NCIS has had 22 years to perfect its formula, and considering it is still one of the most-watched network shows, it’s clearly doing something right. However, in recent years, the show has fallen prey to the mistake of imbalance: it occasionally loses itself to levity and comedy, despite some of the cases’ heavy subject matter. While Season 23 is making steps to improve this imbalance, especially with Parker’s (Gary Cole) grief and vengeance storyline kicking off the season, it seems that another one of the franchise’s spin-offs is about to make the same mistakes.

When NCIS: Origins first premiered, it felt unlike anything we had seen in the franchise. It confidently dragged fans into Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon, Austin Stowell) past and held us there with a dark, gritty and serious tone. The closest thing we can liken the prequel spin-off to is the early seasons of the flagship show, but even then, Origins had its own noirish flair. But Season 2 is struggling to tread that line between darkness and levity, where it has started to frequently opt for the latter in recent episodes, making the same mistake as its predecessor.

When a Prequel Forgets Its Purpose

“NCIS: Origins” arrived with the promise of exploring a younger, rawer, more human Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Fans were excited to finally peek behind the curtain and see what shaped the man who would later become the legendary team leader. Season 1 delivered nostalgia, character-driven storytelling, and a fresh cast that honored—but didn’t mimic—the original.

But as Season 2 unfolds, something familiar is creeping in…
And not in a good way.

Instead of leaning into bold character exploration, “NCIS: Origins” seems to be repeating one of the biggest narrative mistakes the original “NCIS” made: overusing formulaic storytelling at the expense of character depth. Let’s break down what’s happening—and why fans are starting to worry.

The Repeated Mistake Holding the Franchise Back

The Original NCIS Fell Into a Pattern—And ‘Origins’ Is Doing the Same

For years, “NCIS” built its empire on a case-of-the-week structure. This format worked—until it didn’t. Eventually, the pacing became predictable, emotional arcs stagnated, and long-term character development took a back seat to procedural repetition.

“NCIS: Origins” Season 1 flirted with something different. It dared to be personal. Emotional. Character-first.

Season 2?
It’s slipping back into the old formula.

The Case-of-the-Week Trap

The original NCIS often prioritized the weekly case so heavily that character arcs felt secondary. Now “Origins” Season 2 is leaning into the same approach, limiting emotional complexity and shrinking the very thing that made the prequel exciting.

Why This Is a Serious Misstep for a Prequel

A prequel’s greatest strength is its ability to add depth—not recycle structure. When viewers already know how a character ends up, the journey must be rich, layered, and compelling.

Without that, the show risks feeling like a nostalgic echo instead of a meaningful addition to the franchise.

Fans Wanted Character Growth—But Are Getting Repetition

Gibbs’ Early Years Should Feel Different

Young Gibbs should be impulsive, evolving, and vulnerable. Instead, Season 2 is flattening him into a familiar procedural lead. The problem? Procedural leads don’t change much. That’s why fans are worried.

Missed Opportunities With Iconic Relationships

The prequel format offers gold mines for storytelling:

• Gibbs and Mike Franks

• Gibbs and Shannon

• Gibbs’ internal struggles

• His early leadership instincts

These arcs demand space. But formula-heavy episodes are squeezing them out.

Emotional Arcs Need Breathing Room

Character arcs don’t flourish when constantly interrupted by one-off cases that have no lasting impact. Fans want to feel something—not just follow breadcrumbs from crime scene to interrogation room.

The Franchise Keeps Forgetting What Modern Audiences Want

Today’s Viewers Crave Serialized Storytelling

From “Yellowstone” to “The Last of Us,” modern TV thrives on emotional continuity. Audiences want stories that build, expand, and deepen with each episode.

Origins Feels Like It’s Afraid to Take Narrative Risks

Season 1 showed courage. It dared to explore Gibbs as both soldier and young investigator. Season 2, however, feels locked in fear of departing from the familiar NCIS structure.

Playing It Safe Isn’t What Viewers Signed Up For

If fans wanted old-school NCIS, they could watch reruns—they’re everywhere.
What they want from “Origins” is evolution, not repetition.

The Balance Between Procedure and Emotion Is Off

Case-Driven Episodes Are Outweighing Character Moments

Season 2’s pacing indicates a shift away from heartfelt storytelling. That’s a dangerous pivot when the lead character is one of TV’s most emotionally complex figures.

Gibbs’ Trauma Should Be a Central Storyline

His:

• Marine past

• Personal losses

• Responses to authority

• Struggle with justice vs. emotion

These aren’t background details—they’re pillars. Season 2 is brushing past them too quickly.

Without Emotional Stakes, The Story Loses Meaning

A prequel without emotional stakes is just a familiar procedural with younger faces—and that isn’t enough.

The Audience Isn’t Falling for Nostalgia Alone

Why Younger Viewers Are Concerned

Newer fans who didn’t grow up with the original NCIS want richer, serialized complexity. They don’t have nostalgia goggles—they want gripping storytelling.

Why Long-Time Fans Are Also Worried

Veteran fans know how the franchise can stagnate when it leans too heavily on the procedural formula. They’ve seen this movie before, and they don’t want a repeat.

What ‘NCIS: Origins’ Still Has Going for It

Strong Cast Chemistry

Austin Stowell’s young Gibbs feels authentic, grounded, and compelling. The supporting cast brings dimension—but they need more space.

Fresh Worldbuilding Potential

1970s and 80s NCIS isn’t a setting we’ve seen before. There’s untapped potential here.

Legacy-Friendly Emotional Material

The show has access to emotional veins the original never fully mined—especially regarding Gibbs’ relationships.

How Season 2 Can Fix the Issue

Prioritize Serialized Arcs Over Procedural Structure

Let the case-of-the-week episodes support character arcs, not overshadow them.

Give Gibbs’ Early Trauma Time to Develop

This isn’t just backstory—it’s the emotional backbone of the entire franchise.

Lean Into Relationships

Fans crave:

• Gibbs & Franks dynamic

• Gibbs’ home life

• His emotional battlefield

These are the heart of the show.

Trust the Audience’s Intelligence

Viewers today appreciate layered tension, emotional nuance, and long-form storytelling. Let them have it.

Conclusion

“NCIS: Origins” Season 2 is standing at a crossroads. On one side is the temptation to imitate the original show’s formula—safe, predictable, and familiar. On the other is a chance to finally give fans what they’ve wanted for years: a deeper, braver, more emotional exploration of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

The problem? Season 2 is starting to drift toward the same structural mistake that limited the original show: overusing episodic cases at the expense of character development.

But it isn’t too late.

If “NCIS: Origins” leans back toward serialized storytelling, invests in character arcs, and dares to do what the original never could, it can become the most compelling chapter of the NCIS universe yet.

The story of Gibbs deserves depth—not repetition.