Origins’ Official End Of An Era Begs For A CBS Reboot

The original era of NCIS: Origins is officially finished. CBS’s move to debut the Super Tuesday block for the 2025-2026 TV cycle was largely successful. By putting together all active NCIS franchise shows in one night, it’s able to take advantage of its overall fan-base. Towards the end of its run, however, CBS made an unexpected change that had NCIS: Origins season 2 earlier than the flagship and NCIS: Sydney season 3.

When NCIS: Origins was first announced, it was sold as the origin story of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the agency. While tackling his earliest years in the organization, it would also tackle events that shape the flagship years later. So, it was quite surprising when NCIS: Origins lied about its premise by admitting in its pilot that its narrative was actually about Lala — who she was and what role she played in Gibbs’ history. For two years, the show followed Gibbs’ life at the Camp Pendleton office with the rest of Mike Franks’ team, all while also tackling this burning romance between him and his co-worker. At the end of NCIS: Origins season 2, however, it’s clear that its original era has already ended.

NCIS: Origins Fulfills Its Two Main Purpose At The End Of Season 2

CBS

There are two ways that NCIS: Origins season 2, episode 18, “Hollywood Ending,” marks the end of an era for the prequel. Firstly, as Camp Pendleton gets shut down as part of NIS’s reorganization, the people in the office scramble to solve one last crime while others try and find a way to save it. At the end of the hour, Vera Franks and some of the smartest minds in the team find a way to do that by proposing the emphasis on their crime-solving abilities, leading to the agency’s renaming to NCIS.

This rebranding was long-established in the flagship and was inspired by real-life events. With this transition done, however, NCIS: Origins is finally able to tackle one of the biggest storylines in the franchise’s history — one that shapes its future. Despite being a pre-determined event that the prequel needed to absolutely tackle, revealing how it exactly happened, and the people involved in the renaming fill narrative gaps in the universe’s story.

While the renaming was long expected to happen, one that wasn’t is NCIS: Origins finally paying off Gibbs and Lala’s slow-burn romance. Admittedly, this take on the trope isn’t as tumultuous as others in the wider universe, it doesn’t diminish the satisfaction of seeing them finally share their first proper kiss at the end of “Hollywood Ending.” This confirms their romance, adding an unknown layer to Gibbs’ history and fulfilling the promise that NCIS: Origins is about Lala’s impact on his life.

What Rebooting NCIS: Origins Means For Season 3 Means & Why It’s Important To Its Future

NCIS: Origins' Gibbs and Lala in a fancy bar wearing fine clothing during an undercover operation

Just because NCIS: Origins has already ended its original and its most important era, it doesn’t mean that CBS has to end the show. Much like so many other scripted shows on network TV this cycle that went through massive story milestones, the prequel needs a reboot, which means reassessing its current standing and doing something different. NIS’s rebranding to NCIS should come with some kind of operational change in Camp Pendleton, otherwise, it doesn’t feel like a monumental event.

NCIS Origins Is Returning For Season 3 – Everything We Know

Gibbs, Lala, and the rest of the Pendleton office will continue their story in NCIS: Origins season 3, but their future comes with many changes.

When it comes to Gibbs and Lala’s relationship, a change is already inevitable, as NCIS: Origins effectively ends the will-they/won’t-they trope involving the characters. Now that both of their feelings for each other are clear, the challenge is to ensure that the show doesn’t lose the interest of viewers from their days of pining for each other. This particular junction in a romantic storytelling is precarious, as it could make or break the couple’s future.

Since NCIS: Origins can’t just rely on people’s investment in whether Lala and Gibbs are going to finally act on their feelings, it’s important that the show introduce a new mystery to focus on. For what it’s worth, Harmon’s narration already hinted at the project’s next romantic focus, as he admitted that he wished that he and Lala were able to preserve their Hollywood ending.

Enjoy ScreenRant’s primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check “Network TV” in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.