Warning: Spoilers ahead for NCIS season 21, episode 8!

Summary

• NCIS season 21 is finally teasing a storyline that could see Alden Parker finding love.
• There was chemistry between Parker and Navy Commander Clara Logan during a high-stakes surgical adventure.
• Could a potential romance be on the horizon for Parker in NCIS season 22? Gary Cole hints at more.

Things are heating up in the NCIS universe for Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker, with season 21 finally giving the character a storyline he deserves. Gary Cole's character met his match in NCIS season 21, episode 8, "Heartless," as Parker posed as a heart surgeon. The episode featured Parker alongside cardiac specialist and Navy Commander Clara Logan (Christina Kirk). Although the show follows police procedures, the characters and character development are at the heart of what has made the show appealing over its historic 21-season run. NCIS season 21's latest story can open a new chapter for Parker and the flagship series.

Parker met Logan when the team was investigating the murder of heart surgeon and Navy Commander Erik Harper, played by Star Trek actor Tim Russ. When Harper was murdered and found dozens of miles away from where he was abducted, the team investigated, believing that Harper may have been abducted to perform surgery. When Logan was abducted in Harper's stead, Parker was with her at the hospital, going along with her, disguised as a heart surgeon. What they experienced opened up a new storyline for Parker, and it's one his character needs.

Alden Parker Has Chemistry With Navy Commander Clara Logan In NCIS Season 21

The Pair Bonds As They Perform Heart Surgery In Captivity

Clara is clearly dedicated to her work, and it's a mindset that could mesh well with Parker's demanding career

Parker's new storyline could be centered around apparent love interest Clara Logan, introduced in NCIS season 21, episode 8. Logan was partnered with Naval Surgeon Erik Harper, who was found dead after being abducted from where he was teaching a medical class. The surgical team performed rare surgery, removing cardio paragangliomas, which are a very rare heart tumor. The pair had always worked together and had never lost a patient, which put Clara Logan in rare form after her former partner was murdered, forcing her to perform the rare heart surgery.

Although Kirk has been featured in FBI on CBS, her appearance in NCIS season 21, episode 8, was her first for the NCIS shared universe. What viewers know so far about her character is that she's a skilled heart surgeon who has done rare surgery and worked in extreme conditions. Clara is clearly dedicated to her work, and it's a mindset that could mesh well with Parker's demanding career as Supervisory Special Agent for the team. Their occupations are similarly demanding but not as similar as Parker and his ex-wife.

The relationship began with the two as adversaries, acting guarded towards one another, but the situation caused them to work as a team before revealing their chemistry. Parker encouraged Dr. Logan in her abilities when she was anxious about doing heart surgery outside the operating room, and Dr. Logan told Agent Parker what he would need to do to succeed in convincing their captors that he was actually a cardiothoracic surgeon. She was hesitant to give him advice, but telling Parker what he needed to know to survive signaled Clara opening up to Parker's character.

A Relationship For Parker Would Allow Him To Develop Beyond His Uncommitted Storyline

Parker's On-Screen Relationships In NCIS Include Ex-Wife Vivian Kolchak

NCIS has featured Alden Parker in a relationship, but a full-on romantic narrative for Parker would be something completely new for the NCIS franchise. Over time, all the characters on NCIS typically run into a few potential matches, and the opportunity for Parker to experience this is also an opportunity to give more depth to Parker's storyline and more development of his character. Since viewers are still getting used to Parker after Mark Harmon's NCIS exit as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the potential relationship comes at the perfect time to dive deeper into Parker's character.

Now that NCIS season 22 has been confirmed, Parker could be slated for an on-screen romance in the upcoming season. Although Parker also had a girlfriend in NCIS season 20 named Joy Sullivan, who was played by Rachel Ticotin and featured in NCIS season 20, episode 11, "Bridges," the romance only lasted one episode. A relationship that receives more screen time would allow for Parker's personal life to get the spotlight and could give his character a more serious streak, which would be an interesting departure from the comedic presence he typically adds to the mix of cast members.

Parker was formerly married to Vivian Kolchak (Teri Polo), who made appearances in season 19 and season 20 but has not been seen in the NCIS universe since. Kolchak had a background as a paranormal investigator for the Department of Defense. Before that, she was an FBI Special Agent, meeting Parker on an FBI case and marrying him in 1997. The pair divorced in 2005 after eight years, and Vivian was introduced to the franchise in NCIS season 19, episode 21, "Birds of a Feather," as Parker's ex-wife.

Although there are plenty of narratives to explore about Parker's ex-wife that would also allow more background on his character, it's unlikely that she will appear in the series anytime soon, considering Kolchak's role as the Head of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force. NCIS season 21 almost saw an alien twist with a flying object, and so if there were any time to bring back Polo's character, surely it would have been to help the team in that episode. The snub suggests that the franchise has other plans in mind for Parker's narrative moving forward.

NCIS Actor Gary Cole Hinted The Relationship Could Continue In NCIS Season 22

Alden Parker And Clara Logan Could Reunite In NCIS Season 22