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NCIS: Origins””/>Still from the series “NCIS: Origins” © CBS
“NCIS: Origins” finally brings the breath of fresh air into the venerable franchise that many fans had hoped and expected. Austin Stowell‘s interpretation of the young Gibbs in particular provides new impulses, as we found in our review of the pilot episode.
Spoiler warning – this message may contain hints about the continuation of the plot!
This is what happens in the episode “Enter Sandman” of the series “NCIS: Origins”
Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell, Catch-22) has just been transferred to the NIS in NCIS: Origins after the murder of his wife and daughter. His boss, Special Agent Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid, Being Human), has high hopes for the newcomer, while his colleague Special Agent Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino) harbors resentment against him.
Gibbs’ investigative skills and his teamwork skills are put to the test when he has to catch a sniper who seems to be killing people at random. But do the murders really happen without any motive, or is there more to it? As the FBI enters a turf war with the NIS, Franks, Gibbs, Dominguez and their colleague Special Agent Bernard Randolf (Caleb Foote, American Horror Story) do everything in their power to find the killer…
Finally a breath of fresh air
As is well known, the NCIS franchise (actually more correctly: JAG franchise) is not exactly a source of innovative ideas. No matter where the officers of the Naval Crime Investigation Service appear, the core issues are always the same and solved more or less in the same way.
That in itself is nothing negative and has worked exceptionally well since 2003 (if you add “JAG” as the initial spark for the franchise, even since 1995). Nevertheless, as a crime series fan, you had wanted a breath of fresh air at least since NCIS: Hawai’i and the first woman in the leadership position of a team.
It is clear, however, that neither this series, which has unfortunately now been canceled, nor the rather mediocre format NCIS: Sydney brought any new impetus. In fact, with “NCIS: Origins” “NCIS” veterans Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North finally manage to give the franchise the long-awaited new spin that ensures a new – yet old – tone.
Back to the past
For the two series makers it means in every respect: back to the past. Instead of just launching a new team to kill murderers and terrorists somewhere in the world, Monreal and North wisely decided to go back to basics. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that the adventures of the “JAG” lawyers are included, but we finally get to know Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played excellently by Austin Sowell, at a young age and follow him as he takes his first steps towards becoming the man we’ve known him to be We now know and love 21 seasons (Season 22 has already been ordered).
It’s nice that Sowell isn’t just being thrown at us as a replacement for Mark Harmon, but rather the old master of the investigation himself appears in the form of small cameo appearances and also as a voice-over narrator. Of course, the two Gibbs seen are not identical. The future NCIS boss is older, more mature and more sedate than his tempestuous young self, a fact that gives the series a completely new attitude.
In addition, for the first time we are not moving in the present, but over 20 years in the past and thus in a time when computers were still bulky boxes and investigative manual work was the order of the day. Mike Franks, who is well known from the mother series, is also rougher and less politically correct than is often the case in today’s formats. In 1991 – the present time of the series – the clock was ticking equality just different than today, a fact that is sensitively taken into account in “NCIS: Origins”. Accordingly, Franks is a real cowboy who doesn’t like to be spit in the soup and does things the way he thinks is right.
Gibbs’ Family
As in the original, the murder of Gibbs’ wife and child plays an exceptionally important role in the spin-off. We repeatedly experience flashbacks that show the last moments between him and his family. The grief over the murders that took place just a few months ago has left its wounds in the former sniper’s soul. This is a fact that Monreal and North make visible and tangible for the audience using auditory effects and slightly distorted close-ups.
On the other hand, his fate makes him receptive to that of other people, which is why, for example, he quickly develops a connection with the mother of the episode’s first victim. These – and his skills as a sniper – ultimately impact the solution to the case, even if the rookie is ultimately only one factor.
Gibbs’ colleagues Dominguez and Randolf don’t just fall by the wayside or fade into insignificant supporting characters. Rather, Dominguez is initially a kind of counterpart with slightly antagonistic traits, while Randolf immediately becomes friends with the newcomer.
Too abrupt an end
What’s great is that everyone ultimately does their part to hunt down the killer. However, it should not go unmentioned that the resolution of the case is not written in a completely satisfactory manner, despite the one and a half hour double episode with which “NCIS: Origins” begins. The finale comes across too quickly, too predictably and choppy.
There could have been a little more finesse after a total of 90 minutes. However, Enter Sandman spends a lot of time introducing the protagonists and tries honestly and successfully to create a connection to a series that has thrilled fans for at least 21 years. In this respect, the abrupt finale is bearable, especially since we see a young Gibbs who fits perfectly into the franchise.
Conclusion
“NCIS: Origins” dares to do something new and thereby revitalizes the very dusty “NCIS” series landscape. The risk of telling a prequel is a success thanks to the quickly written story, the new yet old characterization of Gibbs and the references to characters and events known from the original. “Enter Sandman” is exciting, has a new tonality, scores with a likeable team and, despite all the prophecies of doom, finally takes us where no “NCIS” series has gone before. There is also the well-known crime-military factor, which has always made the franchise special.
We are therefore giving out four and a half out of five NCIS jackets.
