Warning! Spoilers ahead for the NCIS: Origins premiere.
TheNCIS: Originspremiere features a big twist about “her,” and co-showrunner David J. North explains what this means for Leroy Jethro Gibbs' story moving forward. Mark Harmon officially returns to the CBS procedural franchise, appearing in the prequel show’s special two-episode pilot.Young Gibbs is played by Austin Stowell, who joinsMike Franks' team at Camp Pendletonin the early ’90s and after the murder of Kelly and Shannon. When the show was first promoted,NCIS: Originswas sold as the character’s first few years in the agency. However, that is actually not the case.
At the end of the first hour of theNCIS: Originspremiere,Harmon’s Gibbs reveals that the story is actually about Lala Dominguez— something that North confirms in a new interview withTVLine. Played by Mariel Molino, the new character is already part of Franks' team when Gibbs joins them. The co-showrunner explains that Lala will be at the center ofNCIS: Origins. He also teases that she is an important part of Gibbs' story, and it’s something that Gibbs doesn’t want to go untold before he dies:
“The story [Gibbs is telling] is largely about Lala. It’s about a lot more than just Lala, but she is certainly a centerpiece of this story that we’ve never known, about how Gibbs became Gibbs.”
“We’ve written for so many years this character who is a man of few words, so giving a chance to actually hear inside his head has been such an interesting journey for us as writers.”
“He’s now been in Alaska for years, in the middle of absolute nowhere. He’s reflecting on his life, and I think this is a moment where he’s feeling like he doesn’t want to be gone and not put pen to paper, not take this story with him.”
How Lala’s Story Changes Gibbs' 19-Year Arc In The Main NCIS Series
Lala Can Change The Way Gibbs Is Perceived
Currently, details are scarce about how exactlyLala will be at the center ofNCIS: Origins. Aside from Old Gibbs' revelation, he hasn’t said anything else about what impact she had on his younger self. That said, it’s worth noting that, upon their meeting, the pair quickly developed a contentious relationship; she is convinced that he isn’t ready to be on the field as part of their team. There’s also another layer to it, asLala and Vera Strickland discuss Mike Franks' tendency to favor his male subordinates, making the former concerned.
Gibbs was married multiple times after Kelly died, but there was no word about him tying the knot with a co-worker, such as Lala.
Aside from their professional relationship, there are also some hints of a potential romance for Lala and Gibbs moving forward. Franks himself mentioned this possibility in theNCIS: Originspremiere, although in the most crass way possible. It’s worth noting that Molino’s character was never even mentioned in the flagship series. Gibbs was married multiple times after Kelly died, but there was no word about him tying the knot with a co-worker, such as Lala. The closest he got to being married to a fellow agent was with Jenny Shepard.
Our Take On NCIS: Origins' Story Twist
It’s A Nifty Choice, But It Still Needs To Be Justified
TheAlaska-based Gibbswill continue to talk about his earliest days in NIS asNCIS: Originscontinues, which meanseverything that will be revealed about Lala moving forward will be from his perspective. Truth be told, I am still quite conflicted about this reveal. While it gives the show a sharper focus, since it has a goal of establishing her impact on Gibbs' life, I am concerned about what her role in his life will mean in terms of what we know about the character, particularly his love life after he lost his first wife.
NCIS: Origins
Cast
NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, preceding the events of the original series. The series introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs as a new special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. Under the leadership of NCIS legend Mike Franks, Gibbs navigates his role within a tenacious, unconventional team.
