As a long-time fan of the NCIS universe, I find myself deeply moved by the latest episode of NCIS: Origins titled “All’s Not Lost”. The heart-wrenching portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ struggle after the tragic death of his wife and daughter, Shannon and Kelly, has left a lasting impact on me.
Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “All’s Not Lost” are ahead!
Over the span of about two decades that Mark Harmon portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, viewers gained insights into his character’s life, including the sad story of how his first wife, Shannon, and daughter, Kelly, were murdered by a drug dealer named Pedro Hernandez in 1991. The spin-off series NCIS: Origins offers an opportunity to delve deeper into this heartrending phase of Gibbs’ life, with Austin Stowell playing the younger version of the character. In “All’s Not Lost,” the upcoming episode of the CBS prequel slated for the 2024 TV lineup, we see how profoundly Gibbs is affected by their deaths, especially in the months following. However, what really tugged at our heartstrings was witnessing his immediate response to learning about their tragic demise.
How Gibbs Reacted To The News Of His Wife And Daughter’s Deaths
During Operation Desert Storm, Gibbs received the tragic news that Shannon and Kelly, who had testified against Pedro Hernandez for killing a Marine, perished in a car crash. The driver was shot by Hernandez. Upon hearing this devastating news from his commanding officer, Gibbs was immediately scheduled to return to the U.S. However, just moments later, their unit came under attack. Instead of following the usual protocol and hitting the ground like other Marines when under fire or explosions, Gibbs regained his composure and began walking towards the direction of the gunfire and explosions.
In the latest episode of NCIS: Origins, titled “Bend, Don’t Break,” there was a significant development in the relationship between Jackson Gibbs and Mike Franks. Last week, Jackson expressed his belief that Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ son might be harboring a desire to die, having joined NIS with the intention of eventually taking down Pedro Hernandez. However, Leroy had already eliminated Hernandez before this revelation. Despite not knowing about Leroy’s actions, Jackson seemed to be on the right track regarding the death wish theory. In the episode, it was heart-wrenching to see Leroy seemingly courting danger after discovering that Shannon and Kelly were deceased, disregarding potential enemy fire.
As a dedicated NCIS fan, I’ve been eagerly waiting to see how Gibbs recovers from his mysterious ordeal. While the latest episode didn’t reveal the details of his wounding, we know from the series that he slipped into a coma for nearly three weeks. This perhaps explains why Jackson Gibbs was so closely involved with Mike Franks before Gibbs returned. It seems Jackson was keeping an eye on the investigation while Gibbs was out cold.
How Kelly’s Death Played Into This Week’s Case For Gibbs
Currently in the narrative of “All’s Not Lost”, Gibbs, Franks, Lala Dominguez (a crucial figure later in the lead character’s life), and Bernard “Randy” Randolph are probing the murder of Brianna Davis, an 8th grade science teacher. She met her end while caring for Derrick Jones’ daughter, Mildred, when he was deployed. The plot thickened as young Mildred went missing for a short period but was later found. The killer who ended Brianna’s life was hired to carry out the crime by a neighbor running a dairy farm nearby. This farm was suspected of dumping its chemicals into the local lake, and they wanted to silence Brianna as she was about to expose this illegal activity. In essence, the case was straightforward.
To elaborate, this case proved pivotal in Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ recovery following the tragic loss of his wife and child. While it’s clear that complete tranquility might elude him until the early stages of NCIS Season 19, his fatherly instincts shone through in this case. For instance, he was able to connect with Mildred, a frightened girl, and helped her identify Hatcher, the assassin responsible for Brianna’s attempted murder. Moreover, given Gibbs’ personal history, there were concerns that the possibility of another young girl meeting a similar fate would upset him deeply. Despite these apprehensions, Gibbs displayed remarkable restraint throughout the case. However, upon receiving identification from Mildred, he returned to his daughter’s room and, expectedly, broke down in tears.
In the storyline narrated by an older Mark Harmon’s character, Gibbs, we discovered that after losing Shannon and Kelly, he felt utterly isolated. Last week, it was evident to Frank that this job is his last remaining anchor in life, yet he maintained a certain detachment from his colleagues. He even declined invitations for dinner with Frank and Trish on multiple occasions. However, the Mildred case served as a catalyst, prompting him to visit Frank’s residence and partake in a comforting home-cooked meal. Despite the sadness portrayed in this NCIS: Origins episode, it concluded with a touching display of warmth.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs may not be the most affectionate person you’d meet, but it seems he’s now ready to foster closer relationships with his team members. However, how much time this will happen is uncertain, as we only know Mike Franks retired from NIS in 1996, and the future of Lala and Randy remains unclear. I hope that his interactions with them will set the stage for him to accept a ‘found family’ role alongside characters like Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Timothy McGee, Abby Sciuto, and Ducky Mallard.
Each Monday at 9 pm Eastern Time, fresh episodes of “NCIS: Origins” follow immediately after the new episodes of NCIS Season 22. If you’d like to catch up on the entire NCIS universe, consider subscribing to Paramount+, as it allows streaming of the series along with other NCIS-verse content. Keep in mind that a subscription to this platform will be essential if you wish to watch the upcoming spin-off, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva”.
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2024-10-29 06:07