NCIS: Origins reveals Lala’s immediate fate after the car crash and its effect on Gibbs in season 2 is so odd. While expanding the NCIS franchise has always been part of CBS’ plan for the long-running procedural, it veered away from its usual approach to launching spinoffs in 2024, when it debuted its very first prequel story. Set in the early ’90s, it’s tackling Gibbs’ initial years with the NIS back in Camp Pendleton.
While the first half of NCIS: Origins didn’t standout, the latter half of the run was a significant improvement — both in terms of personal and professional storylines. Aside from Gibbs, other members of the NCIS: Origins cast were given their respective focus. At the end of its debut year, it revisited who the prequel’s story is really about.
Technically, the offshoot is following Gibbs’ rise to the ranks in the NIS, but as Mark Harmon’s narration confirmed in the pilot, NCIS: Origins is actually Lala’s story. So when she got into a fatal accident by the end of season 1, interest in learning about her fate understandably skyrocketed.
Mark Harmon’s Narration Reveals That Lala Is Absent From Frank’s Team After The Crash
For context, the events of NCIS: Origins are being narrated by Gibbs, who is still in Alaska on the heels of Harmon’s exit in NCIS season 19. The storytelling set-up is inspired by the success of Young Sheldon for CBS. It’s still unclear why he’s revisiting his days under Franks’ team, but it has revealed interesting details about his past.
That includes his previously-unknown relationship with Lala. The pair clearly has feelings for each other in NCIS: Origins, but their circumstances make it difficult for them to act on it. Lala was supposed to finally confess to Gibbs when she got into a freak car accident that may have claimed her life.
Although CBS is saving the whole fallout for when the prequel officially returns for its sophomore year, the NCIS: Origins season 2 trailer reveals the immediate aftermath of Lala’s car wreck. Per Harmon’s narration: “The team wasn’t what it used to be. I tried to keep my mind busy at the office. The job wasn’t right without her.”
This means that on the heels of Lala’s car wreck, regardless if she lives, she won’t be rejoining Frank’s team. As someone who is very much career driven and fully invested in climbing the ranks over at NIS, this is concerning. Aside from Gibbs’ personal feelings, the team is also very small, so losing her, even temporarily, would affect their case loads.
Gibbs Begins A Romance With Diane On The Heels Of Lala’s Fatal Accident
Obviously, it is still possible that she survives the crash. In fact, that’s a more likely scenario, considering NCIS: Origins story and Mariel Molino coming back on set for season 2. Assuming that she indeed survives, there are few reasons explaining why she isn’t back at the office to join Franks’ team.
Firstly, Lala’s injuries may be so severe that it would take her a while to recuperate and return to active duty. Secondly, she opts to not return, wanting to keep a distance between her and Gibbs, especially after what happened in the NCIS: Origins season 1 finale, just before she got into her car crash.
Regardless of the real reason for Lala’s absence at work, the impact of it on Gibbs is quite ironic. In NCIS: Origins season 1, it was clear that he was ready to start something with Lala, but in the aforementioned season 2 trailer, he can be seen sharing a romantic moment with Diane, who was introduced at the end of the spinoff’s debut year.
As established in the flagship show, Diane ends up becoming Gibbs’ second wife, after Shannon was killed. The original series never mentioned Lala, so NCIS: Origins is retroactively telling her story. However, the prequel also sets her up as Gibbs’ primary love interest, so seeing him starting a romance with Diane after Lala’s car wreck is such an interesting move.
Instead of being more determined to pursue Lala after her near-death experience, Gibbs backs away from his feelings. Admittedly, it would be unfair to assume that his relationship with Diane is a distraction. However, Lala may have also contributed to their inevitable divorce.
Is There Still A Chance For Lala And Gibbs To Be Together (Assuming She’s Alive)
Much of what’s known about Gibbs’ romantic past in the original NCIS series is rooted in his confirmed wives plus his dalliance with Jenny Shephard — something that isn’t coming to fruition until a few more seasons of NCIS: Origins. This makes it very difficult to predict how the franchise will be able to incorporate Lala into Gibb’s past loves. Somehow, that also makes their narrative interesting.
That said, it’s difficult to imagine the prequel not paying off what’s clearly a romantic set-up for Lala and Gibbs. So, if they can make something work, even though it’s established that their dalliance will not last, then it’s likely to happen. Perhaps not in NCIS: Origins season 2, but sometime in the future.
