‘NCIS: ORIGINS’ IS THE DEEPER AND GRITTY STORY OF LEROY JETHRO GIBBS
Stepping back into time is what the latest lettered CBS agency drama show is doing with NCIS: Origins. The question we all have to answer is, do we like the show?
NCIS: Origins (2024) First Impressions TV Review: The Story
Starting his career post Marine life has its bumps for Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell). He’s had a stellar career, but leaves in shadows. Gibbs brings with him this darkness as he walks into the NIS headquarters for the first time. Among the team he’s assigned to is boss Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid). Tough and opinionated, Franks isn’t someone who accepts nonsense. He may color outside the lines, but he also cares about truth and sees in Gibbs great potential, but also knows he’s broken.
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Recently Gibbs lost his wife and daughter in tragic circumstances. He maintains the professional control the military gives him, but personally, he’s not the same. When his first case is one he’s expert in, it offers him something to pour himself into. Also, a part of this talented team is the the eager Bernard Randolf (Caleb Foote); the perceptive and ambitious Lala Dominquez (Mariel Molino); and Mary Jo (Tyla Abercrumbie), the woman who seems to know everything. Then there is former team member, the sassy Vera Strickland (Diany Rodriquez).
Thoughts on Episode One
Right up front, I’m going to say this and perhaps regret it, but I loathe prequels. I’m not a fan of going back in time and revisiting characters or people whose lives I already have experienced an “ending” for. Gibbs’ life isn’t by any means over when we last see him in NCIS. Yet in so many ways we do know the end of his story. How writers leave him is so fitting and good and needed. Regardless, I’m in the minority because the universe that is NCIS did expand with ‘Origins’ which offers a look at young Gibbs’ story set in the 1990s.
‘NCIS: ORIGINS’ IS THE DEEPER AND GRITTY STORY OF LEROY JETHRO GIBBS. Review of #NCISOrigins, the start of #LeroyJethroGibbs' career. #NCIS #CBS Share on XDespite all of my saltiness and skepticism, as a longtime fan of NCIS (even back from its spinoff days on JAG), I did want to give this new CBS show a chance. And I’m glad I did. Based on headlines, it received positive early praise, and I can say there is good in the show. It’s well produced which one expects. Plus seeing the cast revert to old investigation skills (like using actual cameras, and relying on smarts rather than tech) is also entertaining. The cast too is good, and I enjoy seeing how they all relate to each other.
The Talent
Some of the cast is playing characters we already met in the original show, though I’ll confess I don’t remember them. Mark Harmon, the actor who originated Gibbs not only produces this, he also narrates and briefly cameos. There is much speculation too about whether or not present Gibbs has a reason for or there’s a “bigger picture” for why this ‘origins’ story is here now. Also recurring will be Robert Taylor from Longmire. Though he is stepping into a role already universally loved, Austin Stowell too is impressive. He plays a young Gibbs well and is convincing as this quiet character we know as a leader.
In Conclusion
In the end, while I’m still a bit annoyed to be going backwards in this TV universe, I’d be lying if I said NCIS: Origins isn’t good. It is. Much like my love affair with Tracker from the fall 2023 season, CBS consistently is the network that puts out good TV dramas. This show is no different and I suspect it will impress many fans of the franchise.
Stream NCIS: Origins on Paramount+.
Content: this is a crime drama so there are details about murder and we see bodies and skeletons. We see someone in bed with a woman. The pair are making out, and entwined. The show is TV-14.
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Well I have to see how NCIS orgins plays out! So far I’m not impressed! I find the show way to confusing to many characters. Also the show is way to slow and I’m rating it a very solid (D), wife won’t watch it , and I was tempted to switch to reruns of Rizzoli and Isles. Please do something to fix this!