With everything currently going on in NCIS: Origins, a well-timed tribute to one of the flagship’s most classic episodes could deliver just the emotional punch the prequel currently needs. The only major catch is that, while this homage could technically occur at any time, it only works most effectively if it happens in the NCIS: Origins season 2 premiere.
It’s known that at least one major shoutout to the flagship is forthcoming. The NCIS: Origins season 2 Ducky tribute will further develop the examiner’s relationship with Gibbs, and Diane’s introduction at the end of season 1 could lead to several future flagship references as well. However, a tribute to one of NCIS’ best episodes could prove even more meaningful.
NCIS Episode 200 Is One Of The Franchise’s All-Time Most Classic Episodes
The Series Finally Gave Kate Todd At Least One Happy Ending
Season 9, episode 14, “Life Before His Eyes” celebrates the series’ 200th episode with one of the most emotionally resonant stories of the franchise, not to mention one of NCIS’ most iconic Mike Franks episodes. The frame story follows Gibbs through an It’s A Wonderful Life-style narrative, in which he’s confronted with the impact he’s had on his loved ones.
This framing device puts Jethro in a diner, where he’s visited by the ghosts of Mike Franks, Ann Gibbs, Riley McCallister, and his late wife and daughter. They introduce him to an alternate reality, in which Gibbs saves Kate from Ari in time for her to live a long life with Tony and their baby, which Kate names after Kelly.
Kate’s survival somehow also leads to Abby pairing up with McGee, but the future’s not all cozy and bright. In this same timeline, Gibbs spares Pedro Hernandez and regrets it for decades until quitting NCIS and pushing his friends away, meaning he never actually meets Kate’s child. Saving Kate also means that Ziva stays with Mossad instead of the MCRT.
What makes the episode truly heartbreaking is when Gibbs tries to imagine a life in which he saved Shannon and Kelly. Tragically, he can’t engage with this particular reality because saving his family means never leaving the Marines and ultimately leaving Shannon a widow. It’s an emotional roller coaster of an episode, and that’s what NCIS: Origins needs right now.
NCIS: Origins Season 2 Is Perfectly Set Up To Revisit Gibbs’ Alternate Reality
Lala’s Uncertain Fate Could Easily Facilitate A Similar Storyline
After Gibbs’ foreboding narration in the series premiere, few fans could have guessed that a little girl would be responsible for Lala’s NCIS: Origins season 2 fate becoming such a mystery. Nevertheless, “Life Before His Eyes” suggests a great use for Mariel Molino as her character’s life hangs in the balance. Unfortunately, there’s just one small problem with the timing.
Given that the logline for the NCIS: Origins season 2 premiere mentions the reveal of Lala’s fate, and that the rest of the synopsis involves Gibbs and Franks investigating a cult leader in a seemingly unrelated plotline, there’s not a lot of room to use an alternate reality episode as the frame story for the reveal of Lala’s fate itself.
That said, if she dies—as she ought to because Lala’s survival ruins Gibbs’ NCIS: Origins story—Leroy exploring how he could have navigated their relationship differently would be a bittersweet way to bid Molino goodbye. And, while Muse Watson gives a touching performance in “Life Before His Eyes,” Kyle Schmid would absolutely steal the show in a similar capacity.
Certain storylines that fans might have liked also can’t really be explored any other way. Now that Diane’s entered the picture, Gibbs and Lala’s NCIS: Origins romance is essentially dead in the water. Even if she survives, there’s little point in seeing Gibbs pursue Lala while his future ex is standing just offscreen. And there’s another issue with Gibbs’ relationships.
NCIS: Origins Season 2 Needs To Make One Big Change From NCIS Episode 200
Shannon And Kelly Wouldn’t Work For This Kind Of Tribute
Perhaps some readers caught this earlier, but a major issue with NCIS: Origins revisiting Gibbs’ alternate reality plot is that there’s no way Leroy could go down that rabbit hole at this point in his timeline without rehashing the same Shannon and Kelly storyline. Not only would it feel repetitive for viewers, but it also creates a mild plot hole.
If Gibbs already imagined the potential consequences of Shannon and Kelly’s survival in the 1990s, he has no reason to relive it later. Granted, assuming Gibbs isn’t getting his information from literal ghosts, it’s possible that the nature of Leroy’s alternate reality changes as he gains more life experience. But it cheapens the outcomes to confirm these are just fantasies.
Considering the death of Gibbs’ family in NCIS is such a central component of Origins’ story, it’s hard to cut them out of a narrative like this with Gibbs in the spotlight. But a similar episode could just as easily center on Lala while she’s in the hospital awaiting her demise. This somewhat mirrors Gibbs’ visions occurring during a gunfight.
Exploring this frame story with Lala at the center would give her fans one final heartbreaking look at what her life could have been if she’d dated Gibbs, managed her family life differently, or maybe took just one more defensive driving class. Perhaps NCIS: Origins won’t go down this road yet, but it’s always an option for bringing Molino back.
