The January 27, 2025 episode of NCIS introduced a compelling mystery centered on a beloved local bakery and uncovered a secret romance within the team. Titled ‘Baker’s Man‘, this Season 22 installment brought together the core investigative team with a roster of notable guest stars to solve a case of blackmail and murder.
This episode was a significant event as the winter premiere for 2025, marking the show’s return after its holiday hiatus. It also featured a special directorial effort from one of the series’ own stars.
The Main NCIS Team in Action
The full team of agents based at the Washington Navy Yard was involved in the case. Leading the Major Case Response Team is Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker, played by Gary Cole. Parker is a former FBI agent known for his sharp, calm approach to investigations. His personal fondness for the bakery at the center of the episode adds a layer of investment to the case.
His senior field agent and second-in-command is Timothy McGee, portrayed by Sean Murray. McGee is a computer expert and a best-selling author who has been with the team since the first season. The team also includes the charismatic and resilient undercover specialist Nick Torres, played by Wilmer Valderrama. Jessica Knight, a specialist in hostage negotiations played by Katrina Law, is a key member of the team. Her character’s personal life becomes a focal point in this episode.
Providing forensic and medical expertise are Kasie Hines and Dr. Jimmy Palmer. Hines, the forensic scientist, is played by Diona Reasonover. Palmer, the Chief Medical Examiner, is portrayed by Brian Dietzen and was the longtime assistant to the late Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. Overseeing all NCIS operations is Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll. Carroll also served as the director for this particular episode.
Spotlight on the Guest Cast
The episode’s story revolves around a new character, the bakery owner Eleni Kostakis. This role is played by veteran actress Melina Kanakaredes. Kanakaredes is well-known to television audiences for her roles as Dr. Sydney Hansen on Providence and Detective Stella Bonasera on CSI: NY.
“I guess the secret is out! Have a Blessed and wonderful Holiday Season- and then tune into NCIS on January 27, 2025,” Kanakaredes shared on social media before the episode aired.
Other guest stars brought the criminal elements of the story to life. Ken Garito played Leslie Walker, a figure connected to the blackmail plot. Carlos Javier Rivera appeared as Arturo Jimenez, and Jordyn Owens took on the role of Virgil Wilson. Joel Steingold guest-starred as Officer Frank Mandel.
Episode Plot and Key Story Beats
In ‘Baker’s Man’, the NCIS team discovers that the owner of Parker’s favorite bakery is being blackmailed. They work together to devise a plan to save her from the criminals responsible. The situation at the bakery escalates when an employee is found murdered, revealing a connection to a larger drug operation.
Alongside the main case, a significant personal subplot unfolds within the team. Agent Nick Torres has been secretly dating a woman close to another team member. This secret is discovered in this episode, causing considerable tension. It is revealed that Torres is in a relationship with Robin Knight, the sister of Agent Jessica Knight. This revelation initially angers Jessica, though she eventually works toward accepting their relationship.
The episode successfully blended a classic NCIS crime investigation with character-driven drama, focusing on the complexities of workplace and personal relationships.
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Behind the Scenes and Series Context
This episode was directed by series star Rocky Carroll, who plays Director Leon Vance. Carroll has directed several episodes of the series in recent seasons. The episode was written by Andrew Bartels.
‘Baker’s Man’ was the tenth episode of NCIS Season 22, which was announced in April 2024 and premiered on October 14, 2024. The season contained 20 episodes and aired alongside other series in the NCIS franchise, including NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney. Following this winter premiere episode, the storyline involving Torres and Knight’s sister continued to develop in subsequent episodes.
The episode aired on the CBS network on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET/PT. It was available for streaming on Paramount+ on the same day for subscribers with the SHOWTIME package, and became available for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after it aired on television.
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