In its first season, NCIS: Origins managed to introduce several notable NCIS characters and it seems the show’s second season is looking to introduce younger versions of several more notable characters from the franchise!
As confirmed by TVLine, NCIS: Origins season 2 will introduce fans to younger versions of three franchise characters. These introductions are ones that NCIS showrunner David J. North teases “fans are going to be very, very excited about,” hinting that they’re going to be notable figures in the franchise.
One of these three characters has already been confirmed to be a young version of Donald “Ducky” Mallard, with Adam Campbell reprising his role as young Ducky. Campbell will guest star in a special tribute episode in season 2 designed to honor the late David McCallum, who passed away in 2023. The episode will see Ducky coming to Camp Pendleton to shadow the NIS team as they work a case and reunite him with Gibbs, who he met years earlier.
The identity of the other two characters remains uncertain, but the tease that the season will introduce us to notable versions of franchise characters seems to suggest at least one of these characters will be someone from a spinoff. The most likely candidate being Special Agent Dwayne Pride, played by Scott Bakula in NCIS: New Orleans.
NCIS established that Gibbs and Pride go way back, with Gibbs at one point mentioning that he’d known Pride for 30 years hinting that the pair met in the military before they crossed paths at NIS. Pride and Gibbs eventually worked together at NIS and were members of a group of agents known as the Fed Five. Given that unit assembled sometime in the early 90s, it seems highly likely that Pride could enter the mix sometime in season 2 of NCIS: Origins.
If Pride enters the mix, there is a chance we could see another member of the Fed Five pop up as well at some point in season 2. This could mean the introduction of NIS Special Agent In Charge Dan McLane or NIS Special Agent Felix Betts, who round out the Fed Five lineup. However, we’re doubtful those characters would get fans excited which has us wondering who that third individual could possibly be.
There are a lot of options to choose from and we’re certainly excited to see who the NCIS: Origins team might be planning to introduce.
Season 2 is sure to be an exciting one which will continue to explore Gibbs’ early years, which will include exploring his relationship with his second wife, Diane. Diane’s surprise introduction in the season 1 finale hints that she’ll play a key role in the second season and it’s going to be exciting to see how Gibbs and Diane’s relationship comes to be. Yes, we’ve heard stories through NCIS, but it’s going to be so much fun getting to see the dynamic explored in NCIS: Origins.
NCIS: Origins season 2 premieres Tuesday, Oct, 14 at 9/8c on CBS.