Mark Harmon is returning to the NCIS universe — and this time, his reappearance may shed light on a chapter of Gibbs’ life fans have never seen before.
In an exclusive sneak peek, Harmon’s Gibbs is still living a quiet life in Alaska. Inside a rustic cabin, he tinkers with an old radio before settling down to write in his journal, reflecting on his early NIS days. As his signature voiceover begins, Gibbs narrates three decades of memories from a life in service — until something changes.
He stops writing, looks up, and speaks aloud:
“Over the years, the outside changes, but inside, you still feel all the same things. You’ll see.”
The moment instantly raises questions. Who is he talking to? Could Gibbs be addressing someone from his past — perhaps his old flame, Lala Dominguez? Or is this a solitary man lost in reflection, blurring the line between memory and reality? Whatever the case, the sudden switch from narration to spoken word feels deliberate — and deeply personal.
Fans won’t have to wait long for answers. The two-hour crossover event airs Tuesday, November 11, beginning with NCIS: Origins at 8/7c. The prequel will take viewers back to the 1990s, where young Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and his team investigate the mysterious death of a naval officer in a small town. The story then continues at 9/8c on NCIS, as the case is unexpectedly reopened in the present day — a development that, according to star Wilmer Valderrama, will leave viewers “reaching for tissues.”
Harmon’s return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs marks his first major on-screen appearance in Origins since a brief cameo in the 2024 pilot. Though he continues to narrate the prequel, this special crossover offers something more — a chance to see the man himself confront the ghosts of his past.
So what will Gibbs reveal this time? Will the crossover finally explore his long-hinted relationship with Lala — or introduce a new layer to the legend?
Watch the exclusive first look, then share your theories: Is Gibbs talking to Lala, or is Alaska’s solitude finally getting to him?
