Kyle Schmid On What It Was Like Playing Mike Franks In 1982 And Channeling Jim Morrison On Set

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Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “Monsoon” are ahead!

The second part of Season 1 for the series NCIS: Origins began a few weeks ago with the episode “Flight of Icarus,” depicting a 21-year-old Mike Franks being drafted into the Vietnam War (catch it now on Paramount+). In tonight’s episode, “Monsoon,” we saw series regular Kyle Schmid portraying Mike in 1982. As you can see from the images above, he appeared much more unkempt compared to his later appearance in 1991. Prior to the airing of “Monsoon” on the 2025 TV schedule, I had the opportunity to talk with Schmid about his role, which involved him discussing how he drew inspiration from Jim Morrison of The Doors during this period.

In “Monsoon,” the current narrative revolves around a group probing the homicide of Marine Lance Corporal Peter Rice, a former Vietnam War veteran who lived homelessly and whose demise was reported by his fellow vagrant companion, Tom Molina. Simultaneously, flashbacks reveal that in 1982, Mike Franks found himself adrift in Texas, engulfed by alcohol and drugs, and accepting money to transport these substances. A unfortunate incident involving the theft of his motorcycle at a gas station turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it led him to meet Tish, his future spouse. Kyle Schmid shares his experience working on “Monsoon” by discussing what it was like to be part of the production.

Experiencing this episode took me back to another time, another decade, and it was fascinating to delve into Mike’s life after Vietnam and examine the political climate that affected those who had served. I believe one of the key lessons from this episode is that Tom Molina and Mike Franks are remarkably alike. The pivotal moment in their lives lies in the fact that Mike encountered Tish at a time when he could have easily followed Tom’s path. Conversely, if Tom had met Tish under the same circumstances, Tom might have become Mike. Our power lies in the people we associate with, and during this period when veterans were returning from a grueling war, they faced considerable backlash in the media. Unfortunately, this prejudice was passed down to those who served, as their primary motivation was to save each other’s lives.

More On NCIS: Origins

In a recent episode, NCIS: Origins unraveled a mystery from an earlier Season 1 while exploring a heartrending past event. However, the latest developments involving Gibbs and Lala left me quite perplexed.

As a passionate cinephile, I recently had the chance to chat with Austin Stowell from the captivating prequel series, NCIS: Origins. During our conversation, he shared some fascinating insights about Gibbs’ Rules and even disclosed one valuable lesson he picked up from the wise Mark Harmon himself.

Austin revealed that understanding these rules was essential for his character, Agent Jack Sloane, to navigate the complex world of law enforcement. He highlighted that while each rule serves a unique purpose, Rule 16 – “Never date a fellow agent” – resonated with him the most due to its potential complications in both professional and personal relationships.

However, it was during their on-set interactions that Austin learned an invaluable real-life lesson from Mark Harmon. The veteran actor imparted the importance of respecting one another and maintaining a strong work ethic – principles that are evident in Gibbs’ Rules and have become cornerstones for successful teams like the NCIS.

It was truly enlightening to delve into Austin Stowell’s experiences working on NCIS: Origins, gaining insights into his character development and learning from the wisdom shared by Mark Harmon. I can’t wait to see how Jack Sloane evolves throughout the series and what other lessons he may glean from Gibbs along the way!

Mike Franks and Tish happened to meet due to an unfortunate incident: Tish’s tire blew out just as she passed by Franks, who was walking on the side of the road because his motorcycle had been stolen. After helping each other out, they started talking, during which Franks discovered that Tish was a hairdresser and asked about her rates. The story then unfolds, but as Kyle Schmid noted to me, if Tish hadn’t driven past Franks that day, he could have ended up like Tom Molina, who it turned out, was the one who murdered Peter Rice during one of his PTSD episodes.

Kyle Schmid gleefully seized the opportunity to portray Mike Franks with no set routine, mainly due to its resemblance to Jim Morrison’s lifestyle as the frontman of The Doors during filming, as he explained to me.

Experiencing a moment where Mike showed a more laid-back, hippie side, deviating from his usual polished and organized persona as the head of NIS, was truly enjoyable. It felt like channeling Jim Morrison, strolling about, greeting people with a casual “Hey there, sweetheart, how are you doing?” followed by an invitation for a relaxed evening involving some cannabis. The entire experience was exhilarating and entertaining. Moreover, we were given a glimpse into Mike’s romantic life, as he met Tish – a moment that was heartwarmingly innocent, pure, and captivating in its simplicity. Essentially, we got to witness the story of their initial encounter, which made for an engaging watch.

In my critique as a movie connoisseur, I later inquired about the reasoning behind Mike’s 1982 conclusion, as portrayed by Schmid. He casually mentioned that it wasn’t implausible for his character to return under such circumstances, considering the multitude of Vietnam War veterans who returned with PTSD and were left uncared for by the government. Without the camaraderie and purpose he found in the Marines, and with his brother estranged, Schmid suggested that Franks felt a profound sense of loss, which he filled with alcohol and drugs. However, Tish seemed to restore some direction to his life, leaving me eagerly anticipating if NCIS: Origins will delve into the tale of how Franks transitioned into an NCIS agent.

Regretfully, by the conclusion of “Monsoon,” Tish and Frank parted ways after he admitted to her that he hadn’t ceased searching for the man who had sexually assaulted her. Although we are aware from the original NCIS that their relationship doesn’t last, could there be a chance they might reconcile temporarily as NCIS: Origins progresses? We’ll discover as more episodes unfold every Monday at 10 pm ET on CBS.

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2025-02-11 07:37