NCIS: Origins - Gibbs's Family Tragedy Revealed

Ncis: Origins – Unpacking the Tragedy that Shaped Leroy Jethro Gibbs

The Heartbreak That Defined Gibbs: Unraveling the Mystery of Shannon and Kelly's Deaths

Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), that iconic NCIS face for 19 years, returns in the new spin-off series NCIS: Origins! This new series is showing us just how intense and complicated Gibbs's early career actually was, it shows the pivotal events of 1991, shaping his future and revealing what created the intensely guarded and incredibly troubled person we all already know and love. This intense look at Gibbs's past is exploring the events of his very first career as a Special Agent with the NIS; setting the scene during this incredibly crucial year. To fully appreciate this however, viewers will need some background, which is supplied further in this article. It's a truly captivating dive into his most traumatic period! And that all starts with his wife, Shannon, and his daughter, Kelly.

Before this, we know that this amazing, hard-edged Gibbs hides immense pain and this spin-off really tries to explain how those things actually affect this amazing and important character. There were some mentions in previous episodes about what created the Gibbs we know. Flashbacks hint at those tragic moments. One great example, from those essential NCIS episodes: “Hiatus” (at the end of season 3), gives those really important details and helps those people unfamiliar fully appreciate what's going on. These details, his family's loss; create the man's complex persona, showcasing the raw human heart and deeply tragic background of a character that’s almost god-like within his work and reputation. It reveals something profound which greatly explains this important development within NCIS: His history becomes the main focus in its exploration, because his family's murder helped explain this intense, almost inhuman character and work persona that only gets better over time and within a high-stress context.

Also Read: NCIS: Origins: Can It Survive Without Mark Harmon?

The Murder That Changed Everything: Pedro Hernandez's Deadly Act

Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS Image

That horrific truth—Pedro Hernandez murdered Gibbs's family. That truth emerges during “Hiatus Part II” (season 3, episode 24). The drama begins with Shannon; she had seen Hernandez kill a marine, making the very crucial choice to testify against him; a decision that forever changed her family’s life; a dangerous and deeply pivotal choice.

An NIS agent tried protecting Shannon and Kelly; he got shot and died during the ensuing crash which immediately killed Shannon and Kelly; a pivotal event leading to the actions surrounding this story.

And get this: Mike Franks (who was assigned to that case and investigated), gave Gibbs the case file – letting him take his revenge and ultimately kill Hernandez with a sniper rifle in Mexico, as highlighted during “Hiatus Part I” (episode 23)! Those actions; those violent reactions to his grief show a dark truth: sometimes even justice doesn’t bring peace; this tragedy is what really makes the rest of Gibbs's story compelling and ultimately serves to provide important context which made viewers appreciate this often stoic, unreadable character in this incredible TV series! And these events in those specific episodes become intensely crucial to fully understanding the NCIS series, both past and present!

Also Read: Mark Harmon Returns to NCIS: Origins! Will He Break One of His Most Famous Rules?

NCIS: Origins: A Deeper Dive into Gibbs' Past

Shannon and Kelly Gibbs with Jethro Gibbs in NCIS Origins Image

NCIS: Origins is showing us Gibbs during his early days; showing him newly assigned to Camp Pendleton's NIS office. That was after his discharge from the marines – shortly after Shannon and Kelly’s deaths which occur on the very last day of Operation Desert Storm! This pivotal timing; and early moments following this event; greatly shapes this particular plot and story: The intensity; this specific proximity to tragedy, this is incredibly important for explaining the events in those very important moments throughout this spin-off!

This Gibbs will be different; younger and feeling that loss intensely; creating another chance to experience the entirety of the tragic events surrounding this pivotal moment in the narrative which completely helped shape his adult years and behaviors which eventually make this intense storyline unfold! Those actions taken earlier become essential for the series in its totality! His story becomes profoundly impacted; leading to future experiences for this legendary NCIS character which is extremely profound; affecting everyone later.

Also Read: Gibbs' Original NCIS Team In JAG: Why Did It Change?

The Time Frame: How Fresh is that Grief in the NCIS: Origins Premiere?

The show makes these key points known concerning its timeline, and its implied intensity regarding Gibbs's responses in relation to all that happened previously; and how his entire life is forever and totally altered forever. Those deaths happened in February 1991. Gibbs joined NIS in August. The pilot features a videotape dated October 1991—setting its timeframe and generating intensity that remains understated yet undeniably crucial; showing that despite that intense period of emotional trauma he underwent in those prior years; that trauma still deeply defines how he ultimately responds later!

Even so, his reactions highlight the intensely raw feelings regarding his loss. That early period after such an immense loss; the very proximity of this key moment greatly contributes toward the story! That intensely crucial and unavoidable impact is highlighted; it shows Gibbs's intense struggle throughout his young career; completely creating that extremely powerful storyline that NCIS: Origins can bring. All this serves to offer viewers an understanding of his motivations, his behaviors and also just his deep struggle; explaining just why those previous NCIS storylines ultimately had made sense and were far more satisfying if you knew what occurred in his younger years.

Also Read: NCIS: Origins - Everything You Need to Know About the Gibbs Prequel

Conclusion: A New Chapter Unveils a Familiar Tragedy

NCIS: Origins does something spectacular: A new take on the character that helps further enhance this intensely guarded and mysterious man. By revealing Gibbs's younger years in great detail; including those earlier events and the deep trauma he suffered, these events make him a deeply relatable, if sometimes flawed person and explain those incredibly intense yet sometimes illogical moments we saw previously, showcasing the deep flaws in human resilience and providing new hope regarding those aspects previously unexplored throughout this famous series.