Mark Harmon’s return inNCIS: Originswould be great if it were not for one promise Gibbs made to McGee during their last conversation. TheNCIS: Originspremieresaw Harmon return to his most famous role,Leroy Jethro Gibbs, after he originally left the franchise inNCISseason 19. Season 19 also saw Gibbs and McGee, the last members of the originalNCISteam, share a heartfelt goodbye, which has impacted Gibbs' appearance inNCIS: Origins.
Harmon is the only actor fromNCISwho has appeared inNCIS: Originsso far. And while it is exciting to see Harmon return to his role again, and even briefly on-screen inNCIS: Origins' premiere episode story, his appearance creates more questions than answers. In particular,Harmon’s narration in theNCISprequel is contradictory to Gibbs' last conversation with McGee, which revealed the true reason why Gibbs was retiring in Alaska.
Mark Harmon’s NCIS: Origins Return Explained
Harmon Has Returned In A Minor, But Significant, Role
NCIS: OriginscastAustin Stowell as the young Gibbs, but it also features Mark Harmon as the old Gibbs.TheNCISprequel takes place over 10 years before theNCISpremiereand follows the young Gibbs at the start of hisNCIScareer. The spinoff is also set in 1991, shortly after Gibbs lost his first wife and daughter. While Stowell plays the show’s lead, Harmon appears as both a narrator and a minor character in the present day. He is mainly shown sitting around a lit campfire and writing in his journal, thinking about the past.
Gibb’sNCIScareer starts at NIS, the precursor toNCIS.
It is still unclear why old Gibbs is the narrator or what he is writing down in his journal, but it is clear that Gibbs is still in Alaska. After saying goodbye to hisNCISteam in season 19,Gibbs moved to Alaska and has not left since. His appearance in theNCIS: Originspremierecould mean that he is finally giving himself the time and space to revisit his past. This would also explain Gibbs' narration, which often gives added emotional context to Stowell’s scenes.
Old Gibbs' Admission In NCIS: Origins Walks Back On His Promise To McGee
Gibbs Promised He Was Finally At Peace
NCIS: Originshas revealed that old Gibbs still struggleswith his past. The scenes of Gibbs around the fire, writing in his journal, have revealed the intense emotional pain that Gibbs holds onto decades later. Old Gibbs' narration in particular shows the extent of Gibbs' pain. His admission of his struggles makes the scenes with Stowell even sadder, as the emotional context gives the scenes a deep somber tone. Gibbs' struggles inNCIS: Originsalso contradict one ofNCIS' most vital Gibbs scenes.
Mark Harmon’s Expanded NCIS: Origins Role Needs To Avoid A Big Problem For The Gibbs Prequel
Mark Harmon’s return to NCIS: Origins is great news for the franchise after his NCIS exit, but it also sets up a big problem for the prequel.
InNCISseason 19, episode 4, “Great Wide Open,” while on a fishing trip in Alaska, Gibbs reveals to McGee that he wishes to stay and retire there. As McGee tries to persuade Gibbs to change his mind,Gibbs says that he is finally at peaceand he has made his decision.
“Whatever I am feeling… this-this sense of peace… I-I have not had this since Shannon and Kelly died. And I’m not ready to let it go.”
The heartfelt farewell scene has been cemented as one of the best Gibbs scenes because it is Gibbs' last appearance onNCIS, and it shows the strong bond between Gibbs and McGee, who have been colleagues and friends for years. The significance of the scene also makes Gibbs' admission inNCIS: Originsso confusing. He told McGee he wanted to stay because he was at peace, butNCIS: Originsrevealed he was anything but.Season 19 seemed to say that Gibbs finally had well-deserved closure, but theNCISspinoffhas shown it was not the end of his story.
Why Gibbs Is Continued To Be Haunted In His NCIS Retirement
Gibbs Is Still Regretful
The early episodes ofNCIS: Originshave revealed that Gibbs is still regretful. In the early part of season 1, episode 1, “Enter Sandman,“Gibbs hauntingly spoke about ignoring his gut instinctswhen saying goodbye to Shannon and Kelly for the last time. While this is likely his largest regret, given the show’s tone and Gibbs' dark environment whenever Harmon narrates, it seems as though Gibbs is plagued with regrets, which will likely be revealed over the course ofNCIS: Origins.
Gibbs' sentiments surrounding his retirement could also be worsened by the fact that he is alone.
Gibbs' sentiments surrounding his retirement could also be worsened by the fact that he is alone. Perhaps Gibbs said he was at peace in season 19 because he had been surrounded by loved ones all that time. TheNCISteam is a family, even with character departures. Now that Gibbs is alone,his retirement could be haunting him because he is forced to think about his heavy and traumatic past. This could also explain the tone shift betweenNCIS: OriginsandNCIS, and it will be interesting to see where his story goes.
NCIS: Origins
Cast
NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, preceding the events of the original series. The series introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs as a new special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. Under the leadership of NCIS legend Mike Franks, Gibbs navigates his role within a tenacious, unconventional team.
NCIS
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
