The NCIS universe is about to experience its most ambitious crossover yet, a two-part event spanning more than three decades that sees the long-awaited return of two fan-favorite characters. Mark Harmon is officially reprising his role as the iconic Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Roma Maffia is returning as the no-nonsense Retired Special Agent Vera Strickland.
Set to air on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th, the event will chronologically link the flagship series, NCIS, with the prequel, NCIS: Origins, offering a case file so deep, it reaches back to Gibbs’ earliest days at NIS Camp Pendleton. CBS has released exciting first-look crossover photos and plot details, confirming that this event is a must-watch for every dedicated viewer.
🏔️ Mark Harmon’s Return: A Gibbs Update Four Years in the Making
For fans of the legendary team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the most monumental news is the official on-screen return of Mark Harmon. Since his emotional departure in Season 19, where Gibbs chose to stay in Alaska, viewers have wondered what the former agent’s life looked like away from the MCRT.
This question will finally be answered in the ‘NCIS: Origins’ hour of the crossover, titled “Funny How Time Slips Away.”
Gibbs is No Longer Alone
The NCIS: Origins episode will kick off the decades-spanning mystery, exploring a case from the early 1990s. However, it will also feature a special guest appearance by Mark Harmon as the present-day Gibbs. Co-showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal have offered a tantalizing tease about his status:
“Four years ago, Gibbs disappeared to Alaska to live a life of solitude… We don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Gibbs is no longer alone.”
This statement has ignited immediate speculation. Who is with him? Could it be an old friend, a former colleague, or perhaps a new, unexpected companion who has helped break him from his self-imposed solitude?
The crossover photos hint at a reflective, perhaps more relaxed Gibbs than the one who left the Navy Yard, suggesting that his Alaskan retirement has brought him a measure of peace. Harmon himself expressed pride in the prequel’s storytelling, noting that it was a compelling idea that brought him back to check in with the character.
Why Gibbs is in the ‘Origins’ Episode
Crucially, Mark Harmon’s on-screen role as the older Gibbs will appear in the ‘NCIS: Origins’ portion, not the flagship NCIS. This makes narrative sense as Harmon already serves as the narrator for the prequel, setting the stage for the younger Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell) as he navigates his early career. By placing the present-day check-in within the Origins hour, the showrunners effectively use the present to frame the past, emphasizing the investigation’s long-term significance on Gibbs’ life.
💼 The Return of Agent Vera Strickland
While Gibbs’ return dominates the headlines, the crossover also features a significant and long-awaited comeback from another character deeply rooted in the NCIS/NIS past: Special Agent Vera Strickland, played by Roma Maffia.
Roma Maffia’s character was first introduced in the NCIS Season 11 episode, “Under the Radar,” where she was established as a no-nonsense former partner of the legendary Mike Franks. Her personality—sharp-witted, tough-as-nails, and utterly Brooklyn—made an immediate impression, despite her limited screen time.
The Connecting Thread
In the present-day ‘NCIS’ hour of the crossover, titled “Now and Then,” the MCRT team, led by Agent Alden Parker, is forced to reopen the very case that the young Gibbs and his NIS team investigated in the ’90s. The impetus for the cold case is a prison break by an inmate who had only three weeks left on his sentence.
This re-opened investigation compels the modern-day team to “enlist the help of retired special agent Vera Strickland.”
- On Origins: The younger Vera Strickland, played by Diany Rodriguez, is an integral part of Gibbs’ original Camp Pendleton team, working alongside young Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) and Gibbs (Austin Stowell) on the 1990s investigation of the naval officer’s death.
- On NCIS: Roma Maffia returns as the veteran agent, offering the current MCRT team her unique perspective and expertise on the decades-old case that defined a part of her early career.
Vera Strickland’s dual-timeline presence—played by two different but equally compelling actresses—serves as the perfect connective tissue between the two shows, ensuring a seamless flow from the past to the present. The crossover photos show Roma Maffia’s Strickland back in action, likely providing sharp insights and much-needed context to Parker’s team.
🗓️ Crossover Details: Time Slot Switch and Chronological Viewing
The magnitude of this two-hour event requires a unique viewing schedule to ensure the decades-spanning story is told chronologically:
- 8:00 PM ET/PT: ‘NCIS: Origins’ airs first, starting the mystery in the 1990s with young Gibbs, Franks, and Strickland (Diany Rodriguez). Mark Harmon appears here as present-day Gibbs.
- 9:00 PM ET/PT: ‘NCIS’ airs next, continuing the story in the present day as the MCRT team re-opens the investigation with the help of Retired Special Agent Vera Strickland (Roma Maffia).
This one-time time slot swap is a deliberate choice by CBS to make the narrative clear and allow viewers to experience the case as it unfolds across time.
🎬 Why This Crossover Matters to the NCIS Universe
The ‘NCIS’ franchise is one of television’s longest-running and most successful procedural dramas, thriving on its deep bench of memorable characters and complex history.
This specific crossover event is significant for several reasons:
- Bridging the Eras: It organically links the two shows, proving that the prequel is not just a standalone origin story but a vital piece of the flagship show’s lore.
- Character Resolution: It provides long-overdue updates on two beloved characters—Gibbs’ life in Alaska and a chance to check in with the seasoned veteran Vera Strickland.
- Fan Service with Purpose: While the returns of Mark Harmon and Roma Maffia are massive crowd-pleasers, they are integrated into a central, high-stakes mystery, ensuring the fan service serves the story, not just a fleeting moment of nostalgia.
Prepare for an emotional, action-packed night of television as the NCIS-verse dives deep into the history that shaped its greatest agents.
