NCIS: Origins Premiere's "Her" Tease Explained By Showrunner: "A Centerpiece Of This Story"

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the NCIS: Origins premiere.

The NCIS: Origins premiere 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, as he appears in the special two-episode pilot for the prequel. Young Gibbs is played by Austin Stowell, who joins Mike Franks' team at Camp Pendleton in the early '90s and after the murder of Kelly and Shannon. When the show was first promoted, NCIS: Origins was sold as the character's first few years in the agency. That said, that is actually not the case.

At the end of the first hour of the NCIS: Origins premiere, Harmon's Gibbs reveals that the story is actually about Lala Dominguez — something that North confirms in a new interview with TV Line. 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 of NCIS: Origins. He also teases that she is an important part of Gibbs' story, and it's something that he doesn't want not to tell before he dies, hence why he's reminiscing about it.

“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's Arc Can Change The Way Gibbs Is Perceived

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Currently, details are scarce about how exactly Lala will be at the center of NCIS: Origins. Aside from Old Gibbs' revelation, he hasn't said anything else about what impact she will have on his younger self. That said, it's worth noting that upon their meeting, the pair quickly developed a contentious relationship, primarily as 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, as Lala 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.

Besides their professional relationship, there are also some hints of a potential romance for Lala and Gibbs moving forward. Franks himself mentioned this possibility in the NCIS: Origins premiere, 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 Twist, But It Still Needs To Be Justifed

The Alaska-based Gibbs will continue to talk about his earliest days in NIS as NCIS: Origins, which means that everything 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.

Source: TV Line