Parental Guidance Suggested is the sixth episode of NCIS Season 12 and the 264th episode of the entire NCIS series.
Synopsis
The NCIS team must determine if the murder of a Navy commander's wife is linked to her profession as a therapist or an act of terrorism after finding the commander's name on a Jihadist target list, only to get a shock when they discover who the true killer really is while the team discusses Halloween costumes and Tony's recent dating habits.
Prologue
As they walk along the pavement with Nathan Curtis, Rachel Barnes tells her friend, Benjamin Curtis, Nathan's son that Harry Potter is not stupid.
Benjamin tells Rachel that she's been Harry Potter for the last three Halloweens before wondering if she could be a girl like Hermione or Ginny.
"You Muggles just don't get it", Rachel says.
Benjamin states that he does and that it's stupid.
Nathan tells Benjamin that's enough before he tells Rachel that her costume is great.
Rachel thanks Nathan although she sticks her tongue out at Benjamin who simply scoffs while looks amused.
As they arrive at the house, Nathan wonders if Rachel's mother is chaperoning the school party?
"No", Rachel says, her voice now distant. "She has to work".
Nathan tells Rachel that they'd be happy to give her a ride before asking Benjamin isn't that right?
"Ugh", Benjamin says, obviously annoyed.
As they reach the front door, Rachel thanks Nathan for walking her home with Nathan stating that it's not a problem and that they'll see her tomorrow.
Rachel bids them farewell before heading inside.
As she heads inside, Nathan grabs Benjamin, Nathan telling Benjamin that his manners leave something to be desired and that when they get home...
However, he stops when he hears Rachel screaming.
Nathan tells Benjamin to wait there before he races into the house.
Once he's inside, Nathan approaches Rachel who's kneeling on the floor, her backpack and sleeping bag discarded as she examines something.
It then shows that Rachel is looking at the body of her mother, Dr. Valerie Barnes who lies on the floor, dead, Rachel whispering "Mom", obviously horrified at the sight.
"Oh, my God", Nathan whispers.
It then cuts to Valerie who lies on the floor, dead, her eyes open and staring at nothing with dried blood under her nose.
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Gibbs while interrogating serial killer George Burton.
Act Four
Act Five
Major Events
- It's revealed that a year has passed since the events in Past, Present and Future (episode).
- Zoe Keates, an agent with the ATF is introduced for the first time.
Cast
Series Regulars
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Leroy Jethro Gibbs | Mark Harmon | Special Agent in charge of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Anthony DiNozzo Junior | Michael Weatherly | Senior Special Agent and second-in-command of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Timothy McGee | Sean Murray (actor) | Special Agent of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Abigail Sciuto | Pauley Perrette | Chief Forensic Specialist for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| James Palmer | Brian Dietzen | Assistant Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. Despite being credited, Dietzen does not appear in this episode. |
| Eleanor Bishop | Emily Wickersham | NCIS Probationary Agent. |
| Leon Vance | Rocky Carroll | Director of NCIS. Despite being credited, Carroll does not appear in this episode. |
| Donald Mallard | David McCallum | Chief Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
Recurring Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| D'Arcy McKinna | Carlease Burke | Social Worker. |
Other Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe Keates | Marisol Nichols | Special Agent with ATF- Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. |
| Rachel Barnes | Millie Bobby Brown | A young girl who is later revealed to be a sociopath responsible for killing her mother, Valerie Barnes. |
| Ryan Barnes | Josh Randall | Commander in the United States, the husband/widower of Valerie Barnes and father of Rachel Barnes. |
| Nathan Curtis | Kenneth Mitchell (actor) | A man who is the father of Benjamin Curtis. |
| Benjamin Curtis | Brady Allen | Nathan Curtis's son. |
| George Burton | Bronson Pinchot | A serial killer. |
| Dorian Hobart | R.C. Ormond | A man who appears in the episode. |