“Out of Control,” the eighth episode of NCIS‘s 22nd season, is a thrilling ride that combines a cutting-edge carjacking case with a deep look into Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker’s past and mind. The Major Case Response Team — (MCRT) is investigating a strange crime involving an AI-driven car that has gotten away. Parker’s unresolved trauma takes center stage, revealing layers of mystery and vulnerability that may help them figure out what’s going on with his hallucinations.

A Carjacking Case

The show starts with a normal argument between a couple about loading the dishwasher, but it quickly turns into something out of the ordinary. Their car’s AI suddenly takes over the—manual controls and drives itself into a strange garage. Once the team gets there, they find the car but no Navy Lieutenant Mason Winslow, who they thought was in it.

It’s clear that this isn’t a simple carjacking as the MCRT looks into it. Kasie Hines finds a link between this crime and a string of similar high-tech car thefts in the area. With her forensic skills, she finds that Winslow’s car’s control point is connected to a hotspot that belongs to a girl in prison. This prisoner says that her old hacking gear may have gotten into the hands of a drug cartel. At the same time, the team finds out that Winslow has been killed, which changes their focus from theft to a bigger criminal plot.

Parker’s Haunting Hallucinations

Parker’s mind starts to fall apart as the team gets deeper into the case. Parker (Gary Cole), sees a little girl named Lily in his head while interviewing Winslow’s wife at the hospital. This is not the first time Lily has shown up. The vision reminds me of the season 21 finale, when Parker, who was hurt and stuck on a Navy ship, saw Lily in his mind helping him stay alive. In this episode, though, she comes back much more often and keeps getting in the way of Parker’s concentration at crucial times.

The number of Parker’s flashbacks grows. One scary scene is when he swerves into oncoming traffic after seeing—Lily on the side of the road while driving with Agents Nick Torres and Jess Knight (Katrina Law). The near-accident makes it clear that Parker’s unresolved trauma from the incident on the Navy ship is coming back to haunt him and it’s making it hard for him to lead.

A Glimpse Into Parker’s Past

The NCIS therapist, Dr. Grace Confalone (Laura San Giacomo) comes back after a long break to help Parker deal with his problems. During their time together at Parker’s house, she tells him to look into his family history to try to figure out where his visions come from. Parker says he asked his dad if they had ever had a —Lily— before but couldn’t find a link. But the fact that he doesn’t want to talk about his mother suggests that he still has problems from when she left and died. Parker doesn’t want to think about these memories any further, but the visions he keeps having make him think that his mother and Lily may be the key to his inner turmoil.

The Case Takes a High-Tech Turn:

As Parker fights his inner demons, the case of the car theft gets trickier. Knight and Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) find out that the hacker can get into even their NCIS vehicle. The car locks its doors and drives off, leaving the agents shocked and embarrassed as they watch their car disappear. The event shows how vulnerable modern technology is and raises the stakes for the team.

Once again, Kasie is indispensable by figuring out where the hackers are by reverse-engineering their work. Her research leads her to a smart car driving around Washington, D.C., which she can take control of from afar. Kasie brings the car and its driver back to NCIS headquarters with great care and strategy. The team is ready to jump.

When the car arrives, the team is shocked to find that the driver is a lawyer for the criminal with ties to the cartel whose hotspot was used in the plan to steal the car. The lawyer’s involvement in the case suggests a larger web of corruption and crime. At the end of the episode, the team is starting to figure out the links but they still can’t figure out the whole plot.

Parker’s Struggles Continue

Even though the case is over, Parker’s personal problems have not been solved. His hallucinations and the fact that Lily’s identity is still a mystery point to deeper problems in his childhood and with his relationship with his mother. Parker’s journey to get better will be a running theme throughout the season, as Dr. Grace will still be involved.

In this sad episode, there are also tributes to characters you love from NCIS. McGee (Sean Murray) thinks back to when Abby (Pauley Perrette) told him about her strange love of blood spatter while he was investigating a crime scene. Palmer (Brian Dietzen), in honor of the late Ducky (David McCallum), hangs a dartboard in the morgue, which is a reference to the famous character’s favorite pastime.

Episode 8 of NCIS Season 22 strikes the perfect balance between a high-stakes tech mystery and a touching look into Parker’s past. As the season goes on— the unanswered questions about Lily and Parker’s trauma will likely add emotional depth and mystery to the main story.

Network: CBS

Available on: Prime Video | Paramount Plus | Netflix

For more detailed recaps and TV insights, visit otavo.tv.

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