NCIS: Origins’ Biggest Twist Follows A 20 Year NCIS Tradition

NCIS: Origins may be significantly different from any other NCIS spinoff so far, but its biggest twist actually follows a 20-year NCIS tradition. The NCIS: Origins season 1 finale ended on a surprising note, allegedly killing off one of NCIS: Origins‘ best characters. However, it was nothing new for the NCIS universe.

While NCIS: Origins may be different in that it is a prequel and acts more like a drama than a procedural, it still holds many similarities to NCIS. One of NCIS: Origins‘ best qualities is the element of surprise, and even that is inspired greatly by its flagship. Moreover, the spinoff’s greatest twist follows a tradition that started in 2005.

NCIS: Origins Killing Off Lala Follows A Long Line Of Unexpected Character Exits

Lala’s death in NCIS: Origins season 1, episode 18, was shocking but also somewhat expected. Given Lala’s absence in the flagship series, her death or disappearance was heavily hinted at as early as the character’s creation in the writer’s room. However, her death also follows a long tradition of character exits in the history of NCIS.

As the classic procedural has been on the air for over 20 years, many NCIS characters have left over the past two decades. However, they have not all had pleasant departures. Some characters simply resigned, while others were killed off. Lala’s death in NCIS: Origins is just the last of a long list to follow the tradition of the latter.

NCIS Has Shown Characters Are Never Safe Since The NCIS Season 2 Finale

Image via CBS

Character exits are to be expected in a military police procedural that features violent cases in every episode. However, that was not always the case. NCIS season 1 had a great team with a strong rapport, and each member was a highly skilled agent or medical professional. This changed at the end of NCIS season 2.

The NCIS season 2 finale revealed the death of Kate (played by Sasha Alexander). It was the first character exit for the show and a major, shocking development that proved no NCIS character was ever safe. Since that episode, NCIS has stayed true to this characteristic. While the MCRT can usually escape deadly situations, there is always a real risk.

Lala’s untimely death in NCIS: Origins upholds this practice. Her death may have been different from typical character exits since she was killed in a car accident rather than a shootout, but her death remains true to NCIS‘ early message. Characters are always in danger, and there is always a risk that someone won’t return for the next season.

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