NCIS: Origins and the Gibbs Paradox: Did Mark Harmon's Return Break Ncis Canon?
Mark Harmon's NCIS: Origins Return: A Rewind That Rewrites History?
Mark Harmon is back as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the NCIS prequel, NCIS: Origins! This is huge news! He's been gone since NCIS Season 19, leaving many wondering about those events after such a dramatic farewell. Harmon plays the older Gibbs in the prequel; a move which fans may think of as merely some cameo for fans— yet is something quite deeper!
Austin Stowell stars as young Gibbs (it is set in 1991); showing this earlier era, near the beginning of Gibbs' career at NIS (the precursor to NCIS); This provides unique insights that shows Gibbs' beginnings and provides some needed contexts, however that isn't completely consistent with some earlier events found within NCIS which affects everything that is shown! Harmon also narrates; his perspective adds emotional weight; a clever move, showcasing an intense emotional struggle and emphasizing those hidden depths of this renowned character's own internal conflicts.
Gibbs in Alaska: A Promise Broken?
There’s a major issue however. Harmon’s appearance creates some very weird conflicts and it might affect many who love this franchise. The show portrays older Gibbs in Alaska during that critical moment where he bids his goodbyes to NCIS, moving towards retirement to live a quieter life, after intense struggles from previous episodes and other experiences that led up to this moment. It made the farewell scene with McGee incredibly heartfelt– showing Gibbs finding long-awaited peace—something many people didn’t even know had any possibility; because Gibbs often appears emotionally stunted!
NCIS: Origins totally changes that established context for that established reality shown at the beginning of that important earlier show. That “peace” he described; that isn't happening anymore; He’s totally tormented, still deeply hurt and traumatized by earlier memories of his family. This kind of intense, agonizing pain; these internal feelings now serve to contrast earlier portrayals, suggesting more deeply-felt, unresolved issues not considered prior and a lack of closure. This contradiction significantly changes that already-iconic, intensely important ending to NCIS season 19.
Exploring Gibbs' Unresolved Trauma: A Deeper Dive into NCIS: Origins
NCIS: Origins has begun showing this unresolved trauma– Gibbs’ narration in those opening episodes of season 1 hints at these lingering feelings of regret over moments involving the deaths of his first wife Shannon and daughter Kelly; this moment remains paramount; affecting every aspect of Gibbs' character across NCIS as a whole! He mentions those things and his past errors and regret over those failures greatly affect his actions now. It adds a new layer; that pain, added emotional depth wasn’t something emphasized earlier, and greatly affects Gibbs now, during his time in retirement, while creating another intensely complex emotional portrait far more intense and human.
Gibbs’ emotional solitude in Alaska further deepens this trauma; possibly because the supporting structures of his NCIS family were his core support mechanisms. He's deeply, deeply isolated from his team during that time and is therefore forced to grapple with those powerful emotions regarding those unforgotten, unhealed events involving the earlier loss of family.
Conclusion: NCIS: Origins Adds Complexity (and Controversy!) to Gibbs' Legacy
Harmon's NCIS: Origins return was something really exciting— revisiting a beloved character; showcasing some extremely human and deeply traumatic past. It created something different compared to how the character behaved previously–yet it also directly affects an intensely significant moment that impacted many viewers from NCIS and presents that very problematic, intensely contradictory aspect. Gibbs claims to find peace during the retirement arc— yet this is directly contradicted in this later appearance. It certainly gives Gibbs that deeper emotional complexity which shows that character development does involve growth, and these complexities could create exciting discussion! But many find it problematic. It’s created an intriguing debate within the fandom: It either adds incredibly significant depth or it actively damages this previously finalized emotional storyline within NCIS’ original production; this aspect is entirely unique and will shape discussion regarding its portrayal for a very long period.
