As a long-time fan of the NCIS series, I must say that the latest development in the storyline of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is quite intriguing. The revelation of his past deeds and their impact on his relationships with his team members, particularly Lala Dominguez and Mike Franks, has added an extra layer of complexity to the characters that I find fascinating.
Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “Vivo o Muerto” are ahead!
A crucial part of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ background in the NCIS universe is that his wife Shannon and their daughter Kelly were brutally murdered by a drug dealer named Pedro Hernandez in 1991. Throughout the series NCIS: Origins, airing on the 2024 TV schedule, this aspect of his past has been elaborated, showing Austin Stowell’s portrayal of Gibbs charging into danger upon learning the heartbreaking news, and the revelation that Randy was initially assigned to protect Shannon and Kelly.
Tonight’s episode, titled “Vivo o Muerto”, provided a major turning point in the ongoing narrative: Gibbs killing Pedro Hernandez. This event, long anticipated by dedicated NCIS viewers, was hinted at on the main series but is now fully explored in detail through the spin-off, Origins. In a recent interview with TopMob, executive producer David J. North discussed the implications of this latest development for Gibbs’ relationships with Lala Dominguez and Mike Franks, and he confirmed that this storyline is far from over.
What Happened In The Latest NCIS: Origins Episode
In translation, “Vivo o Muerto” followed Gibbs and Lala as they journeyed to Tijuana to unravel the mystery of missing Navy woman Dana Rogers. It was later disclosed that Dana had been abducted when she and her friend were lured into a club by a woman named Amelia. Amelia, it seemed, was an undercover scout for human traffickers, with the club serving as a cover for the Reynosa drug cartel. Interestingly enough, this same cartel was the one Pedro Hernandez had been working for. In a surprising twist, it emerged that Hernandez and a man named Saul Ortega were now jointly running the cartel’s operations. However, upon learning of Hernandez’s link to their case, Gibbs remained remarkably composed.
Despite the promising development of locating Hernandez, Lala understandably grew anxious about Gibbs’ potential bias. This concern intensified when they deciphered the location of the women in captivity. Matters took a turn for the worse when Gibbs and Lala nearly met their end in a hail of bullets during an attack on their hotel room, just before Mike Franks arrived to lend assistance. Fortunately, the team eventually managed to free Dana and the other hostages. Unfortunately, Hernandez was nowhere to be found, and they discovered from one of the surviving guards that he had been eliminated by a sniper six months prior. The cartel had concealed this information to avoid appearing weak.
At this stage, we discovered that approximately six months prior, Leroy Jethro Gibbs had managed to pinpoint Pedro Hernandez’s whereabouts by utilizing data from a file that Mike Franks allowed him to privately examine unofficially. Recognizing that a vehicle with a partially visible plate linked to Hernandez corresponded to a car parked near a church being renovated in Baja, as depicted in a newspaper image, Gibbs ventured south of the border, surveilled the church, and took down Hernandez as he was leaving in his vehicle.
How Gibbs’ Relationships With Lala And Mike Franks Are Affected By The Pedro Hernandez Reveal
In a subtle yet significant twist on “NCIS: Origins,” it became clear (although never explicitly discussed) that Leroy Jethro Gibbs was responsible for Pedro Hernandez’s death, a revelation that drastically alters the series’ dynamics. When I chatted with David J. North, one of the showrunners alongside Gina Lucita Monreal, I was curious about how this would affect the intricate relationship between Gibbs and Lala Dominguez in future episodes.
This situation seems even more intricate. Lala is a character who wouldn’t approve of Pedro’s actions, given that he killed his entire family. She comprehends the complexity of it all, considering her past. However, team dynamics emphasize trust, and when Lala confided in Gibbs about this, it was the first time we saw Lala show emotion. Gibbs promised to bring Pedro to justice, but he didn’t reveal that he had already done so. This undoubtedly adds a twist to their relationship, without a doubt.
At the close of the first episode of NCIS: Origins, the older version of Mark Harmon’s character, Gibbs, referred to this phase of his life he’s reminiscing about as a story he dislikes telling, alluding to “her,” which seems to be Lala Dominguez. During my interview with North, he didn’t reveal much about this particular mystery, but it appears that Lala knowing the truth about Hernandez’s death could potentially be significant. Regarding whether the murder of Pedro Hernandez will cause tension between Gibbs and Mike Franks, North hinted:
Indeed, the secret that Gibbs and Frankswere believed to be destined to remain buried with them seemed undeniable. However, Lala’s discovery does have an impact; yet, the way Frank showed that file to Gibbs was not accidental, I believe. If Frank were in Gibbs’ position, he would want someone to do for him what he did for Gibbs, and that’s why he revealed it.
Previously on NCIS, it was clear that Mike Franks (portrayed by Muse Watson) was cognizant of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ actions. However, according to David North’s explanation, Franks shows no concern over his “rookie’s” deeds. Consequently, while there may be fresh aspects to delve into in their relationship, this particular angle won’t be one of them.
There’s More To Come From The Pedro Hernandez Storyline
Previously on NCIS, Season 7 and the start of Season 8 delved into the revelation that Gibbs killed Pedro Hernandez, a fact exposed by Hernandez’s adult children. This plot point could have been concluded in NCIS: Origins. However, the reference to Saul Ortega managing the Reynosa cartel with Hernandez left me questioning if this was a hint for future developments or simply an unrelated name drop. Here’s what I found out from David North:
Indeed, there’s no chance of this being a mere coincidence. Whatever transpired involving Gibbs will most likely resurface, causing him some trouble in the future.
In the upcoming episodes of NCIS, not everyone will get to discover Gibbs’ involvement in Pedro Hernandez’s death due to the events that transpire. As of now, it seems this issue hasn’t reached the main characters from Origins yet, and I’m curious about how they’ll portray this while maintaining the show’s continuity. Furthermore, if Saul Ortega is introduced, will he be as ruthless as Hernandez or possibly even more so?
The mid-season finale for “NCIS: Origins” will be shown next Monday at 10 pm ET on CBS. In case you miss it, remember that you can stream past episodes using a Paramount+ subscription over the holiday season, and also continue with other titles from their “NCIS” series.
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2024-12-10 07:09