Why NCIS ORIGINS’ Young Gibbs Is Totally Unrecognizable!

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In NCIS: ORIGINS, viewers meet a very different Leroy Jethro Gibbs than the confident, self-assured version known from the original NCIS series. According to the showrunners, this shift is intentional and central to the story they’re telling.

“These characters are in the process of discovering the truth within themselves, which is especially compelling for Gibbs,” said Gina Lucita Montreal in an interview with Movieguide®. “The Gibbs we know from the original show is certain of who he is. In ORIGINS, he hasn’t become that person yet. He’s still figuring out what he believes and what truth means to him. That journey is not only interesting but also relatable—it’s something we all go through.”

This internal struggle comes to a head in the season finale, where Gibbs and his team face a critical choice: lie to cover up Gibbs’ past actions or come clean and face the consequences. Ultimately, Gibbs chooses honesty—a pivotal moment that reflects his ongoing evolution, as highlighted in Movieguide®’s review.

Montreal added that ORIGINS places a strong emphasis on the emotional toll of military work. “We’re interested in exploring what goes on inside someone’s head and how those struggles shape who they become,” she said.

The finale also tests the loyalty of those closest to Gibbs, particularly Special Agent Lala Dominguez. Her character faces serious consequences for standing by him.

“There’s a lot of tension and disagreement,” said Mariel Molino, who plays Dominguez, in an interview with TV Insider. “The team risks losing everything—their jobs, their freedom. You see people at their worst. Lala is torn between her friendship with Gibbs and her duty.”

With ORIGINS renewed for a second season—and a dramatic cliffhanger ending to the first—fans can look forward to even deeper character development and more high-stakes drama in the episodes ahead.