One fan-favorite character is confirmed to return in NCIS: Origins season 2. The 18-episode first season of the NCIS prequel built to the tense season 1 finale. Prior to the finale, CBS had already greenlit NCIS: Origins season 2, which will continue exploring Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ (Austin Stowell) early days working as a Naval Investigative Service agent in Mike Franks’ (Kyle Schmid) crime unit.
In an interview with TV Insider, NCIS: Origins’ co-showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Montreal confirm that Bernard “Randy” Randolf (Caleb Foote) will return in season 2 despite the season 1 finale putting his future in the field into question. North promised that “there’s going to be plenty of Randy” in the upcoming season, which will also address the fate of Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino). In addition to this, Montreal shares that they plan on exploring Wheeler’s (Patrick Fischler) story a little bit more following his administrative leave. Check out North and Montreal’s comments below:
David J. North: I will say that Gina and I are always kicking these ideas around. We’re always revising, and there’s never been once in the first season that we’ve looked at each other and said, “You know what? There’s too much Randy in that episode,” so there’s going to be plenty of Randy, I promise you. And all of these actors, we just pinch ourselves. They’re so phenomenal. The characters have really come to life. Sometimes when Gina writes especially, I’ll get these scripts and they just pop off the page. We’re excited to see everyone and come back and find out the fate of Lala as well.
Gina Lucita Monreal: We’re definitely going to be digging more into [Wheeler’s] story. We left a lot of questions surrounding that character. We love that character. So he will be a presence in Season 2.
What The Showrunners’ Comments Mean For NCIS: Origins Season 2
Gibbs’ Team In NCIS: Origins Will Return & Be Explored In Greater Depth
The NCIS: Origins season 1 finale is full of explosive reveals, and one of them is Randy asking for a desk job, and fearing what the dangerous nature of his job as an active agent in the field will do to his family. He wants to get on track to being SAC, and the advice he hears confirms his doubts. While it may seem that Randy might be parting ways with the team, the showrunners’ comments put some doubts to rest. Randy, Lala, and Wheeler will all be in season 2 despite how season 1 left things for them.
Beyond the members of Gibbs’ team returning, the showrunners’ comments emphasize that Wheeler will be explored with greater depth in season 2. Many questions were raised about Wheeler in season 1, and his increased presence can help ensure that some of these questions are answered. Getting to dive deeper into characters like Wheeler, and not just Gibbs, is one of the many benefits of the series receiving a second season.
Our Take On Who’s Returning In NCIS: Origins Season 2
NCIS: Origins Season 1 Finale Doesn’t Define What Will Happen In Season 2
NCIS: Origins is a successful prequel show thanks to the group of characters who have created a family-like vibe at NIS. Throughout 18 episodes, fans get to know more about each one of them and their struggles in life. In episode 17, Wheeler stepped down after the mess of Operation Sundown to focus more on his family life. Lala’s fate is in the air after a car crash in the finale.
It almost seems like the show is tearing the team apart in the NCIS: Origins season 1 finale, but perhaps it’s not what it seems. Macy’s investigation into Gibbs shows how tight the team is, with both Mike and Lala willing to lie to save him from being prosecuted. Randy, who was personally connected to the deaths of Gibbs’ wife and daughter, faced his morality, which caused him to rethink his path as a field agent. The season 1 finale leaves on a high note, with plenty of room for where season 2 could take these characters.
All episodes of NCIS: Origins season 1 are available to stream on Paramount+.
