Each nice TV character has a previous — some we’ve seen in flashbacks or tales advised in passing, others stay tantalizing mysteries.
That’s why the concept behind NCIS: Origins is so irresistible. Attending to see a younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs in motion and determining who he was earlier than turning into the chief we all know is a fan’s dream come true.
And with the upcoming Dexter: Unique Sin set to discover how a younger Dexter Morgan turned a serial killer, it’s clear that TV is embracing the attract of origin tales.
It makes us marvel: What if different TV legends acquired the identical remedy? From daring leaders to unpredictable renegades, there are such a lot of characters whose early days may very well be simply as compelling.
What formed them? Who have been they earlier than their defining moments? Did they all the time comply with the identical ethical code, or did they stumble alongside the way in which?
These questions maintain us hooked on exhibits like NCIS, and so they’d make for unbelievable backstories for different TV icons.
So, we’ve rounded up 23 legendary characters we’d like to see step into the highlight for their very own origin tales. Think about the drama, the twists, and the moments that turned these names into icons.
Raymond Reddington — The Blacklist
Raymond Reddington from The Blacklist is the last word enigma — a grasp manipulator, felony mastermind, and occasional savior, all rolled into one impeccably dressed package deal.
Over time, Purple has shared numerous tales about his previous — some outrageous, others intriguing, and all leaving followers wanting extra.
A prequel might deliver these tantalizing tidbits to life, exploring how he went from Naval intelligence to one of many world’s most wished fugitives.
Think about a younger Purple outsmarting foes, forging alliances, and planting the seeds of his notorious blacklist.
It’s a narrative that virtually writes itself.
Watch The Blacklist On-line
Boyd Crowder — Justified
Boyd Crowder from Justified is the last word wild card — equal elements attraction, menace, and twisted morality.
However what led him to grow to be the outlaw we couldn’t assist however root for?
A prequel might discover Boyd’s early days in Harlan County, from his tumultuous upbringing to the roots of his unstable friendship-turned-rivalry with Raylan Givens.
Was there ever a second Boyd might’ve taken a special path, or was he all the time destined to dwell on the sting of the legislation?
His backstory could be a gritty story of survival, ambition, and the sophisticated code that makes Boyd unforgettable.
Watch Justified On-line
Lorne Malvo — Fargo
Lorne Malvo from Fargo is the embodiment of chaos — an enigmatic, ruthless predator who leaves a path of destruction wherever he goes.
However what made him this manner? A prequel might discover the origin of his cold-blooded philosophy, uncovering the occasions that turned him right into a grasp manipulator and unflinching killer.
Was he all the time this calculated, or did one thing — or somebody — push him to embrace the darkness?
A backstory for Malvo could be a chilling dive into the making of considered one of TV’s most terrifying and interesting characters, from his first schemes to his earliest victims.
Watch Fargo On-line
Ducky Mallard — NCIS
Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard from NCIS was the center and soul of the staff, abandoning a legacy as wealthy and storied because the circumstances he solved.
However what about his personal story? A prequel might discover his early profession as a health worker, his time within the Royal Military Medical Corps, and the mysterious escapades he usually hinted at.
NCIS has already confirmed it may possibly ship wealthy, compelling backstories, as seen with Gibbs by way of NCIS: Origins, and Ducky’s could be no exception.
From his dashing youth to his early ardour for forensic pathology, Ducky’s backstory would rejoice the life and legacy of considered one of NCIS’s most beloved characters.
Watch NCIS On-line
Hetty Lange — NCIS
Henrietta “Hetty” Lange from NCIS: Los Angeles is the definition of enigmatic — an excellent operations supervisor with a previous steeped in thriller.
Whereas the sequence has dropped hints about her time in espionage and her world connections, there’s a lot extra to discover.
How did Hetty rise by way of the ranks to grow to be probably the most revered figures in intelligence? A prequel might dig into her early missions, the alliances she constructed, and the secrets and techniques she retains shut.
Once more, as NCIS did with Gibbs, Hetty’s backstory could be a goldmine for followers craving extra of her legendary story.
Watch NCIS: Los Angeles On-line
Jack Bauer — 24
Jack Bauer from 24 is the last word motion hero — a relentless counterterrorism agent prepared to sacrifice every thing to save lots of lives.
However what formed him into the person who might deal with all of it earlier than the nonstop adrenaline and unimaginable selections?
A prequel might dive into Jack’s early days as a soldier and his time within the CIA, exploring the missions that cast his steely resolve and the private losses that hardened his edges.
How did Jack grow to be the man who’s all the time one step forward, regardless of the percentages? His backstory could be a pulse-pounding exploration of responsibility, hazard, and future.
Watch 24 On-line
The Smoking Man — X-Information
The Smoking Man from The X-Information is the last word puppet grasp, pulling strings from the shadows and shaping the world with a cigarette in hand.
However how did he grow to be the person behind the conspiracy? A prequel might delve into his early years in authorities, the pivotal moments that led him into the Syndicate, and his first style of energy.
