criminal organization with an undisclosed number of resources who has evaded arrest several times. LaRoche may be a strong contender for best season villain, but Marino has the power to come out on top. Seeing how there is likely someone behind LaRoche who is pulling the strings, Marino could very well be that person. Therefore, Marino’s ominous presence in the background might make her a better season villain just because her appearance hints that something worse is coming in NCIS.