New ‘NCIS’ Season 22 Preview Images Tease a Familiar Face Will Return

The next chapter of NCIS Season 22 brings back a familiar face. Special Agent Sawyer, played by Zane Holtz, will appear in the episode airing March 24, titled “Moonlit.” Holtz first joined the show in Season 18 and has popped up in Seasons 19 and 20 as well. This time, he’s stepping back into the action to help the team tackle a new case. Photos released show Sawyer working alongside the crew, looking sharp as ever.

The episode centers on a Navy Lieutenant’s death. CBS has shared that this case connects directly to Sawyer. Meanwhile, agents Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Knight (Katrina Law) dig into a separate murder tied to a rich family. It’s a busy night for the team, and Sawyer’s return adds an extra layer to the investigation.

Beyond the main case, “Moonlit” dives into a personal mystery for Parker (Gary Cole). He uncovers a surprising link between his mother’s death and Lily, a young girl he’s been seeing in hallucinations since the end of Season 21. The last time she appeared in his mind, she left a note saying, “You can’t tell anyone.” Parker’s first vision of Lily also included his mother, but he’s kept quiet about it so far. This episode promises to shed light on that strange connection.

Looking ahead, Parker’s story will get even deeper. Executive producer Steven D. Binder spoke about this in December 2024. He said, “We all have family lore that gets passed down to us by our elders. And what is going to trigger Parker is he’s going to go dig into some family lore and find out it’s not what he had been told, that he has a memory of events, and then there were the events that his father told him, and then there are the events that actually happened.”

Binder also confirmed Parker’s father will return, giving Parker a chance to ask hard questions. “We’re going to see Parker’s father again. Parker’s going to get a chance to go question his father about this and realize that what his life — or some life history that he thought was real is not actually his history,” he added.

Holtz, known for roles like Richie Gecko in From Dusk till Dawn: The Series and K.O. Kelly in Riverdale and Katy Keene, slips back into Sawyer’s shoes effortlessly. Fans can expect a mix of crime-solving and personal drama in this episode. Check out the new photos from “Moonlit” to get a peek at what’s coming!