Why Gibbs and Lala’s Love Story Is Already Dead on Arrival
When CBS announced NCIS: Origins, the excitement was immediate. The prequel, set in 1994, promises to pull back the curtain on the early days of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs’s career. Fans will finally see a young Gibbs learning the ropes, struggling with the demons that shaped him, and—perhaps most tantalizingly—working alongside new characters who could leave lasting imprints on his life.
One name that jumped out instantly was Special Agent Jane “Lala” Long, played by Diany Rodriguez. Billed as “edgy, brilliant, and tough,” Lala is set to work closely with Gibbs during his formative years at NCIS. Within minutes of the announcement, speculation lit up fan forums: Could this be Gibbs’s first great love? Might Origins finally give audiences the sweeping romance that explains his guarded, haunted heart?
The answer, however, is far more complicated—and far more tragic.
The Weight of Canon: Shannon and Kelly Define Gibbs Forever
To understand why a Gibbs–Lala romance is doomed, one must revisit the very foundation of the NCIS mythology. Gibbs’s defining tragedy—the murder of his first wife Shannon and their daughter Kelly—casts a shadow over his entire life. Their deaths are not just backstory; they are the core of his character, the scar that explains his stoicism, his infamous “rules,” and his relentless pursuit of justice.
For 19 seasons of NCIS, every romantic entanglement Gibbs had—from fleeting flings to four failed marriages—was filtered through that trauma. He could never truly give his heart again, because it had been shattered beyond repair.
If Origins were to elevate Lala into a grand, transformative love, it would contradict everything fans know about Gibbs. Shannon wasn’t just “one” of his loves—she was the love, the anchor of his entire story. To overwrite that truth would unravel decades of careful storytelling.
Where Lala Fits: Catalyst, Not Soulmate
That doesn’t mean Lala is insignificant. On the contrary, her role may be pivotal. She is described as sharp, bold, and fearless—the exact qualities that could both challenge and shape a young Gibbs. She might sharpen his instincts, push him to question authority, or even influence the creation of the infamous “Gibbs’ Rules.”
But her influence must exist within limits. A romance can flare, but it cannot last. Lala’s story is destined to be one of two paths:
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The Brief, Doomed Fling. A whirlwind connection that burns bright and fast, then collapses—whether through tragedy, betrayal, or circumstance. The heartbreak would foreshadow the greater loss of Shannon and Kelly, adding depth to Gibbs’s guarded nature.
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The Formative Partner. Rather than lover, she becomes a mentor-figure, colleague, or moral compass whose eventual departure (or death) leaves Gibbs more isolated and determined. Her absence would shape him as much as any romance could.
Either way, Lala’s relationship with Gibbs cannot endure. It is not fated to be love—it is fated to be loss.
The Power of Dramatic Irony
For audiences, that inevitability is what makes her storyline so compelling. We know Gibbs’s future. We know Shannon is waiting just beyond the timeline of Origins, and that tragedy lies ahead. Every smile between Gibbs and Lala, every spark of chemistry, will carry the weight of foreknowledge. Viewers will watch not with hope for a happy ending, but with dread for the heartbreak that looms.
That tension—rooted in dramatic irony—is the secret weapon of Origins. Lala’s doomed connection to Gibbs may be fleeting, but it will deepen his story without diminishing Shannon’s importance.
Why NCIS Must Respect Its Legacy
The greatest danger of Origins lies in overreach. If the writers attempt to retcon Gibbs’s love life by presenting Lala as his “first great romance,” they risk undermining the emotional backbone of the entire franchise. NCIS has always been careful with its canon, especially where Gibbs is concerned. His tragedy is not just a subplot; it is the essence of the man who led the Major Case Response Team for nearly two decades.
By making Lala a formative figure rather than a soulmate, Origins can honor Gibbs’s complexity without rewriting history. She doesn’t need to be “the one that got away.” She can be the one who shaped the agent we met in 2003—only to vanish before he became the legend.
The Beauty of the Inevitable
In the end, the heartbreak is what gives Origins its dramatic edge. Gibbs and Lala’s story isn’t about what could be—it’s about what can never last. Her role is to illuminate the path that leads him to Shannon, to loss, and to the steel-eyed investigator fans came to know.
Even if Lala survives Origins, the romance is already dead. And that is precisely why her presence matters: not to rewrite Gibbs’s past, but to remind us why it hurts so much.
