The NCIS and NCIS: Origins crossover had a lot of potential — and while I appreciated the creativity behind swapping the usual time slots to connect the storylines, the execution left me wanting more.
The night started with Origins airing at 8 instead of 9, opening with Gibbs (Mark Harmon) writing in his journal and talking to a dog. With all the hype about his “not being alone anymore,” I hoped this meant we’d see him reconnect with Lala. Seeing Gibbs back on screen brought mixed emotions — it was great to see him again after so long, but his brief appearance felt underused. With all the build-up to his return, it was disappointing that they never followed through to have him appear on NCIS for the conclusion of the case.
The case itself was intriguing — one of Gibbs’ early investigations from the 1990s that was believed solved after a confession. In the present day, the same man escapes custody, leading the current NCIS team to reopen the case and uncover what really happened. It was the perfect setup for a full-circle story, and it felt like a missed opportunity not to have Gibbs there to see it resolved.
Emotionally, Origins carried the stronger weight. Seeing Franks’ frustration and reaction to the case added depth and heart to the storyline. But on the continuity side, things felt off. McGee didn’t seem to recognize who Franks was, even though canonically, he’s met him before. And using the same actors for the lab staff in both timelines broke the realism — after 33 years, they would have visibly aged, and it pulled me out of the story.
What would have made the crossover truly satisfying is if Gibbs had appeared on NCIS as well — ideally working alongside the current team, like we saw with Vera’s return. Bringing in an older Lala would have been another great touch, connecting both shows emotionally and tying the past to the present.
Overall, the crossover had strong pacing and some heartfelt moments, especially in Origins, but it missed a chance to fully honor Gibbs’ legacy and the emotional potential of the story. I’d definitely watch another crossover, but next time, I hope they bring Gibbs into both parts — and give Lala the return she deserves.