Rocky Carroll is pulling double duty again on NCIS — stepping in front of the camera as Leon Vance and behind it as director for the January 23 episode, “Big Rig.”
In his 21st time directing the CBS hit, Carroll guides an intense undercover storyline that pushes the team into dangerous new territory. When a battered and frantic old friend of Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) shows up in the middle of an FBI operation — then mysteriously vanishes — the case spirals fast. To uncover the truth, Torres goes undercover as a long-haul trucker to infiltrate a crime ring operating out of a trucking company.
Carroll says what drew him most to the episode was its raw edge. Set largely in a gritty truck-stop bar and warehouse locations, “Big Rig” breaks away from NCIS’s usual rhythm and leans heavily into action. Gunfire, brutal fight scenes, and high-stakes chaos remind viewers just how dangerous the job truly is — something Carroll believes audiences need to feel from time to time.
Still, amid the explosions and undercover tension, the heart of the episode lies in a quiet moment: a powerful, emotional conversation between Torres and Sawyer (Zane Holtz) inside the cab of a big rig. For Carroll, that scene captures what NCIS has always done best — revealing the humanity behind the badge.
Behind the scenes, the biggest challenge came during a massive warehouse sequence packed with agents, FBI officers, and multiple speaking roles — a complex, high-energy scene Carroll compares to “orchestrating a wedding.”
Meanwhile, McGee (Sean Murray) spends the hour preparing for a game show, and Carroll teases that Vance might secretly excel at trivia — though he’d probably throw the match just to get back to work.
Looking ahead, Carroll hints at deeper character developments. After a recent European mission with Parker (Gary Cole) introduced a potential new love interest for Vance, there may be more personal growth on the horizon — along with a slowly strengthening bond between Vance and his new team leader, echoing the long-evolving dynamic Vance once shared with Gibbs (Mark Harmon).
Action-packed, emotional, and layered with character depth, “Big Rig” proves Carroll’s influence on NCIS runs both in front of and behind the lens.