NCIS Season 22, Episode 7, titled Hardboiled, is an episode that could spark mixed reactions among fans. On one side, it delivers a thoroughly enjoyable experience, steering clear of many predictable traps. However, it also falls short in fully utilizing the main cast, relegating them to the background while the focus shifts to the guest characters’ narrative.
Hardboiled focuses on one of Nick Torres’ confidential informants, who unexpectedly emerges as the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. However, the narrative doesn’t explore Torres or the NCIS team in depth. Instead, it places Amber Carnahan, portrayed by Sara Paxton, in the spotlight. While the script effectively showcases her character, it leaves viewers yearning for a deeper exploration of the team that has contributed to NCIS’s enduring popularity.
NCIS Season 22, Episode 7 Is Meant to Feature Nick Torres
The episode Hardboiled aims to spotlight Nick Torres, primarily due to his connection with Amber, his confidential informant. However, it falls short compared to other episodes in NCIS history that have showcased Torres more effectively.
Even in the intense Season 20 finale, Torres had a richer narrative and Wilmer Valderrama displayed a broader range of emotions than what is presented here. The initial premise of the episode revolves around the team’s concern that Torres might be linked to Dr. Roger Carnahan’s death, but this tension is resolved almost immediately after the opening credits.
Following that, Nick’s character development becomes all too predictable. His unwavering commitment to protecting Amber drives his actions, and he experiences turmoil when he suspects her of being the murderer. Ultimately, it takes the intervention of a fellow teammate to help him realize he hasn’t made a grave error in judgment.
Wilmer Valderrama continues to shine in his role, showcasing his talent even after years on NCIS. He embodies Nick Torres with remarkable ease, making the character feel like a natural extension of himself.
However, the most impactful episodes are those that delve deeply into a character’s life or propel them into new experiences, and unfortunately, Season 22 Episode 7 falls short in this regard.
The primary character development for Nick revolves around his interactions with Harold Lamb, a military veteran turned private investigator hired to watch over Sara. Their initial clashes are understandable, but the episode wraps up with a poignant moment where Nick returns Harold’s medal, symbolizing the respect they’ve earned for one another. While fans of Torres will appreciate Valderrama’s performance in Hardboiled, it leaves one wishing for a richer narrative.
Sara Paxton Gives NCIS’ Best Performance In Season 22 Episode 7
What elevates NCIS Season 22, Episode 7 is its bold departure from the clichés typically found in similar narratives. It would have been all too easy—and frankly tedious—to portray Torres as having a romantic link with Amber or to cast her as a cunning femme fatale who orchestrated the villainy from the start.
Such predictable plots would have paled in comparison to the intriguing twist of connecting top-secret missile plans to an ordinary household vacuum. Viewers have encountered those tired tropes countless times, and they would have risked portraying Torres as oblivious. By skillfully hinting at the possibility of Amber being an antagonist just long enough to keep the audience guessing, Hardboiled emerges as a far superior episode.
The success of this approach hinges significantly on Sara Paxton’s performance, a standout from Return to Halloweentown. It is Paxton’s responsibility to transform Amber Carnahan into a character that captivates the audience while ensuring her cries of innocence resonate.
The scenes she navigates could easily have felt exaggerated or disingenuous if handled by a less skilled actor—especially in the moment when Nick Torres and Jessica Knight discover Sara bound in the back of a van, and she attempts to assert her truth.
However, Sara Paxton skillfully avoids overplaying the urgency, and her subtly tentative portrayal reinforces the narrative that Amber was too frightened to seek help through proper channels. In this way, Paxton lends a sense of authenticity to the entire NCIS episode.
One notable performance comes from seasoned character actor Sam McMurray, who embodies the jaded and weary Harold Lamb. McMurray has an extensive resume, having appeared in numerous shows, including a previous guest role in NCIS Season 9. While he is often recognized for his work in sitcoms like The King of Queens, Mom, and Cristela, he brings a sharp edge to the character of Lamb, skillfully avoiding making him unlikable.
In fact, McMurray delivers the standout line of the episode when Harold uncovers that his intern is the true murderer. These guest roles are crafted with greater depth than those seen in recent cases, as viewers genuinely root for both Harold and Amber to emerge unscathed—unlike the regular characters.
NCIS Lets Season 22 Episode 7 Run Away With Itself
In NCIS Season 22, Episode 7, it’s not only Nick Torres who faces a lack of significant moments; the entire main cast seems to fade into the background. While Knight steps in to support Torres, Alden Parker and Leon Vance barely make an impact on the narrative, and Kasie Hines continues her routine without any fresh developments.
The comedic elements are primarily carried by Timothy McGee and Jimmy Palmer, which provides some entertainment. However, the attempt to connect Palmer’s role as a soccer referee to the tragic loss of his wife Breena from Season 18 feels forced, as it tries to inject emotional weight into a storyline that doesn’t truly require it.
Hardboiled serves as a reminder that crafting compelling procedural dramas is far more complex than many viewers might assume. When the focus is overly concentrated on the plot, it often results in characters that lack depth and fail to resonate with the audience.
By developing the guest characters more thoroughly, viewers may become more invested, but this can inadvertently lead to neglecting the main characters. This episode struggles to find that crucial balance. The narrative leans more towards Grace’s story, with some attention on Harold, rather than fully exploring Torres.
The stakes for the team revolve solely around preventing the real killer from escaping justice. However, when the killer is finally unveiled, the revelation lacks both surprise and impact, as the only suspect left is the intern, a character the audience has hardly gotten to know.
NCIS Season 22, Episode 7 stands out as one of the season’s highlights, thanks to the exceptional attention given to the guest characters by both the writers and the actors. The richness of these characters elevates the entire episode, providing a refreshing change from the usual repetitive themes.
While Hardboiled had the potential to delve deeper into Nick Torres’s character, it ultimately shifts the excitement to Amber and Harold, allowing viewers to witness their transformative journeys instead. This shift not only keeps the narrative engaging but also breathes new life into the storyline.