‘NCIS: Origins’ Needs To Double Down on Gibbs and Lala’s Romance

One year into its run, NCIS: Origins has already radically changed the way viewers see Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The future team leader, played in the prequel by Austin Stowell, is still finding his footing as a field agent while coping with the loss of his family. That last element is a key part of Gibbs’ character, one that extends even into the original NCIS. It’s why it was a little surprising when, in its very first episode, Origins appeared to suggest that, shortly after losing his wife, Gibbs became very involved with his NIS partner Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino). Though Mark Harmon‘s narration kept the nature of that bond ambiguous, the rest of Season 1 set up a romance between the two agents.

Longtime NCIS fans balked at the concept of Gibbs moving on from Shannon so quickly, but Lala soon proved more than capable of going toe-to-toe with him, and their relationship became one of the strongest parts of NCIS: Origins Season 1. The two nearly kissed in the finale, and older Gibbs confirmed that he was in love with her back then — and still in love with her now. However, since then, NCIS: Origins Season 2 has kept Gibbs and Lala’s romance simmering on the backburner while introducing other love interests for them both. Still, it has to go all in on their relationship eventually.

‘NCIS: Origins’ Is Built On Gibbs & Lala’s Romance

NCIS: Origins Season 2 picks up months after the finale, but it’s immediately clear that the time jump hasn’t killed their feelings. When Lala first comes back to work after her near-fatal car accident, Gibbs is just as protective of her — perhaps even more so now — and several people within the NIS Pendleton office comment on the state of their relationship. However, Gibbs has started seeing Diane (Kathleen Kenny) — who, according to NCIS lore, will someday become his second wife — and Lala is grappling with how the accident changed her.

On top of that, the most recent episode of NCIS: Origins Season 2 saw Lala drawn closer to Manny (Miguel Gomez), Flaco’s (Scotty Tovar) driver and subordinate. Though this primarily indicates that Lala won’t avoid Flaco’s demand that she investigate a rival gang leader forever, it also could be setting up a deeper relationship between her and Manny. They were last seen sharing some loaded confessions together in a church, perhaps suggesting that, at least right now, Lala finds it easier to open up to him than she does with any of her co-workers.

Looking at the increasing number of obstacles stacked against Gibbs and Lala, it might be easy to assume NCIS: Origins will simply let their romance fall to the wayside. However, this love story is baked into the very foundation of the series, and thus needs greater development. In the very first episode of the show, older Gibbs stated, “This is the story I don’t tell… This is the story of her.” That sentiment was reiterated in the Season 1 finale, highlighting how, in the end, it all has to come back to Lala. Whatever ultimately happened between them was so painful, so life-changing, that Gibbs has kept it locked inside him for years, and is only now letting out while he’s alone in Alaska.

Had Lala died in the Season 1 finale, viewers would’ve had their answer about why Gibbs chose not to speak of her. Instead, she survived, and her relationship with Gibbs has continued to unfurl. If nothing more comes of their romantic feelings for each other, then the significance of Gibbs’ story could be diminished. While a person can be horribly affected by the loss of a close friend, NCIS: Origins has already confirmed that Gibbs still loves Lala all the way into his Alaskan retirement. Something truly game-changing has to be coming for these characters, and it won’t be a quiet end to their relationship.

Lala Can Inspire Gibbs’ Rule #1

The recent crossover between NCIS and NCIS: Origins offered updates on two characters from the latter series in the present day — Gibbs and Vera Strickland (Roma Maffia) — but kept mum on Lala’s whereabouts. This was to be expected, since it’s clearly part of the larger mystery, but it further emphasizes one of the most compelling elements of her romance with Gibbs. There’s still so much to uncover, and so many places where Lala can fit into Gibbs’ story.

NCIS: Origins has had a lot of fun exploring different aspects of the Gibbs lore. For example, the third episode of Season 2 revealed it was Ducky (played as a younger man by Adam Campbell) who ultimately gave Gibbs the inspiration to start building a boat. Then, the crossover episode saw Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) impart the famous Rule #11: “When the job’s done, walk away.” NCIS: Origins is making good on its title by weaving in the starting points of several of Gibbs’ most well-known traits.

NCIS fans know all too well that Rule #12 is “Never date a co-worker.” It’s a sentiment that could arguably come from common sense and, as seen with Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), it’s applicable in many situations. Still, the origin of Rule #11 begs the question: Did Gibbs get Rule #12 from a specific situation in his life? If he did, Lala must be the co-worker in question. It would seem out of character for Gibbs to have strong feelings for one co-worker during a formative period, only to instead go on later and fall for another co-worker so strongly that she inspires the life-defining mantra.

Beyond that key bit of lore, it would just be disappointing if nothing further happened between Gibbs and Lala. Over the course of the show thus far, they’ve gone from wary, distrustful partners to two people willing to risk everything for each other, as seen with how quickly they were to sacrifice themselves during the Pedro Hernandez investigation. They’ve been through a lot together, to the point where it’s easy to root for them even despite some initial misgivings. Though their story isn’t likely to end happily — at least not on Origins — it still deserves to be told.

With Gibbs currently involved with Diane and Lala potentially getting closer to Manny, it may be a while before the two NIS agents get further than lingering looks across the bullpen and protective gestures. Nevertheless, if NCIS: Origins is determined to let Harmons’ Gibbs complete his story, then it needs to properly dig into this romance. It is very clear that there is more to explore here. This is the thread the writers have chosen to weave the show around, and they can’t back down from it.