What turned him into such a ruthless manipulator?
Exploring his climb to the highest and the alternatives that destroyed his humanity would make for a darkish, fascinating origin story worthy of the person who stored Mulder and Scully guessing.
Watch The X-Information On-line
Mr. X — The X-Information
Mr. X from The X-Information is among the sequence’ most enigmatic figures — a shadowy informant who helped Mulder navigate the murky waters of presidency conspiracies.
However what led him to take such a harmful path? A prequel might reveal the person behind the cryptic warnings, exploring his time throughout the authorities, the secrets and techniques he uncovered, and the betrayals that pushed him to danger every thing.
What made him determine to grow to be a reluctant ally to Mulder?
Mr. X’s backstory could be a gripping story of ethical battle, hidden agendas, and the excessive stakes of understanding an excessive amount of.
Watch The X-Information On-line
Frank Black — Millennium
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Frank Black from Millennium is considered one of TV’s most fascinating characters — an excellent FBI profiler with a knack for getting contained in the heads of killers.
However his story goes far past catching criminals. Why are darkish forces so fixated on him just like the sinister Lucy Butler? When did the road between his present and the supernatural begin to blur?
A prequel might dig into the roots of his capacity and reveal the moments that drew demons into his life.
Was Frank all the time destined to wrestle with each evil and the unexplainable? We’d love to search out out.
Negan — The Strolling Useless
Negan from The Strolling Useless is considered one of TV’s most notorious villains — charismatic, ruthless, and filled with surprises. However earlier than the bat and the leather-based jacket, who was Negan?
We’ve seen glimpses of his previous, however a full prequel might dive into his life earlier than the apocalypse.
What was his marriage to Lucille actually like? How did he go from an everyday man to a frontrunner who dominated with concern?
Exploring the cracks in his humanity and the alternatives that turned him into the person we like to hate would make for a brutal, gripping origin story.
Watch The Strolling Useless On-line
Don Draper – Mad Males
Don Draper from Mad Males is a grasp of reinvention — a slick promoting genius with a previous as murky as his whiskey glass.
We all know bits and items of his backstory, like how he shed his id as Dick Whitman after a life-altering incident throughout the Korean Battle, however there’s a lot left unexplored.
What pushed him to take such an excessive path? A prequel might dive into his troubled youth, his time within the army, and the defining second when Dick turned Don.
It’s the form of wealthy, character-driven drama that will be as fascinating as the person himself.
Watch Mad males On-line
Omar Little — The Wire
Omar Little from The Wire is considered one of TV’s most unforgettable antiheroes — a street-smart, stick-up man with a strict ethical code and a knack for outwitting everybody.
However what formed this iconic character?
A prequel might discover Omar’s youth in Baltimore, revealing how he developed his distinctive sense of justice and his status as essentially the most feared man within the sport.
What have been the defining moments that turned him into the legend we got here to know?
Omar’s backstory could be a uncooked, gripping story of survival, loyalty, and the making of a contemporary Robin Hood.
Watch The Wire On-line
The Man in Black — Westworld
The Man in Black from Westworld is a labyrinth of contradictions — a ruthless, calculating pressure with layers of ache, obsession, and remorse beneath his chilly exterior.
However what concerning the man earlier than the park?
A prequel might discover William’s rise from a younger, idealistic investor to the hardened determine we got here to know.
What twisted his love for Westworld into one thing so darkish? How did his relationship with Delos, his household, and his personal morality evolve — or unravel?
The making of the Man in Black could be a posh, haunting journey into energy, ambition, and the price of dropping oneself.
Watch Westworld On-line
Sylar — Heroes
Sylar from Heroes is the villain you like to hate — a watchmaker-turned-serial killer with a terrifying starvation for energy.
However what set him on this darkish path? A prequel might delve into Gabriel Grey’s youth, exploring the frustrations of feeling bizarre in a world the place he longed to be extraordinary.
What was the second that unlocked his lethal obsession with skills? How did his relationship along with his mom and his first encounters with others like him form his descent into villainy?
Sylar’s origin story could be a chilling, tragic have a look at the making of a monster.
Watch Heroes On-line
Sybil Branson — Downton Abbey
Sybil Branson from Downton Abbey was a trailblazer, defying societal norms and household expectations to comply with her coronary heart. However what sparked her fiery independence?
A prequel might discover Sybil’s early years because the Crawley household’s youngest daughter, highlighting the moments that ignited her ardour for social justice and equality.
How did her reference to Tom Branson develop in these first stolen glances? And what pushed her to take the daring leap right into a love that challenged each conference?
Sybil’s backstory could be a heartfelt journey of braveness, conviction, and the making of Downton’s most rebellious soul.
Watch Downton Abbey On-line
Philip and Elizabeth Jennings — The Individuals
Philip and Elizabeth Jennings from The Individuals are the last word double brokers — seemingly bizarre suburban dad and mom residing extraordinary lives as KGB spies.
