Warning! Spoilers ahead for the NCIS: Origins pilot.NCIS: Originsintroduces a brand new character in Lala Dominguez, but while she never appeared in the mainNCISseries, the prequel reveals that she has a lasting impact on it. Mark Harmon has successfully returned to the CBS hit procedural franchise, although this time, he has a much smaller role, narrating and occasionally appearing as the older version of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.NCIS: Originsrecast young Gibbs with Austin Stowell, as he navigates hisearliest years with the NIS under Mike Franks' tutelage.
This also means thatNCIS: Originsdebuts an entirely new teamaround Gibbs and Franks. One of the fresh characters in the franchise is Mariel Molino’s Lala — a capable member of the squad and is technically the deputy of Kyle Schmid’s cigarette-smoking leader. Unlike Gibbs, Franks, and even Vera Strickland,Lala was never mentioned in the flagshipNCIS, let alone appear, allowing some creative room when crafting her character. Despite that, the NCIS: Origins premiere reveals she has a secret impact on the mothership that changes how Harmon’s 19-season story is perceived.
Lala Introduces Gibbs To Bourbon In NCIS: Origins
The NCIS: Origins Premiere Reveals How Bourbon Becomes His Drink Of Choice
While older Gibbs liked to keep to himself, he had some signature traits. That included his love of building boats and drinking coffee. While caffeine was his choice of drinking while working on a case, he had a different favored beverage during his downtime — bourbon. He usually had a bottle in his stash in the basement and was something he reached for while he worked on his next project. In theNCIS: Originsepisode, “Enter Sandman Part 1,” it is revealed thatStowell’s young Gibbs has never had the barrel-aged American whiskey until Lala buys him a glass.
Stowell’s character is still very green on the job and is almost drowning in grief over the death of his first wife and daughter.
The scene is rather short, as it takes place in the veryfirst hang-out that Gibbs participates in as part of Franks' team. At this point, the character is very different from Harmon’s calm and steady iteration. Stowell’s character is still very green on the job and is almost drowning in grief over the death of his first wife and daughter. Lala coming over to offer him a drink isn’t viewed as friendly, however. As seen throughout theNCIS: Originspremiere, she has complicated feelings towards Gibbs, viewing him as a competition while also feeling sympathy towards his loss.
How Lala’s Impact Changes Gibbs' Story In NCIS
Lala Will Play An Important Role In Gibbs' Origins
Throughout Gibbs' story in the mainNCISshow, his personal story was tackled in multiple episodes.Not mentioning Lala poses intrigueabout the kind of role that she will play in his origins in the prequel. As hinted in theNCIS: Originspremiere, the pair has an interesting dynamic that can lead to something romantic moving forward. It’s worth noting that whenMolino’s casting was first announced, the report teased that she could be a love interest for Stowell’s character.
Mark Harmon Breaks Gibbs' Final Rule In NCIS: Origins' Latest Update
Leroy Jethro Gibbs lived by a set of rules in the flagship NCIS series, and Mark Harmon is about to break his last one in NCIS: Origins.
Lala introducing Gibbs to bourbon and that becoming his nightly drink could be his way of reminiscing about her and their time together. Currently, it’s unclear what happens to her in the future, butNCIS: Originsis clearly setting her up to be an important part of Gibbs' history. Harmon’s Gibbs even says so at the end of “Enter Sandman Part 1.”
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.
NCIS: Origins
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.
