NCIS: Origins

Folks who are fans of the original series don't always understand the medium.

As I read the reviews, I'd like to address a few things.

First, Stowell is one inch taller than Harmon. One inch. Also, when a person gets older, they often lose height. One inch makes little difference. However, the original cast-mates were taller making Harmon look less imposing than Stowell. This is a casting choice to give a character a storied feel.

Second, it doesn't have the same feel as NCIS on purpose. This is an origin story. Gibbs was a very different character in a very different time. You're literally a couple stories into the understanding of who he was and how he came to be the person you knew. Think of doing a story about yourself in grade 5 vs. You now. Would it look exactly like who you are now? I know of boys growing up as 8 yr olds with bowties who ended up bikers. This is the point to the series.

Give the series time to show you the progression. I like the feel of this series so far. I find it well-written, well-acted, fairly true to period and fairly true to the origin we knew of Gibbs. He will grow into the person we know. I look forward to watching more and seeing how this develops.

Get out of your own way and go for the ride...enjoy.

Will it be perfect? No... nothing is. Will there be inconsistencies... probably. So far so good though. It shows a vulnerable Gibbs, everyone is used to the seasoned, experienced Team Leader, and we giggled when Muse Watson as Franks called him Probie in the Mothership, but now we actually get to see the "McGee" moments of Gibbs! Just settle down and enjoy it!

And for those screaming about 4-5" height difference, blah blah! Mark Harmon is 6'0", Austin Stowell is 6'1" hardly a complete difference and Gibbs by the time we meet him in the Mothership could have shrunk an inch, we all lose some height as we age!

I actually may like "Origins" better than any other NCIS show, although I do miss "Hawaii". I never liked "New Orleans" or "Sydney", although one reviewer was missing "New Orleans". Yes, this Gibbs is wooden, but he's also new and a bit "damaged". I do like the females and back then, I worked for some female GS13 or GM14 females within DoD. I really like actress Molino's character (never heard of her before now) plus she's very attractive. The other female Agent didn't get much screen-time but remember her from "The Blacklist".

Being somewhat of a "nerd", I'm looking and admiring the older 1991-vintage props, wondering if the handguns are accurate (appear to be era-correct SIG P228 aka M11 handguns, although actor Kyle is carrying a revolver which was also common for cops to have used back then.

Good luck to the series. So far, I'm liking it and thanks for releasing 2 episodes in one day, to start.

For those expecting the usual action-packed, lighthearted NCIS, NCIS: Origins takes a darker, more introspective turn. It explores the early life of Gibbs, charting his transformation from a man shattered by loss to one who finds purpose again. The storytelling is masterful, shifting between past and present to gradually reveal the full picture of his journey. It's intense, layered, and deeply emotional, offering a raw look at Gibbs' origins. Every episode so far has been gripping, and I've thoroughly enjoyed this powerful and beautifully told series. This deserves to be renewed for many more seasons!

I like the storyline, which is unlike all of the others NCIS series. This one tells a story. You can't just watch a couple episodes to get the picture. You have to actually watch and pay attention. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next episode. Mark Harmon narrating as he is reading from his "diary" or maybe a book he is writing about his life gives it that extra 👍🏼 You learn a lot about THE GIBBS! Why he seems to almost always have no expression, rarely smiles or why he has high expectations. This show is making that very clear. The cast in the show is always a good match. High praise from me on this one!