NCIS star Mark Harmon initially felt compelled to reprise the function of Leroy Jethro Gibbs because the narrator of the NCIS prequel collection NCIS: Origins due to his curiosity in exploring Gibbs’ historical past, particularly by way of introducing youthful Gibbs as a probationary agent within the Naval Investigative Service workplace at Camp Pendleton in 1991, within the aftermath of the murders of his daughter and spouse. Nonetheless, Harmon was additionally drawn to NCIS: Origins by the prospect to collaborate on the collection together with his son, Sean, who performed the youthful Gibbs in flashback scenes on NCIS over a number of seasons, and who now serves as an govt producer alongside his father on the prequel collection, which is now set to enter its second season on CBS.
Certainly, the casting of Austin Stowell as Gibbs on NCIS: Origins was born out of Sean’s need to give attention to the inventive course of the prequel collection together with the present’s strict adherence to continuity, as whereas Sean’s flashback scenes on NCIS are primarily set within the Nineteen Seventies, NCIS: Origins presently encompasses occasions from 1991 and 1992. Furthermore, this transition displays justified confidence in Stowell, who has clearly distinguished himself within the function of Gibbs by infusing the youthful incarnation of the character together with his personal distinctive character and bodily footprint.
Mark Harmon and His Oldest Son Introduced the Youthful Gibbs to Life on ‘NCIS’
Within the first 5 seasons of NCIS, the function of a youthful Leroy Jethro Gibbs is performed in flashbacks by the now 73-year-old Mark Harmon. Harmon’s most notable flashback look got here within the two-part third-season finale “Hiatus,” during which an explosion on a overseas ship places Gibbs right into a coma. Whereas in a comatose state, Gibbs has flashbacks of being together with his daughter Kelly and spouse Shannon, who have been each murdered in February 1991.
“Hiatus Half II” turned the primary NCIS episode to disclose that Kelly and Shannon have been murdered by a Mexican drug supplier named Pedro Hernandez, who was then killed by Gibbs with a sniper rifle in Mexico, an important occasion that was revisited within the “Vivo o Muerto” episode of NCIS: Origins.
Sean Harmon first appeared because the youthful Gibbs within the Season 4 episode “Heartland,” which reveals the start of Gibbs’ relationship with Shannon, whom Gibbs married in 1982. Following “Heartland,” Sean appeared in 5 extra episodes between the sixth and ninth seasons earlier than making his last look as Gibbs in a Season 18 episode, “Every part Begins Someplace,” which is most notable for exhibiting the primary assembly between Ducky and Gibbs.
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Nonetheless, whereas all of Sean’s flashback appearances on NCIS are memorable and touching to various levels, essentially the most spectacular collaboration between Sean and his father on NCIS is featured within the Season 9 episodes “Engaged (Half I)” and “Engaged (Half II),” which alternate between Gibbs’ present-day pursuit of a terrorist cell and his reminiscences of present process Marine Fight Coaching at Camp Lejeune in 1972.
Within the 1972 flashback scenes, Gibbs turns into infatuated with Non-public Joan Matteson, a younger lady with whom Gibbs develops a rising bond, till Gibbs receives the surprising information that Joan was killed in a helicopter crash whereas headed to her first deployment in Okinawa.
The tragic occasion highlights the diploma to which Gibbs’ profession and life have been by destiny. The haunting preoccupation that older Gibbs has together with his fleeting reminiscences of Joan in these episodes culminates within the emotionally overpowering last scene of “Half II,” which ends with Gibbs strolling throughout an unlimited army cemetery earlier than stopping and kneeling down to position flowers in entrance of Joan’s gravestone.
Sean Harmon Developed the Idea For ‘NCIS: Origins’
For the now 37-year-old Sean Harmon, the expertise of taking part in younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS led him to imagine that an prolonged give attention to Gibbs’ early years might kind the idea for a profitable collection. Sean’s unique idea for NCIS: Origins had the present starting in 1991, with Gibbs struggling to return to phrases with the trauma of shedding his daughter and spouse whereas attempting to carry out his investigative duties. After sharing this concept together with his father, the elder Harmon instructed that the potential collection would profit from having longtime NCIS writers David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal as creators and show-runners.
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Certainly, whereas the concept for NCIS: Origins was conceived by Sean, he’s solely credited on the collection as an govt producer, alongside his father. Furthermore, whereas Sean could be very a lot concerned with the inventive course of, he has no intention of showing as an actor in any future episodes. In a 2024 interview with TV Insider, Sean described his important imaginative and prescient for NCIS: Origins. He stated:
“I imagine that only a few individuals are really ‘born leaders’ and are as an alternative cast into them, and Gibbs is not any exception. Digging into the back-story of ‘the boss’ appeared like an excellent alternative to seek out out why Gibbs turned out the way in which he did and who was round to affect him on that journey.”
Stream NCIS on Paramount+, Hulu, & Netflix. Stream NCIS: Origins on Paramount+.
NCIS: Origins
- Launch Date
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October 14, 2024
- Community
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CBS
- Administrators
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Niels Arden Oplev, John Terlesky, Diana Valentine, Edward Ornelas, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Lionel Coleman, Loren Yaconelli, Pete Chatmon, Pamela Romanowsky, Ruben Garcia, Jessica Lowrey
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Kyle Schmid
Particular Agent Mike Franks
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Mariel Molino
Particular Agent Lala Dominguez
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Tyla Abercrumbie
FOS Officer Mary Jo Hayes
