Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “Cecilia” are forward!
When NCIS: Origins premiered final October, Mark Harmon’s older Leroy Jethro Gibbs knowledgeable viewers that the story he was telling within the prequel was about “her,” i.e. Mariel Molino’s Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez. Contemplating Lala wasn’t talked about as soon as throughout Gibbs’ time on the unique NCIS, there should have been a fairly good purpose why he didn’t really feel comfy telling this story till now.
Now we lastly have context for this because of the NCIS: Origins Season 1 finale having simply completed airing on the 2025 TV schedule. After watching the episode early, although, I needed to know what this devastating twist for Lala means for Origins Season 2, which is formally on the best way. Luckily, showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal had been in a position to shed mild shortly thereafter on this stunning second.
How The NCIS: Showrunners Got here Up With What Occurred To Lala
Within the closing minutes of “Cecilia,” Lala Dominguez crashed her automobile to keep away from hitting a bit lady who ran out onto the road to chase after her canine. It was unclear if Lala was nonetheless alive within the overturned automobile or if the crash had killer her, and North and Monreal had been unwilling to clear issues up with me once I interviewed them. What they did inform me was why they determined to go on this course somewhat than have Lala get harm whereas out within the subject, with Monreal saying:
I believe we knew that we might have put her in a harmful state of affairs with the job, and that might have been extra anticipated. So we did know early on if we had been going to do the story that we wished it to be extra of an on a regular basis accident. As a result of it is one thing that would have occurred to anyone, and I believe it is relatable to anyone.
Lala’s automobile crash occurred as she was on her technique to inform Austin Stowell’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs that he was now not being investigated by Lara Macy. Claire Berger’s youthful model of the character beforehand performed by Louise Lobard in NCIS was attending to have Gibbs arrested after he turned over the sniper rifle he used to kill Hernandez. However Lala, who had been working with Mike Franks and Randy to assist cowl for Gibbs, confirmed up at her good buddy’s home to take the rifle away. Macy pulled her gun on Lala, who proceeded to plead that Gibbs not be taken in, even falsely claiming that she helped him plan Hernandez’s homicide. That’s how far she was prepared to go to guard him.
Lara Macy relented, each as a result of she was swayed into agreeing that true justice had been distributed in opposition to Hernandez, and in addition presumably as a result of Lala additionally mentioned she’d advocate for Macy to be recruited into NCIS, which we all know is the place she finally finally ends up. Sadly, Lala by no means acquired to share this excellent news with Gibbs. Gina Lucita Monreal continued:
We’ve got these tragedies or occasions in our life that occur in a cut up second and it simply modifications every part. assume that is type of a common factor that all of us cope with, and so we thought that might be not solely stunning, but additionally very relatable.
Since Leroy Jethro Gibbs by no means realized that Lara Macy had protected him till almost 20 years later within the NCIS Season 6 two-parter “Legend,” that additionally means Lala Dominguez by no means acquired to inform him what she did for him. Does that strengthen the chance that she’s useless? Perhaps, however don’t go inserting any bets simply but.
How Lala’s Accident Will Have an effect on NCIS: Origins Season 2
One factor is obvious, although: wherever issues stand with Lala Dominguez in NCIS: Origins Season 2, what occurred to her goes have a serious impression on the prequel’s different important characters. Once I inquired about this with David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal, the previous began off saying:
Nicely, it is gonna have an effect on every part, proper? It doesn’t matter what Lala’s destiny finally ends up being, it’s a enormous second that is going to ship shock waves by means of your complete crew. So now we have our work lower out for us, particularly with Diane looming.
As Lala was driving to achieve Gibbs on the home the place he used to dwell along with his spouse and daughter, Gibbs was assembly the true property agent his father had employed to promote the home. She complimented his eyes and launched herself as Diane. That’s proper, we simply met the youthful model of the girl who will turn out to be Gibbs’ second spouse. This could additionally clarify why, apart from the virtually kiss Gibbs and Lala shared within the Season 1 finale, issues by no means progressed romantically between the 2 even when Lala continues to be alive. North continued:
We plan on honoring canon, however we need to come again and simply hold telling these characters’ tales and hold having enjoyable. Regardless of the best way Season 1 ended, I do know once we come again, we’ll discover a technique to discover some lightness and a few humor and simply do what we hold doing what we have been doing.
The older Gibbs narrated on the finish of “Cecilia” that he didn’t study what Lala had accomplished for him “till later,” presumably not lengthy after the Lara Macy reveal in 2009. However the truth that Lala had “saved” Gibbs wasn’t what made him love her, with the older model of the character saying that he at all times cherished her and nonetheless does. So whereas we all know that these two aren’t destined to be collectively, my fingers are crossed that they at the very least get to talk to one another once more, and that Lala will go on to dwell a for much longer life.
Though NCIS: Origins Season 2 doesn’t have a selected premiere date set but, rely on it to air on CBS alongside NCIS Season 23 someday this fall. That’s additionally once we can count on the arrival of the Paramount+-exclusive collection NCIS: Tony & Ziva, and NCIS: Sydney Season 3 can be on the best way.