Move over, Ducky — there’s a new team in town.
NCIS: Origins, the latest prequel in the franchise, is turning heads with its sharp writing, nostalgic tone, and breakout performance by Austin Stowell as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Set in the early 1990s, the show takes us back to a rawer, more personal version of the NCIS world — before the rules, the head slaps, or even the team.
Stowell has impressed fans with his ability to channel Gibbs’ stoic presence without feeling like a parody. Paired with Kyle Schmid as a young Mike Franks, the show digs deep into what shaped Gibbs into the legend we met in 2003.
Even die-hard fans were skeptical at first, but early episodes have won people over — especially with clever callbacks and gritty storytelling. It’s not just fan service. It’s good TV.
For a franchise that’s lasted over 20 years, Origins proves that there’s still plenty of story left to tell — especially when it starts at the beginning.
