‘We Have To Tell The Stories Honestly’: NCIS: Origins’ EP Broke Down With Us The Process Of Deciding When To Follow Established Lore And When To Retcon

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As a gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the vast universe of NCIS, I can say that navigating the timeline of NCIS: Origins has been a bit like playing a game of chess with the writers – full of twists, turns, and occasional retcons. It’s fascinating to see how they balance staying true to the original series while also crafting compelling new stories.

The upcoming TV series, titled “NCIS: Origins“, is set to premiere in 2024, with events taking place over a decade before the original “NCIS” began. Interestingly, this prequel series is drawing on the history and lore from its predecessor. So far, it’s been seamless, as seen in the latest episode where Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ portrayal of killing Pedro Hernandez aligns well with earlier depictions on “NCIS“. However, there have been some adjustments or retcons in “Origins“, and during a conversation with executive producer David J. North, he elaborated on the challenge of deciding when to modify certain aspects and when to stay true to the “NCIS” narrative.

During an interview with North, I mentioned a particular instance of retconning in the “NCIS” series, specifically referring to the episode “Bend, Don’t Break.” It was previously established that Mike Franks encountered Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ father, Jackson Gibbs, during his investigation into the murders of Leroy’s wife and daughter, Shannon and Kelly. However, in the Season 8 premiere of “NCIS,” titled “Spider and the Fly,” it was Leroy who introduced his father to Franks. Upon bringing this inconsistency to North’s attention, he responded by explaining it to me.

Absolutely, there will always be instances where interpretation is needed. If you were to rewatch that scene, you might interpret Gibbs as saying, “Dad, this is Mike Franks,” alluding to the character. However, if you prefer to stick to the exact dialogue, well, we strive to adhere to the original script as closely as we can. Deviating from it can lead to frustration among fans, but let’s face it, the NCIS universe isn’t always consistent with its own canon. There are numerous paths they’ve taken over time.

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The NCIS: Origins Episode Revealed the Meeting Point between Gibbs and Mike Franks, Which I Appreciate as It Resolved a Mystery from the Series Debut.

Origins, has introduced a younger version of character Fornell. Actor Austin Stowell, who plays Gibbs in this series, shared his excitement about meeting this young Fornell.

The series “NCIS” has often gone against its own established storyline multiple times throughout the years, as demonstrated in the pilot episode “Yankee White.” In this episode, characters Gibbs and Tobias Fornell were portrayed as first meeting each other. However, it was later revealed that they had known each other for a long time and were previously married to the same woman, Diane Sterling. This is not to say that the series’ continuity is always inconsistent, but it can be seen as having its share of twists and turns.

David J. North’s idea that the interaction between Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Jackson Gibbs, and Mike Franks in “Spider and the Fly” might be seen as Leroy introducing his father, Franks, is plausible, given that this episode of NCIS takes place around 20 years after the events portrayed in “Bend, Don’t Break”. However, North, who co-runs the show Origins with Gina Lucita Monreal, explained to me that while they strive to maintain the accuracy of NCIS continuity, their main focus is on crafting stories for this TV series that are compelling, rather than adhering strictly to history. In his words: “We take steps to keep track of NCIS canon, but what’s more essential is creating narratives that improve the show, regardless of historical accuracy.

We need to choose the most truthful option and remain committed to it, as this is crucial for us. A dedicated team assists us in this endeavor, and while suggestions like “They should watch the original” may surface online, I wrote a substantial part of that original work and have an intimate understanding of it. We strive to preserve its essence while telling stories authentically, but we must choose a path when multiple options exist, as honesty is our priority.

Mostly, NCIS: Origins has stuck to the history established in NCIS, but if a chance arises for altering the narrative to enhance a storyline, they won’t hesitate. In case significant deviations occur in the prequel series, we’ll keep you updated as part of our ongoing coverage. Notably, David J. North, who has extensive experience with NCIS, having produced it for ten seasons and written numerous episodes, is familiar with this universe. He navigates it quite skillfully.

The “NCIS: Origins” midseason finale is set for next Monday at 10 pm Eastern Time, and Season 1 will pick up again on January 27th according to the 2025 TV lineup. To catch up on the episodes aired since mid-October, make sure you’re subscribed to Paramount+.

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2024-12-13 16:38