Spoiler Alert for NCIS: Origins episode 13, “Monsoon”
NCIS: Originsis following a new trend in 2025, and despite ignoring its main character, the shift is actually good news for the Leroy Jethro Gibbs-focused prequel. Despite being sold on the idea that it would focus on how it all started for Gibbs at NIS in 1991, theNCIS: Originsstory has broadened its scope of storytelling. Instead, it has been highlighting more of theNCIS: Originscharactersand that is a good thing.
The series first teased that its focus could lie outside Gibbs in theNCIS: Originsseries premiere. In his narration as the older Gibbs character reflecting on his journey years later in Alaska, Mark Harmon says thatNCIS: Originsis the story of Mariel Molino’s Lala Dominguez. Incorporating Lala’s story as the series’ paramount narrative suggested thatCBS undersoldNCIS: Originswhen it said it was just a Gibbs origin story, So far,NCIS: Originsepisodes 11, 12, and 13 confirm the promising trend.
NCIS: Origins' 2025 Episodes Have Focused Less On Gibbs
NCIS: Origins Wraps Up Gibbs’ Prequel Story In Episode 10
Since the show’s midseason return in 2025,NCIS: Originshas focused less on Austin Stowell’s Gibbs.NCIS: Originsepisode 11, “Flight of Icarus,” kicked off the trend, delivering the first episode focused on Mike Franks. AsNCISsidelined Gibbs in episode 11, broadening the scope outside the Camp Pendleton probie drastically improved the show. “Flight of Icarus” showed flashbacks to a young Mike Franks getting drafted to the Vietnam War, expanding the NIS team leader’s story while building on what the flagship established about the character.
NCIS: Originsepisode 11, “Flight of Icarus”
NCIS: Originsepisode 12, “Touchstones”
NCIS: Originsepisode 13, “Monsoon”
February 10
NCIS: Originsepisode 12, “Touchstones,” continued building on the premise, using flashbacks to Korea to flesh out the story of the NIS evidence custodian, Dick Kowalski (Michael Harney), who was a prisoner of war in the Far East after serving as an Army Chaplain. In its latest outing, “Monsoon” the focus goes back to Franks, as it shows how exactly he met Tish while tying that to what’s happening in their life presently in the timeline.
Why Developing The Rest Of NCIS: Origins Character Is Better For The Show
NCIS: Origins’ Trend Reinvigorates The Prequel’s Premise
The choice to shift back to Franks, expanding the prequel’s premise outside Jethro Gibbs’ story, is one of the best choices the prequel series could make, especially considering theNCISfranchise received criticism for expanding the story of a central characterthat had already been fleshed out. The show has seemingly moved on from recreating Gibbs’ flashbacks after theNCIS: Originsmidseason finale, although it can continue to explore his story later.
Expanding NCIS: Origins stories to more broadly discuss military service can continue what the freshman series has done boldly and successfully so far.
BuildingNCIS: Originsto exist beyond Gibbs is good because exploring the character’s background was a fleshed-out angle. Flashbacks in the flagshipNCISseries to Gibbs’ past established his story.NCIS: Originshas done little to reach beyond what we already knew, with much ofGibbs’ story inNCIS: Originscomprising recreations of existingNCISflashback scenes. ExpandingNCIS: Originsstories to more broadly discuss military service can continue what the freshman series has done boldly and successfully so far.
