NCIS fans are ready to give their favorite CBS drama a warm welcome back. But well before Monday night’s new episode aired, folks were already feeling anxious for Wilmer Valderrama’s character, Torres.
On April 13, Wilmer shared an exclusive first look at the new season 19 episode titled “Last Dance.” In the 30-second Instagram clip, Torres speaks with Vance (Rocky Carroll) and Parker (Gary Cole) about a criminal who's looking for revenge after spending time behind bars. The target? Torres himself.
According to the snippet, Reymundo Diaz (Joseph Melendez) waited six years to confront Torres after he was taken down during an undercover operation. By the looks of it, Diaz comes for a fight and Torres is as prepared as he could be — but he's alone.
“A convicted killer with access to serious firepower is hunting you,” Vance told Torres in the Instagram video. “Then we better find him first,” he replied.
After seeing the NCIS special agent in the heart-pounding situation, many fans' minds immediately went toward the possibility of Torres dying in action. “Please don’t die,” one person wrote in the comments section, to which Wilmer responded, “🤷🏽♂️.” Another added: “Ooohh.. no! Please be safe! We can't [lose] you too 😢.”
What’s more, some observant fans noted that Wilmer’s Instagram isn’t tagged in the recent NCIS season 20 announcement. Others speculated that if the actor leaves NCIS, it could be to pursue other opportunities. “I know that you are going to be playing Zorro, I just pray they don't kill off Torres. My heart can't take it!” someone else wrote, referencing Wilmer’s upcoming role in Disney’s live-action Zorro.
That said, lots of folks were ecstatic to see NCIS episodes dedicated to Torres’s backstory.
Shortly after Wilmer’s first post about the new episode, he continued teasing what's to come for his character in a series of Instagram posts. “Every case has its consequences… They don’t just go away.. and for Torres, the past, is now again,” he captioned one post. Wilmer then gave a little more insight in a different Instagram posted on April 16. A follow-up Instagram video showed the special agent being forced to face his past, both personally and professionally, which included his dad and Bishop (Emily Wickersham).
We’re crossing our fingers that there won't be a sudden goodbye for Wilmer and Torres on NCIS.
Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in journalism and creative writing.
