NCIS season 22, episode 8 dealt with self-driving cars while Parker had visions of Lily

NCIS season 22, episode 8 focused on a peculiar case involving self-driving cars as Parker continued to have visions of Lily.

“Hardboiled” – Torres receives intel from a confidential informant regarding top secret naval information that’s at risk of being sold, on the CBS Original series NCIS, Monday, Dec. 2 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Wilmer Valderrama as NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres.
“Hardboiled” – Torres receives intel from a confidential informant regarding top secret naval information that’s at risk of being sold, on the CBS Original series NCIS, Monday, Dec. 2 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Wilmer Valderrama as NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres.

NCIS had a case that involved a self-moving car, thieves, and also saw the return of a storyline teased in the season 21 finale. With just one more episode to go before the midseason finale, there’s plenty to talk about for the characters!

Navy Lt. Mason Winslow was driving with his wife when the vehicle began driving on its own. They were led to a warehouse, where Mason fought against a pair of thieves as his wife ran to safety. She was eventually hospitalized as the team tried to find out what had happened to Mason since the only thing at the warehouse was the deceased body of his attacker.

At first, the team thought his abduction might be personal since his family had connections with Russia due to their work in the oil business. However, as this particular lead hit a dead end, Kasie discovered that there were similar murders committed in the past month. It appeared someone was controlling the vehicles and bringing unsuspecting individuals to their deaths.

They learned that whoever was controlling the vehicles was using a prisoner’s hot spot in order to commit the crimes. They meet with her and her lawyer, Cliff, but she claims not to know who is using the hot spot.

When the team’s own car is stolen and discovered in a repo lot crushed with the other vehicles from the investigation, Kasie is able to use the car’s computer system to determine how the hacker had taken it. She was able to then track the suspect’s own vehicle and take over, allowing McGee to bring the vehicle to the team.

It turned out Cliff was the one responsible for using the technology from his client in order to take the vehicles. The entire plot was orchestrated by Mason’s wife, Ashley, who was having an affair with Cliff. However, she couldn’t just divorce Mason. According to a prenup, the only way she could get money from her husband was after he was dead.

The other cases were done to hide her crimes, but the team was able to make an arrest before she ever left the hospital. It was a classic ‘the wife did it’ that had its own spin using human-controlled vehicles. 

During the case, Parker dealt with increasing visions of the mysterious Lily. He spoke with Dr. Grace Confalone, albeit reluctantly. He did not want to dredge up the past, especially since his mother was involved in the dream. Parker revealed his mother up and left, although we don’t know if there is more to it. 

Thanks to the team not-so-subtly telling him he should open up to Grace, Parker does just that. He had already asked his dad about Lily, who claimed not to know the name. Is it possible there is a connection between Lily and his mom? In one of his final visions of Lily, he saw her writing on a piece of paper. She had written, “You can’t tell anyone.”

This is one mystery we’re looking forward to learning more about. Until we find out more, there is one episode to go before the winter break. The best part is it will be a Christmas episode!

NCIS airs Mondays on CBS at 9/8c. Catch up on previous episodes on Paramount+.