NCIS: Origins, which has already been picked up for its second season, has done a masterful job in Season 1 in taking viewers inside the personal lives of the people working at the NIS office based at Camp Pendelton. And it continues in that vein in tonight’s
While the team – Gibbs (Austin Stowell), Franks (Kyle Schmid) and LaLa (Mariel Molino) – works the case of an investment advisor found dead shortly after her release from prison, Mary Jo (Tyla Abercrumbie), who is fondly known as HSIC (Head Secretary in Charge), is left reeling by an unexpected development in her personal life when she’s served with divorce papers
“The idea of the divorce was as much a surprise to me as it was for you all,” Abercrumbie tells Parade. She learned about the divorce when the script arrived. Even though she early on had discussed with showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal going down the path of her personal life. She just didn’t know exactly where that path would lead, but she did know she had an ex.
“I think that the face of our love affairs don’t look anything like we think they’re going to look in the movies, right?” Abercrumbie says. “We think you’re going to meet Prince Charming, you’re going to have this white picket fence and the house and the dog. And the truth of the matter is that our relationships take on different looks.”
At first observation, it appears that Mary Jo’s ex took her completely by surprise, not just in filing the papers, but in what he’s asking for in the divorce. As the story plays out – which we won’t spoil here – it becomes clear that while the two did love each other, life got in the way.
“They can’t keep the unit intact because there’s so much emotional trauma that each one is dealing with at the time,” Abercrumbie continues. “I think that that is a reflection of what happens to a lot of marriages when you have something that’s so big that you both can’t deal with it at the same time together.”
The episode also illustrates how, despite what’s going on in her personal life, Mary Jo is indeed the HSIC as she is the backbone of the NIS office, keeping both the agents functioning and mentoring the rest of the office staff.
“I love that Mary Jo, because she’s in that office and I feel like this is where she shines,” Abercrumbie says. “She’s not solving the crimes out there with the agents. But she’s doing her share, and she does it well and it’s very important to her. I always look at Franks as the father of the group when they’re out solving crimes, and Mary Jo as the mother of the group when they’re in this office. I love that I get to be that person that says, ‘I might work under some of you all as far as the hierarchy of our employment goes, but I run this.’”
Even Franks knows that. And so saying, he’s not above stealing a line from Mary Jo. During this episode, she tells him their responsibility is “making people whole even when you’re not,” which he passes on to the troops. But the reality is that that is the mantra by which Mary Jo lives her life.
“I think this episode reveals that completely, that her investment in making people whole, whether it’s the agents or the victims that come through that office, or Nadine and Gail, it is very much about helping other people feel whole as much as you can,” Abercrumbie says. “And she even says that maybe they won’t have the life they had before, but they’ll have a new life, something better. That’s what she’s always striving for.”
NCIS: Origins airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Streams next day on Paramount+.
FAQs
1. What time does tonight’s episode of NCIS: Origins air?
Tonight’s episode airs at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
2. Will we learn more about Mary Jo’s past in future episodes?
While tonight’s episode focuses on Mary Jo’s backstory, it’s possible that future episodes will continue to explore her past.
3. How did Tyla Abercrumbie prepare for this emotional episode?
Abercrumbie mentioned that she spent time researching and reflecting on her character’s experiences to deliver an authentic performance.
4. Is NCIS: Origins connected to the original NCIS series?
Yes, NCIS: Origins serves as a prequel to the original series, focusing on the early days of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
5. Where can I watch NCIS: Origins if I miss the live broadcast?
You can catch up on episodes of NCIS: Origins on CBS’s streaming platform or other on-demand services.
