In a Halloween-themed episode filled with blackmail and a mysterious weapon, the NCIS team was forced to team up with an old acquaintance, leading to unexpected tension between partners Nick Torres and Jessica Knight. The episode, which aired on October 28, 2025, saw Torres grappling with jealousy and a dangerous sound-wave weapon that preyed on his deepest fears.
The Blackmail Case and a Grisly Murder
The episode began with the shocking discovery of Petty Officer Third Class Steven Keogh, whose body was found in an alley with blood and brain matter oozing from his nose and ears. The bizarre injuries initially suggested a supernatural cause, fitting the spooky season. The team’s investigation quickly revealed Keogh was entangled in a blackmail scheme. A woman was targeting naval personnel, seducing them and taking intimate photos to extort monthly payments.
The case took a turn when the team learned their investigation was connected to one being worked by Special Agent Dale Sawyer from the night shift. Sawyer had been looking into several identical blackmail cases. This forced the A-team to work with him, much to the annoyance of Torres. The investigation led them to a woman named Olga Bergamot, who was working with an Albanian gangster, Arben Bardhi, and a local bar owner known as “Hairy Dave.”
A Terrifying Weapon and Torres in Danger
The mysterious deaths were not demonic possessions but the work of a dangerous weapon. Keogh had been forced to steal a Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) from his workplace. The small but powerful device uses targeted sound waves to cause severe brain trauma, liquefying the brain and leading to the gruesome deaths. Hairy Dave used the weapon to kill Keogh, Bardhi, and Olga to cover his tracks and planned to sell the device to Russian buyers.
The case became personal for the team when Nick Torres was affected by the weapon. He was near Olga when the LRAD was used again, and while he was far enough to survive, he suffered significant side effects. The sound waves caused brain inflammation, leading to headaches, blurred vision, and erratic behavior. In a frenzied state, Torres attacked Sawyer’s car during a stakeout, smashing the windshield and yelling at him to stay away from Jessica Knight. He was hallucinating, seeing a monster attacking his partner, but his actions were fueled by the weapon amplifying his subconscious fears.
Professional Jealousy and a Strengthened Bond
Throughout the episode, a subplot involved Director Vance offering Jessica Knight a “sweet opportunity” to train with the revived NCIS Elite team. Knight was thrilled until Torres revealed he was offered the spot first but turned it down. This created a minor rift, with Knight feeling like a second choice. The tension increased as Knight worked closely with Agent Sawyer on the case, with the two appearing chummy during a late-night stakeout.
“He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?” Sawyer asked Knight while they were on stakeout. “More than he knows,” Knight admitted about Torres.
Torres’s visible irritation did not go unnoticed. Medical Examiner Jimmy Palmer called him out on his jealousy, though Torres insisted, “I have zero romantic feelings for Knight.” Palmer suggested it could be professional jealousy, which can be just as strong. After the LRAD incident was resolved, Torres and Knight had a serious conversation in an elevator, stopped at the right moment by the office’s friendly ghost, Henry. They both admitted to feeling jealous—Knight recalled feeling the same way when Torres was dating her sister, Robin.
“When you were dating my sister, what I felt was jealousy was actually a fear that Robin would somehow cost me you. My valued friend and partner,” Knight told him.
Torres acknowledged his jealousy and asked that whatever opportunities come her way, she doesn’t forget who has her back. “Just don’t forget who really has your six. And maybe save the last dance for that guy,” he said, with the two sealing the promise with a pinky swear. The moment served to reinforce their deep platonic bond and commitment as partners.
A Nod to the Past and a Secret for the Future
The episode included a fun nod to series history when Agent Sawyer found a case of Caf-Pow energy drinks in the forensics lab. The drink was the favorite of former forensic scientist Abby Sciuto, a beloved character who left the show years ago. In a separate ongoing storyline, Knight, Palmer, and Kasie continued to hide critical information from Agent Parker regarding discrepancies in the autopsy report of his mother and the night his father was murdered, believing he doesn’t need to know until they are sure of the facts.
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