Spoiler Alert for NCIS: Origins season 1, episode 10, “Blue Bayou”
NCIS: Originshasn’t been renewed for season 2, and with the way season 1 has played out, the prequel show about Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs may not need a second chapter. TheNCISspinoff has performed more mediocre than expected, with a report fromTV Lineconfirming that theNCISfranchise’s latest spinoffNCIS: Originsdipped to season lows in November heading into the midseason finale. The show has already been renewed for the first season’s second half, which wasn’t guaranteed. Now, neither is its sophomore run.
A differentTV Linereport at the end of 2024 confirmed thatNCIS: Originswas one of CBS' lowest-rated shows, ranking 14 out of 20, with dramas likeTrackerandMatlocktaking the network’s leading slots. The report noted thatNCIS: Originsretains one percent less of theNCISMonday night audience than thecanceledNCIS: Hawai’i.Beyond its ratings, though,NCIS: Originshas a reason to end after season 1. Still, seeing how the series handles its sophomore run would be interesting.
NCIS: Origins Already Told All The Important Plots From Gibbs' Past
The Prequel Covered All Of Gibbs' Most Important Flashbacks
NCIS: Originsdoesn’t need to live to see another season because the prequel has already covered all of Gibbs' most important backstories.Many of Gibbs' most essential stories from 1991 were established in flashbacksinNCISseason 3, episodes 23 and 24, “Hiatus Part I” and “Hiatus Part II.” The episodes are great because pivotal flashbacks establish Gibbs' history after transitioning from a Gunnery sergeant to a federal agent. Heading into the midseason premiere,NCIS: Origins’storyhas already tackled all the essential flashbacks from the double episode.
5 Things NCIS: Origins Needs To Do To Save Its Concerning Ratings Drop
Despite NCIS: Origins' worrying ratings drop, there are still several things that the NCIS prequel can do to avoid being prematurely canceled.
When Mark Harmon’s older Gibbs is in the hospital in season 3, he has a flashback to getting the news that someone killed his wife and daughter. The development causes him to run into an explosion that follows, and the prequel covers this event inNCIS: Originsseason 1, episode 4. Another critical moment fromNCISseason 3 flashbacks is when Gibbs kills Pedro Hernandez following Franks giving the grieving husband access to the file about Shannon and Kelly’s case.NCIS: Originsrevisited Gibbs' moment in Mexicoand other essential scenes, covering significant ground in recreating pivotal flashbacks.
What An NCIS: Origins Season 2 Might Be About
NCIS: Origins Season 2 Can Get Creative
Despite telling many of his most pivotal stories in the first half of season 1, there’s plenty more to cover about Leroy Jethro Gibbs if CBS renews the prequel forNCIS: Originsseason 2. Amid old Gibbs' flashbacks about the war and his family in season 3, the character had flashbacks ofNCIS Director Jennifer Shepard, whom he had an intimate relationship with after the death of his wife and daughter.NCIS: Originshas yet to cover Jenny’s involvementin Gibbs' early years at the agency, although she doesn’t factor into his story until later.
A story about McGee’s childhood or Ziva’s Mossad origins would be a neat development, and it could save theNCISseries that has unsuccessfully focused on Gibbs so far.
Jenny could appear in later seasons ofNCIS: Originsif it outlasts its concerning ratings drop. Another option for continuingNCIS: Originsinto a second season, now that plenty has been established about Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is to focus on another character.NCIS: Originscould pick a new character to focus on each season, giving its audience a variation of narratives to enjoy. A story about McGee’s childhood or Ziva’s Mossad origins would be a neat development, and it could save theNCISseries that has unsuccessfully focused on Gibbs so far.
What Are The Chances Of CBS Renewing NCIS: Origins
NCIS: Origins' Renewal Chances Are Fair
NCIS: Originshas a fair chance of renewal for season 2, but it is by no means a guarantee at this point. That said,showrunner David J. North gave an optimisticNCIS: Originsseason 2 update,saying thatCBS and Paramount+ were"in it for the long haul.“While the network hasn’t officially commented on renewing the prequel series for its sophomore run, North’s comments suggest the showrunners have reason to believe the show will last beyond its first season. Still, anything is possible after theNCISfranchise canceled NCIS: Hawai’i after just season 3.
Is CBS About To Cancel NCIS?
NCIS season 22’s ratings aren’t looking good. Based on CBS' history of cancelations, what are the chances that it’ll pull the plug on the procedural?
Between canceling its successfulNCIS: Hawai’ispinoff and the dropping numbers for the flagship series, noNCISshow is safe heading into the next TV cycle. While the Navy-focused police procedural was once a television institution, the franchise has lost favor with viewers. At least ifNCIS: Originsdoes see the chopping block after just one season, it will have accomplished what it came to do in terms of establishing Gibbs' story in the early 1990s while he gets started at Camp Pendleton. Still, it would be fascinating to seeNCIS: Originsget creative with another season.
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NCIS
TheNCISfranchise is an American media franchise that focuses on military-related criminal investigations by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It began withNCISin 2003, a spin-off fromJAG, and has since expanded to include multiple spin-offs set across different locations.
