CBS‘ NCIS: Origins wrapped its freshman run with a shocking scene that left viewers with the question: Did Special Agent Lala Dominguez tragically die in a car crash? And, in turn: Is that why Gibbs’ could never bring himself to speak of “her” before?
Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, co-showrunners of the prequel spinoff, have to date been tightly-lipped about Lala’s fate, but a behind-the-scenes photo shared by a cast member may tip the rampage theorizing in a certain direction.
Mariel Molino, who plays/played Lala, on Monday morning shared on Instagram a photo of her pup on the Paramount lot where Origins films — the same spot, in fact, where co-star Kyle Schmid snapped a pic even earlier this morning, as he reported for his first day back as Mike Franks.
CBS‘ NCIS: Origins wrapped its freshman run with a shocking scene that left viewers with the question: Did Special Agent Lala Dominguez tragically die in a car crash? And, in turn: Is that why Gibbs’ could never bring himself to speak of “her” before?
Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, co-showrunners of the prequel spinoff, have to date been tightly-lipped about Lala’s fate, but a behind-the-scenes photo shared by a cast member may tip the rampage theorizing in a certain direction.
Mariel Molino, who plays/played Lala, on Monday morning shared on Instagram a photo of her pup on the Paramount lot where Origins films — the same spot, in fact, where co-star Kyle Schmid snapped a pic even earlier this morning, as he reported for his first day back as Mike Franks.
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If Molino is in fact on-set along with her co-stars, for the start of filming Season 2, that at the very least suggests that Lala will in some fashion, to some degree, be seen again — perhaps in a flashback or dream sequence (if dead), bedridden in a coma (if in limbo), or alive and kicking (after a proper amount of healing and recuperation).
CBS understandably has no comment on Lala’s fate, which surely will be revealed when Season 2 opens Oct. 14 (now airing Tuesdays at 9/8c, between NCIS and NCIS: Sydney).
As NCIS: Origins‘ freshman run drew to a close on April 28, Lala was on her way to find “probie” Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and delivered the news that she had convinced MP investigator Lara Macy to not arrest him for the murder of cartel boss Pedro Hernandez, when a small girl darted out into the road. Lala steered sharply to miss the child, and flipped her Jeep, lots, in the process.
Lala was last seen dangling upside down in the driver’s seat, bleeding profusely.
In Season 1’s final seconds, narrator Gibbs (Mark Harmon) says that he will later learn that Lala was on her way to report that she had “saved” him. And though the prequel series’ showrunners have stopped short of confirming that Lala died on the scene (read their full Q&A), the heartbreaking chain of events suggests why Gibbs never shared this story before.
“This is a story I don’t tell. I can’t find the words,” Gibbs said as the camera panned Lala’s bleeding, seemingly lifeless face. “But it never stops running through my head — the story of her.”
It was easy to assume that Lala died on the spot — and I’ve said a lot on why that’d be the very best version of the powerful finale — but showrunners North and Monreal would not confirm the character’s fate when we post-mortemed Season 1.
Molino, meanwhile, spoke with TVLine of the things Lala would’ve/could’ve said and done, had her trip to find Gibbs not been violently cut short.
CBS‘ NCIS: Origins wrapped its freshman run with a shocking scene that left viewers with the question: Did Special Agent Lala Dominguez tragically die in a car crash? And, in turn: Is that why Gibbs’ could never bring himself to speak of “her” before?
Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, co-showrunners of the prequel spinoff, have to date been tightly-lipped about Lala’s fate, but a behind-the-scenes photo shared by a cast member may tip the rampage theorizing in a certain direction.
Mariel Molino, who plays/played Lala, on Monday morning shared on Instagram a photo of her pup on the Paramount lot where Origins films — the same spot, in fact, where co-star Kyle Schmid snapped a pic even earlier this morning, as he reported for his first day back as Mike Franks.
