NCIS: ORIGINS is pulling from franchise history for its Season 1 finale—bringing back a familiar face from NCIS: Los Angeles.
Lara Macy, originally introduced in NCIS: LA Season 6 and first portrayed by Louise Lombard, will appear in the prequel series as part of the Office of Special Projects in Los Angeles. While Macy was eventually replaced on the LA spinoff by Linda Hunt’s iconic Hetty Lange, ORIGINS is giving the character a fresh take. This time, Claire Berger (The Midnight Club, Ex-BFF) steps into the role.
Macy is described as a fiercely ambitious investigator with sharp instincts and a willingness to push against a male-dominated system. In the finale, she’ll face a major moral dilemma tied to the horrific crimes of Pedro Hernandez—the man responsible for the deaths of Gibbs’ wife Shannon and daughter Kelly. It’s a storyline that promises intensity and emotional tension.
NCIS: ORIGINS has already made it clear it’s grittier than its predecessors. The series follows a young Jethro Gibbs on his first days at NIS, still haunted by his family’s murder. According to early reviews, the show leans heavily into darker themes, shedding the lighthearted humor fans associate with the flagship series.
CBS execs say the tone is intentional. “It’s edgier, grittier, and has a serialized feel we’re excited about,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach shared, noting that like NCIS: Sydney, ORIGINS has its own identity while remaining true to the franchise.
With the arrival of Lara Macy and a finale built on one of NCIS’ most defining tragedies, the season is set to close on a powerful note.
