I didn’t expect to binge four episodes of NCIS: Origins Season 2 in one sitting, but here we are.
I’d fallen behind on CBS’s returning lineup, and Origins wasn’t exactly top of my list. I liked NCIS Season 1 more than I expected, but it had problems — especially the lead, who looked like he was being waterboarded.
Fast-forward a month later, and I’ve circled back to it. What do you know — I binged all four episodes in one sitting.
Watching all four episodes proves that there is something different about NCIS: Origins, especially this second season.
The show has doubled down on everything that makes it amazing and fixed what wasn’t working.
Lala Is Back!
Lala is the primary reason this story exists, as Gibbs admits in the series premiere. She is what makes it work, but the NCIS: Origins Season 1 finale made it seem like her story was over.
We learn in the NCIS: Origins Season 2 premiere that she indeed did survive the accident, but not without serious scars, both physical and emotional.
In the interim between the seasons, I wasn’t sure if she should return. I’ve seen many shows cower from killing off main characters for numerous seasons, leading to severe stalling and dilution of the narrative.
My biggest concern was that NCIS: Origins would keep Lala around, and it would do a disservice to the narrative.
That’s on the one hand. On the other hand, it felt like a wasted opportunity to have a character this central to the narrative die so quickly. It felt like we’d barely gotten to know her; thus, Gibbs’ claim that she was the reason behind this story didn’t feel earned.
So learning that she’d survived left me with mixed feelings — until the second episode. The show capitalizes on her near-death experience, using it to propel the narrative. If the Lala from Season 1 was a force, the current one is a hurricane.
And Finally, Integral as Teased
She is more open, takes risks, and is doing something that matters to her. This has introduced a season-long arc that sets NCIS: Origins apart from other shows in the same genre. Many of them take forever to introduce a decent serialized arc, and when it’s introduced, it’s explored sporadically.
Her involvement with 63rd Street Chicales introduces an element of unpredictable danger that makes NCIS: Origins Season 2 exciting to watch.
Meanwhile, we get our weekly fix of crime-solving through the weekly case, and they have been quite interesting. Not that the opposite is something the NCIS universe could be accused of.
Whether it was the right call in the long term remains to be seen, but so far, it’s paying off.
NCIS: Origins Fixed Gibbs
But quite possibly the best decision this season is the fact that Gibbs doesn’t look like he’s watching puppies getting killed in a loop. This season allows him to show a wide range of emotions, and I can’t overstate what a huge change this makes.
It’s like someone read my Gibbs rant and decided to give him a personality transplant. The show feels brighter somehow. I know that’s weird to say about a show built on death and murder, but that’s how it feels.
Gibbs smiles, gets angry, frustrated, and sad. While he will forever mourn the family he lost, life is for the living, and it’s best lived in the present.
This change allows viewers to enjoy the comedic turns without feeling like they’re laughing at a suffering man.
This season feels like growth, and I’m here for it.
The Show Leans Harder Into Its Cast’s Strengths
Another strong suit that has been strengthened since NCIS: Origins Season 1 is the show’s ability to write for its actors. It’s rare to see procedurals lean into the physicality of the actors.
There are some unique aspects of an actor that make a character feel real, and not just a description on the page.
For example, the show integrates Randy’s physical build into his dialogue, or Cliff’s eyes into other characters’ dialogue, making it feel like they have known each other for a long time without saying, ‘And how long have we known each other?’
A character like Franks is more fiery than ever, Mary Jo is the heart of the team, and even Gail is more part of the team now.
It’s the kind of ensemble work that makes you forget you’re watching a procedural — and start feeling like a part of the team.
NCIS: Origins Is What Executives Have Been Looking For
There has been a deliberate push for creators to produce shows that appeal to traditional viewers and also work well on streaming platforms.
NCIS: Origins feels like the first time this balance has been struck. It has succeeded where others, such as Countdown and Pulse, have failed spectacularly.
NCIS: Origins is a fun, dark, humorous, light, and cohesive series. These qualities make it incredibly bingeable, giving it a chance to connect with the streaming generation.
