NCIS season 23 episode 7 recap: A leap frog goes rogue, a chapel conspiracy unfolds, and Parker faces a devastating discovery

NCIS season 23 episode 7, titled “God Only Knows,” aired on Tuesday, December 1, 2025, and delivered another intense mystery on CBS. What started as a strange and fast-moving crime soon turned into something much more personal and emotional. As the team worked to solve the case, the situation grew heavier, especially for Parker.

The episode began with a dramatic midair disappearance that led to a kidnapping, putting NCIS on the trail of Lieutenant Max Winger, a Navy SEAL who had survived capture by the Taliban. As the agents investigated further, they uncovered troubling signs of trauma, shifting loyalties, and unexpected violence, leading them to a shocking discovery inside Winger’s home.

Just when the case seemed simple, a mix of military secrets, personal pain, and hidden corruption took over the investigation. And with Parker still struggling after learning upsetting details about his mother’s death, the episode connected his emotional turmoil with the unfolding mystery. What followed was a tense, morally complicated hour that pushed every character into difficult territory.

NCIS season 23 episode 7: Max Winger’s kidnapping case takes a shocking turn

The episode jumped into chaos as a skydiver crashed into a suburban neighborhood, stole a car, and kidnapped a teenager named Jake. The clue he left behind, a Navy helmet with the call sign “Kingfisher” led NCIS straight to Lieutenant Max Winger, a well-known Leap Frog who had suddenly disappeared midair during a performance jump. His vanishing act and violent behavior immediately worried the team.

As NCIS followed Max’s movements, they learned he had gone home and was now tied to the apparent murder of Captain David Cruz. The scene in Max’s bedroom looked like a crime of passion, making the agents believe he had killed Cruz after discovering an affair between Cruz and his wife.

But that theory fell apart when Mrs. Winger strongly denied cheating and insisted her husband would never murder someone unless following orders.

The case grew more intense when Max showed up at a base chapel to speak with a chaplain, then ran off again after giving a confession the chaplain could not reveal. His strange behavior made him both a fugitive and a possible danger, especially after he broke into a Navy munitions depot.

With fears growing about terrorism or radicalization, Parker pushed harder, already shaken by Jimmy’s news that his mother might have been murdered instead of dying in an accident. When NCIS later found a hidden compartment containing a Quran and a prayer rug, the mystery around Max, his mental state, and his true motives became even more confusing.
 

NCIS season 23 episode 7: The secret behind the O.K. Corral and Parker’s breaking point

The emotional core of the episode appeared when NCIS uncovered the link between Max, Cruz, and a third man, Liam O’Brian. All three had once served at a top-secret airbase in Afghanistan called the “O.K. Corral.” The base, inherited from the Cold War era, was heavily contaminated with toxic materials.

Parker realized the men had been exposed to something deadly that was slowly killing them, forcing O’Brian to take his own life and leaving Max terminally sick.

This discovery changed everything the team thought they knew about Max. He wasn’t radicalized, angry, or losing his mind. He was a dying man trying to protect his family before it was too late. He had rushed home because an AI-generated fake call told him his wife and child had been kidnapped.

His choices were driven by fear and trauma, not violence. Even the item he stole from the munitions depot wasn’t meant for harm, it was contaminated soil that he wanted to use as proof of the military’s cover-up.

Parker’s emotional journey mirrored Max’s pain, making this one of his strongest episodes of the season. Still mourning his father, Parker was shaken when Jimmy revealed he believed Parker’s mother might have been murdered.

Overwhelmed, Parker snapped at coworkers, pushed the investigation too hard, and nearly broke naval rules as anger clouded his judgment. But Max’s honesty eventually helped him regain control, leading Parker to finally face the truth about his own family and ask Jimmy to keep digging.

Other highlights of NCIS season 23 episode 7

Outside of the main case, the episode stood out for its strong character moments and unexpected twists. Agent Parker’s storyline was one of the most engaging parts, as his personal grief affected his work.

His tense exchange with the chaplain, who earned Parker’s respect by refusing to break the seal of confession, added emotional depth. Director Vance also stepped in, reminding everyone about discipline, protocol, and the limits of leadership.

A major subplot revealed that Seaman Morris, a young naval worker who seemed harmless, had secretly bugged the chapel to listen to private confessions. He used the recorded secrets to blackmail people, including Captain Cruz, who was killed after refusing to pay.

This twist changed the direction of the entire case, showing that the real motive was greed and corruption not terrorism or betrayal. One of the episode’s most memorable scenes came when Morris tried to take the chaplain hostage, only for the chaplain to fight back.

He surprised everyone with his strength and even joked that he learned his moves from watching Tarantino movies. This mix of tension and humor helped lighten the darker storylines.

By the end, Max was cleared and reunited with his family, even though his terminal illness still hung over him. His actions ensured that others exposed at the O.K. Corral would now get tested and treated. The episode closed with Parker choosing honesty over denial, asking Jimmy to continue investigating his mother’s death.

Catch NCIS season 23 on CBS and Paramount Plus