Will we see the baker return in NCIS Season 22 future episodes? Possibilities explored

NCIS Season 22, a crime procedural show premiered on October 14, 2024, and is available to watch on CBS and Paramount+. The show delves into investigative storytelling portraying special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

A spin-off of the CBS series JAG, NCIS is the third longest-running scripted American show. After the mid-season hiatus NCIS Season 22 Episode 10 Baker's Man aired on CBS on January 27, 2025. However, what caught the eyes of the viewers in this episode was the infatuation between the baker and Special Agent Alden Parker.

This two-decade-long series had a lot of star-studded cast members and one of the interesting additions this season is Melina Kanakaredes. The 57-year-old American actress Melina Kanakaredes plays the role of Eleni Kostakis, who is a bakery owner in NCIS Season 22.

Interestingly, her character also has some connections with Special Agent Alden Parker which leaves a hope that she might return for future episodes. In an interview with TV Insider, the executive producer Steven D. Binder even calls Eleni 'Parker's crush'.

Born on April 23, 1967, the Greek American actress Melina Kanakaredes is widely known for her TV roles as Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY and Eleni Andros Cooper in Guiding Light. Her filmography includes The Long Goodnight Kiss, Snitch, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

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Will Melina Kanakaredes return in NCIS Season 22?

Kanakaredes played the small role of Eleni Kostakis a baker and a pastry shop owner. Her character seemed to have a spark with Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole).

Agent Alden Parker is a frequent visitor to Eleni's pastry shop. However, things took a wild turn when a crime occurred at the bakery. This unfortunate event raised a lot of doubt about Eleni Kostakis and her potential involvement in the murder of Virgil, an employee of her bakery.

Apart from that her involvement with Agent Alden Parker is also highlighted as he gets quite entangled in the case. Many viewers might wonder whether we could see Kanakaredes in the upcoming episodes especially due to her connection with Parker.

In an interview with TV Insider, executive producer Steven D. Binder talked about Melina Kanakaredes's casting as Eleni Kostakis,

"We talk about archetype, our dream character, and she was the name on the board when we were breaking the story. She's a tonn of fun. Parker, I think, has a little crush on his baker. We'll finally get to see Parker buy some pastries."

Binder continued,

"And Kanakaredes might be back. The original plan was just the one episode, but she was so great that we have a board of people who, let's see if we can bring this person back. So it's just one episode planned, but she's certainly someone we'd love to see again."

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What happened in NCIS Season 22 Episode 10 Baker's Man?

In the episode, Baker's Man, the NCIS team finds themselves in the middle of a gang drug war as Peter's favorite bakery and baker get involved, and things turn wild.

The episode opens as Parker visits his favorite Greek bakery. However, he notices Virgil, an employee baker seems quite distracted. Moments later the bakery is robbed and Virgil is held at gunpoint.

At the office, Parker's teammates tease him about Eleni, the bakery owner. Their conversation gets interrupted as McGee finds a hidden paper message from Virgil inside Parker's cookie box. However, when they arrive at the bakery, they notice Virgil's body submerged in cookie batter.

Kasie finds cocaine in Eleni's cookies which makes her a prime suspect. Before they could investigate the matter, a lawyer intervened. In the meantime, Jess suspects her sister Robin dating someone and it's revealed it's Nick Torres.

While investigating a warehouse, Jess and Nick find Eleni chained and kidnapped. Nick causes an explosion to create a distraction allowing Parker and McGee to intervene. The real culprit, a probation officer is then arrested. Later, Parker visits Eleni at the bakery bringing her homemade baklava.