Warning! Spoilers ahead for the NCIS season 21 premiere.

Summary

• Concerns arise about Wilmer Valderrama's future in NCIS due to possible cast departures like previous core .
• NCIS season 21 premier reveals more of Nick Torres' backstory and his ties to a murder case that is not yet fully resolved.
• While there is no indication that Valderrama is leaving, fans are worried about Torres' long-term fate on the show.

Nick Torres may have survived his latest NCIS season 21 crisis, but there are still concerns about Wilmer Valderrama's future in the police procedural. Having been on the air for more than two decades, the CBS show has seen its fair share of cast departures. Just two seasons in, it lost its first core cast member when Caitlin Todd was killed. Subsequently, Cote de Pablo, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perette, Emily Wickersham, and most recently, Mark Harmon departed the project. Still, NCIS moves forward, although it may be looking at losing another agent.

NCIS season 21 marks the first time that it won't have an original cast member on its active roster in light of David McCallum's death. Beyond that, however, Parker might need to slowly start his search for another team member due to concerns that Torres' days with the agency may be numbered. Valderrama debuted as the character in NCIS season 14 as an agent who was undercover for years. Eventually, he crossed paths with Gibbs' team and ed it. In NCIS season 21, episode 1 "Algún Día," more of his backstory is revealed.

Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres Stays With NCIS (For Now)

Picking up after the NCIS season 20 finale cliffhanger, the season 21 premiere explains Torres' ties to the mysterious man he was about to shoot and the aftermath of their encounter. Charged with murder by the FBI after his mother's ab ended up dead, Parker and the rest of the squad scramble to prove their teammate's innocence. Unfortunately, Torres is adamant that he did the crime, albeit suspiciously. Ultimately, Torres is exonerated from all charges and Parker welcomes him back. This effectively re-affirms his place in the highly specialized investigative group — at least for now.

Why NCIS Fans Think Nick Torres Might Leave The Show

Torres may have been able to keep his badge and return to NCIS, but the case that he was involved in still isn't fully solved yet. For starters, the killer is still out on the loose. Meanwhile, the FBI continues to target Parker and his team, meaning that could use any opening to make the group suffer. For context, Valderrama hasn't given any indication that he is looking to leave NCIS, but in his post-premiere interview with The Wrap, he emphasizes that the incident "broke something in him [Torres]," and understandably so, considering its deep connection to his childhood trauma.

While he endeavors to fix it moving forward, there's no guarantee that he will be able to do that while also being an effective agent. The case itself offers several ways for Torres to leave the squad, especially if it means fully resolving the crime. Because of this, his long-term fate on the show has become a cause for concern for fans. In the meantime, however, Valderrama is at least confirmed to star in all of NCIS season 21, as Torres s the rest to pay tribute to Ducky by solving his final mystery.

NCIS season 21 airs every Monday, 9pm ET on CBS.

Source: The Wrap