The debut season of NCIS: Origins, the prequel charting the early years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell), captivated audiences by diving into the agent’s formative years following the tragic murders of his first wife and daughter. Central to this new narrative was Special Agent Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez (Mariel Molino), whose professional skill and undeniable romantic chemistry with Gibbs fueled a dramatic climax.
Season 1 ended on a brutal cliffhanger: Lala, having just secured Gibbs’ freedom by convincing a superior to drop the investigation into a justifiable homicide, was involved in a horrific car crash. The final, haunting words of Mark Harmon’s narration—that older Gibbs never told this story because it hurt too much—left fans certain of a tragic outcome.
However, as Season 2 premieres, co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North are finally pulling back the curtain, confirming Lala’s fate and explaining the emotional bombshell of Gibbs’ new relationship with a familiar face: Diane Sterling.
The Burning Question Answered: Lala is Alive, But Broken
The immediate relief for fans is that Lala Dominguez is confirmed to have survived the car accident from the Season 1 finale. The Season 2 premiere picks up four months after the crash, revealing that Lala endured severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and a collapsed lung, forcing her into an intensive rehabilitation program.
Why Not Kill Her Off? The Creators’ Perspective
Showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal revealed that while the fan reaction was overwhelmingly convinced of Lala’s death, the creative team “always knew” she was coming back. For Monreal and North, Lala is too pivotal to the story, especially given Mark Harmon’s narration in Season 1, where the older Gibbs implicitly framed the entire prequel around her.
However, Lala’s survival introduces a new, more emotionally complex tragedy, one that Monreal believes is crucial for Gibbs’ development:
- Physical and Emotional Scars: Lala’s return to the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) team is fraught with physical adjustments and psychological repercussions from the trauma. The creators confirmed she will be grappling with the emotional weight of her near-death experience, particularly the feeling that her relationship with Gibbs might have been sacrificed.
- The Unspoken Resentment: Star Mariel Molino noted that Lala returns with “some resentment.” Gibbs, overwhelmed by the possibility of losing another person close to him—a fear rooted in the murder of his wife, Shannon—failed to visit Lala during her four-month recovery. This absence, which stemmed from Gibbs’ emotional withdrawal, is seen by Lala as a profound abandonment, fracturing their nascent bond.
Gibbs’ New Relationship: The Arrival of Diane Sterling
The biggest emotional twist of the Season 2 premiere, which further complicates Lala’s return, is the revelation that Gibbs is now dating Diane Sterling (Kathleen Kenny), his future second ex-wife from the original NCIS canon.
The “Safer Option” Explained
The showrunners were deliberate in having Gibbs jump into this relationship during Lala’s recuperation, and they explained this decision as a key psychological component of Gibbs’ character development.
Co-Showrunner David J. North clarified that Diane initially serves as a “welcome distraction” for Gibbs. The near-death experience of Lala, after their intimate moment in the pool, terrified Gibbs. He was paralyzed by the trauma of almost losing another woman he cared deeply about. Monreal emphasized the point: Gibbs chooses the “safer option” to avoid the risk of having his heart completely broken again.
“It’s tough that Lala and Gibbs got really close, then Lala nearly dies, and he can’t handle that. And so he chooses this safer option [Diane] to avoid having his heart completely broken again.” — Gina Lucita Monreal
This choice is a defining moment in Gibbs’ tragic romantic history. It confirms that the legendary agent’s emotional armor—his famous commitment issues and reluctance to open up—was forged in the wake of the loss of Shannon and his near-loss of Lala.
Navigating the Canon: The Trajectory of Gibbs and Diane
For fans of the original series, Diane Sterling is a known factor—she is the future second wife that Gibbs eventually divorces. This established canon creates a unique dramatic tension:
- Guaranteed Relationship: Unlike the open-ended possibility of a Gibbs-Lala romance, the Gibbs-Diane relationship is mandated by NCIS lore. The show is therefore not focused on if they will date, but how their relationship grows from a “safe distraction” into a genuine, committed marriage.
- The Collision: Monreal teased that while Diane starts as a rebound, “there are real feelings there,” and the show will allow their relationship to develop organically. This means the season will play out the intense, dramatic collision between the returning Lala, wounded and heartbroken, and Diane, who represents Gibbs’ attempt to choose emotional stability over passionate, risky connection.
The creators face the challenging task of making the audience invest in the known, temporary relationship with Diane while navigating the palpable, fan-favorite chemistry with Lala, whose fate beyond this prequel remains an ultimate, tragic mystery for the audience.
The Larger Impact on Gibbs’ Mythology
The Lala-Gibbs-Diane dynamic is not just a love triangle; it is the cornerstone of Gibbs’ iconic, damaged persona. The showrunners are using this relationship drama to answer a fundamental question about the character: Why is Gibbs the man we meet in 2003?
- The Emotional Retreat: Gibbs’ abandonment of Lala during her recovery is the first real glimpse of the agent’s decades-long pattern of emotional withdrawal. It establishes the fear of loss as the driving force behind his professional distance and his revolving door of short-lived marriages.
- The Found Family: The creators noted that the NIS team, including Mike Franks and Mary Jo, is a “found family” for Gibbs. The conflict between Lala, Gibbs, and Diane will stress this unit, forcing Gibbs to balance his complex personal life with his professional responsibilities and the strong bonds he shares with his colleagues.
By confirming Lala’s survival and immediately introducing Diane as the new partner, the NCIS: Origins creators have set the stage for a Season 2 full of heartbreaking tension. The drama will reside in the space between the potential love that Gibbs pushes away (Lala) and the safe haven he ultimately builds and then watches crumble (Diane), all of which cements the origin story of the stoic, emotionally scarred legend known as Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
