When NCIS: Origins was announced, it was sold as Gibbs’ prequel. The NCIS: Origins cast features several familiar faces from the mothership joining Austin Stowell’s Young Gibbs. Despite the lack of any signs about Lala’s existence in preceding shows, NCIS: Origins has made it abundantly clear that she plays a vital role in Gibbs’ formative years in the agency — so much so that the prequel is actually about her. NCIS: Origins continues to develop her narrative, although her relationship to Franks’ probie occasionally creates canon issues.
That includes the complicated love situation involving Diane, Gibbs, and Lala. Per the main NCIS show, Diane was Gibbs’ second wife, hence why their current relationship in NCIS: Origins makes sense. That said, it takes away from Gibbs’ supposed feelings for Lala. Executive Gina Lucita Monreal addressed this in an interview with TVInsider, confirming how Gibbs truly sees Diane in comparison to Lala. Read her full quote below:
“I think that Diane, for him, is someone who is truly supportive and in his life right now, truly necessary. She came in, the right person at the right time, and I think that his feelings for her are strong and they are real. They’re just not the same as the feelings he has for Lala. So I think he’s very torn.”
Those who watched NCIS know that, ultimately, Gibbs and Diane get married and divorced — two things that are expected to play out in NCIS: Origins. She goes onto marry Tobias Fornell, although their relationship also doesn’t last. CBS has no choice but to follow these events, or it risks breaking continuity beyond repair. In doing so, it could also shine a light on why Gibbs and Diane’s marriage really fell apart, given Lala’s presence.
Based on Monreal’s quote, however, it does sound like Gibbs is only with Diane out of pure necessity. Characters in NCIS: Origins season 2 have pointed this out to Lala, especially on the heels of her car accident. Granted that it has been documented that Gibbs struggles with his personal relationships, the show is only making it worse by insisting that he loves Diane, especially if its ultimate goal is to tell his love story with Lala. Up until the end of her life, Diane was convinced that Gibbs couldn’t move on from Shannon, but her arc becomes so much more tragic if that was a lie.
The challenge for NCIS: Origins is to effectively sell the idea that Gibbs and Lala’s romance is compelling without rewriting the show’s history. It isn’t like people don’t want to root for them. CBS knows too well that viewers love a good will-they/won’t-they storyline. But hopefully, they’re able to do it without breaking the canon beyond repair.
