As the premiere date for theNCISprequel,NCIS: Origins,looms, you may wonder if you need to watch the original to understand the prequel.NCIS: Originswill explore the backstory of thecentralNCIScharacter, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon in the flagshipNCISseries for 19 years. Harmon established a robust presence as Gibbs during his era with the series, and while the actor can’t reprise the role, Harmon will return to narrate the series. In the prequel, Austin Stowell plays Gibbs, and his characterization promises a more vulnerable character representation.
Stowell will offer a new version of the character to theNCIS: Originscast, but he will tap into a rich history.NCISaudiences are familiar with Gibbs' background. Still, the question is whether those without much exposure to Harmon’s character must be familiar with Gibbs to enjoy his new series. It would be a tall feat for anyone to fully familiarize with the character, who has manyseasons ofNCISepisodes shaping his persona.
You Don’t Need To Watch NCIS To Watch NCIS: Origins
But An Understanding Of The Flagship Would Enhance The Prequel
You don’t need to watchNCISto enjoy the prequel. While a familiarity with the flagship series’ main character would certainly enhance one’s appreciation for it,theNCIS: Originsstorywill stand apart. Even ifOriginsheavily relies on theNCISnarrative to set up Stowell’s Gibbs, the dialogue will likely explain it. Plus, the series will be procedural, meaning it will have a case-of-the-week premise, and audiences can tune in for the procedural aspect while getting to know the Gibbs character.
NCIS: Originspremieres on CBS on Monday, October 14, at 10 pm Eastern.
CBS likely considered the possibility that people would be tuning intoNCISfor the first time when watchingOrigins, and crafted a story that would be accessible to all levels of familiarity with the franchise.NCIS: Originswill add new themes and charactersto the franchise while maintaining Gibbs' rich story for fans. Moreover, if those tuning into theNCISfranchise for the first time enjoy what they see, they could pick up the series chronologically, jumping into theNCISbackdoor pilot onJAGorNCISseason 1 after watchingNCIS: Origins.
How NCIS Will Inform Gibbs’ Prequel Story
NCIS Revealed Glimpses Into Gibbs' Tragic History
Whether a familiarity with it is necessary to enjoyNCIS: Originsor not,Gibbs’ story fromNCISwill inform the prequel. The events thatNCIS: Originscovers are the main elements of the character’s backstory. We expectedNCIS: Originsto focus on what happened to Gibbs’ wife and daughter inNCISsince it takes place the same year they died, andthe officialNCIS: Originstrailerconfirmed that. The clips show flashbacks to moments Gibbs shares with his wife and daughter, Shannon and Kelly, confirming the series will tackle the narrative.
The story of Shannon and Kelly’s murder is a huge factor in theNCIS: Originsstory.
The trailer also included clips of other characters talking about the“newly-minted”agent, saying that he failed his psych evaluation and lost his wife and daughter. The story of Shannon and Kelly’s murder is a huge factor in theNCIS: Originsstory, so the backstory fromNCISwill inform the prequel. Over the two decades that Harmon played Gibbs in the series,NCISexplored moments of the character’s earlier life that are essential in setting up the person he became.NCIS: Originsundoubtedly plans to build on existing moments, versus rewriting the character.
What Parts Of Gibbs’ Story NCIS: Origins Will Likely Cover
Origins Will Show Gibbs Becoming An NCIS Agent
NCIS: Originswill take on the stories of Gibbs’ tragic past, and one stands out. The “Hiatus” double episode revealed that Gibbs had a wife and child, but that a drug dealer murdered Shannon and Kelly. They died in a car accident after their driver, assigned to protect them, took a bullet to the head. The episode was the first to delve into the former Marine’s past, exploring how the Gunnery Sergeant extracted revenge. Other episodes explored more pieces of the agent’s past untilMark Harmon exitedNCIS.
Watch the franchise reveal Gibbs' intimate backstory inNCISseason 3, episodes 23 and 24, “Hiatus,” on Paramount+.
NCIS: Originswill definitely cover Shannon and Kelly’s murder, promising to explore how that affected Gibbs’ choice to become an NCIS agent. Gibbs followed in the footsteps of the man who investigated his family’s death, Mike Franks, played by Muse Watson in the original series.OriginscastKyle Schmid as Watson’s character, meaning the show will undoubtedly cover pivotal moments between Gibbs and his former mentor. If tuning in for the first time, however, one should sit back and enjoy the new aspects of theNCISfranchise in the 1990s setting.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
NCIS: Origins
NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, preceding the events of the original series. The series introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs as a new special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. Under the leadership of NCIS legend Mike Franks, Gibbs navigates his role within a tenacious, unconventional team.