However how did they get there? A prequel might dive into their coaching days within the Soviet Union, exploring the sacrifices, indoctrination, and private struggles that molded them into elite operatives.
What was their first mission collectively? How did their sophisticated partnership evolve into love?
Their backstory could be a tense, emotional deep dive into the making of two of TV’s most compelling spies, mixing espionage with uncooked humanity.
Watch The Individuals On-line
Maggie Walsh — Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Maggie Walsh from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was greater than only a psychology professor — she was a chilly, calculating scientist with a harmful obsession for management.
However how did she go from academia to working the secretive Initiative?
A prequel might discover her transformation from an excellent scholar to the mastermind behind a few of Sunnydale’s darkest experiments.
What drove her to blur the traces between science and morality? And the way did she develop the imaginative and prescient for her Frankenstein-like creations?
Maggie’s origin story could be an enchanting have a look at how ambition and hubris turned her into considered one of Buffy’s most chilling adversaries.
Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer On-line
Angela Abar – The Watchmen
Angela Abar from Watchmen is a powerhouse — a masked vigilante with a coronary heart filled with conviction and a previous filled with secrets and techniques.
Whereas we’ve seen glimpses of her historical past, there’s a lot extra to uncover. What drove her to placed on the Sister Evening masks?
A prequel might discover her time as a police officer in Vietnam, the traumas and triumphs that formed her worldview, and the way her household’s legacy intertwined together with her personal combat for justice.
Angela’s backstory could be a gritty, emotional rollercoaster that dives deep into what made her considered one of TV’s most compelling heroes.
Watch The Sopranos On-line
Livia Soprano — The Sopranos
Livia Soprano from The Sopranos is a personality who redefines the time period “sophisticated.”
Because the manipulative matriarch of the Soprano household, her sharp tongue and icy demeanor left scars on everybody round her — however what made Livia the way in which she was?
A prequel might uncover her early years, exploring her tumultuous marriage to Johnny Boy, her struggles as a younger mom, and the seeds of the poisonous relationships we noticed unfold.
Was she all the time this calculating, or did life’s hardships form her? Livia’s backstory might provide a chilling have a look at the lady who loomed so massive over Tony’s life.
Watch The Sopranos On-line
C.J. Cregg — The West Wing
C.J. Cregg from The West Wing is the gold commonplace for grace beneath strain — a sharp-witted press secretary who might deal with any curveball with poise and a killer comeback.
However what formed the lady who stood on the podium and spoke for the chief of the free world?
A prequel might discover her journey from a California child to a communications powerhouse. What have been her early profession struggles? How did she hone her no-nonsense perspective?
Watching C.J. rise by way of the ranks, taking up sexism and skepticism together with her signature wit, could be as inspiring as it could be entertaining.
Watch The West Wing On-line
Rowena MacLeod — Supernatural
Rowena MacLeod from Supernatural is a pressure of nature — highly effective, crafty, and completely unapologetic.
As a centuries-old witch with a aptitude for drama, she’s left an unforgettable mark on the sequence. However what was life like earlier than she turned the queen of spells and schemes?
A prequel might take us again to her early days in Scotland, her troubled relationship with the Grand Coven, and the heartbreak that hardened her.
Think about watching a younger Rowena uncover her immense energy, face betrayal, and lay the groundwork for the fiery, fabulous witch we all know and love.
Now, that’s a spellbinding story.
Watch Supernatural On-line
Ella Lopez — Lucifer
Ella Lopez from Lucifer is the form of character who lights up each scene together with her quirky humor and large coronary heart.
However behind that sunny exterior lies a previous that’s solely been hinted at — an advanced household, a historical past of darkish struggles, and an surprising connection to the supernatural.
A prequel might peel again the layers of her journey, displaying how she turned the forensic genius we like.
What formed her boundless religion and resilience? And the way did she find yourself with that secretive guardian angel?
Ella’s backstory could be a mixture of coronary heart, humor, and a splash of celestial thriller.
Watch Lucifer On-line
Gus Fring — Breaking Dangerous
Gus Fring from Breaking Dangerous is a person of thriller — a calculated, meticulous drug kingpin who hides his ruthless nature behind a well mannered smile and a fast-food empire.
However how did he grow to be the person who all the time stays ten steps forward?
A prequel might discover Gus’s early days in Chile, the origins of his partnership with Max, and the occasions that set him on a path of vengeance in opposition to the cartel.
What formed his chilly, exact strategy to energy? Gus’s backstory could be a gripping story of ambition, tragedy, and the beginning of a felony mastermind.
Watch Breaking Dangerous On-line
Who’s Subsequent for the NCIS: Origins Therapy?
These 23 characters are simply the tip of the iceberg. TV is filled with legends whose pasts beg to be explored.
The chances for origin tales are limitless, from untold tragedies to game-changing moments.
However what about you? Who’s the character you’d like to see get the deep-dive remedy?
Drop your picks within the feedback, and let’s maintain the dialog going.