Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
One thing is for sure, the probie is not looking to make friends on NCIS: Origins. For that matter, he seems even less concerned with doing things by the book. Protocol be damned.
Even though the series follows the classic case-of-the-week format, it does an incredible job of integrating everything into the main plot.
Since the cat is more or less out of the bag, we can finally discuss a central plot point of NCIS: Origins. Don’t worry, though – I’ll save it for the end.
Lord knows there was plenty in this episode to get to.
Gibbs And Franks May Be Safe But Don’t Get Attached To Any New Faces On NCIS: Origins Yet
First, NCIS: Origins deserves credit for the character of Randy. At first, he seems like your cliche-bumbling good boy who follows every rule to the letter.
He is definitely that guy, but his approach to situations is not rigid or black-and-white.
Case in point: He didn’t turn in Gibbs when he broke the elevator to trap the suspect. I’m sorry to say it, but if it had been me, I would’ve called it in immediately.
Don’t get me wrong – justice is very important. But I’m not letting a newbie come between me and my job. Unless you’re cutting the paycheck, I do what the boss says.
Randy is a good one, but there’s something to think about with many of these new characters. For one thing, what happened to all of them that they weren’t present in Gibb’s life later on down the road?
Are you telling me Tyla Abercrumbie’s (The Chi) Mary Jo isn’t still around somewhere giving perfect side eye? That’s the main thing to worry about with a prequel and new characters.
These new supporting characters could be killed off anytime without disrupting the continuity.
NCIS: Origins Picks The Best And The Brightest To Deliver Memorable Performances
However, we know Franks isn’t going anywhere. Not for a very long time. And until then, Kyle Schmid will continue to kill it as the protagonist’s mentor.
We have to give it up to Schmid. We really do. He is acting his butt off playing Mike Franks. It’s to the point that all I see is the character any time he is on the screen.
And it’s not just the principal actors who are delivering incredible performances. The culprit of this episode, which I say loosely, was played by Richard Blackmon.
The actor did an amazing job and really sold Prado. This is particularly impressive, given that Blackmon has been in the industry for less than a decade.
Richard Blackmon is known for roles in 9-1-1: Lone Star, Pink Skies Ahead, and Animal Kingdom. With his acting skills, I am confident those credits will only accumulate.
Little does Gibbs (Austin Stowell) know that Agent Strickland is the real danger he should be worried about. That woman cannot help commenting on how hot Gibbs is whenever he is brought up.
It’s like, step off, girl. He’s obviously already taken. And no, I don’t mean by the very lovely Lala Dominguez.
Gibbs’ Head Is A Scary Place That He Is Trying To Control With All His Might To Control
The only relationship Gibbs is in is with his late wife. Until he deals with his grief, there isn’t going to be room for anyone else.
And let’s be honest, we only care because Gibbs is so damn handsome. If he were a troll, we’d say, “He needs to spend some time learning to love himself again.”
Instead, we’re like, “Get out there and get back up on that horse.” Anyone who has suffered the kind of loss the character has known knows there is no right way to get over grief.
Everyone approaches it in their own way, and everyone has the right to process it how they choose as long as they aren’t hurting themselves or others. If you’re a long-time franchise fan, I know what you’re thinking, and we’ll get to it. Be patient.
I agree with Franks and Robert Taylor’s (Longmire) Jackson Gibbs; Leroy should wait to be in the field. He spends half of his time trying to control his emotions.
In a job like that, you have to be able to make the right call at a moment’s notice. If you’re distracted by unresolved issues, someone could die.
NCIS: Origins Is Bringing Audiences Into A Story That’s Been Decades In The Making
Alright, you’ve waited long enough. For those who want to stay in the dark about where NCIS: Origins is headed, skip to the end of the review because things are about to get spoiled.
Here it is. Long-time fans of NCIS know that Gibbs eventually finds the man responsible for his wife and daughter’s murders and kills him.
That is clearly the road NCIS: Origins is taking, and it makes so much sense. Gibbs’ dad told his son in the NCIS: Origins premiere, “You’re not built for the job.”
Now we know the only reason Gibbs joined the NIS was to gain resources to find the man who killed his wife and daughter. However, there may be more to the story than we know.
There’s a solid chance the series will include some previously unknown details about the event. Or maybe how it was told isn’t how it went down at all.
However, even though we know what motivates Gibbs in this story, we haven’t seen how Agent Lala relates to all of this.
As the present-day Gibbs said at the end of NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 1, “This is the story of her.” So, somehow, Lala is going to become very important to Gibbs.
Considering the ladies’ man that Gibbs either is or becomes, it’s safe to say he and Lala get romantic at some point.
Don’t act like you weren’t thinking the same thing. A pretty lady plus a handsome man equals a plot that writes itself.
Despite the formulaic approach and a few tropes here and there, CBS‘s NCIS: Origins is an incredible series. It’s the perfect vehicle to bring new viewers into the NCIS franchise family.
I hope this show sticks around for a while. It is a fun trip down memory lane for Gibbs and hits all the right ‘90s nostalgia marks.
NCIS: Origins is slowly bringing audiences into a story that has been decades in the making.
Who do you think will be the first to catch on to what Gibbs is up to?
Would Gibbs and Lala getting together be too expected?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you liked about this episode, and join me again when I bring you another review for NCIS: Origins!
Watch NCIS: Origins Online
