‘NCIS: Origins’ Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Mark Harmon’s Return Can’t Fully Save This Prequel Series’ Decades-Spanning Case
CBS is spoiling us rotten with this week’s NCIS programming. Not only do we get the infamous Veterans Day crossover between the flagship show and NCIS: Origins that was teased before the season started, but Origins Episode 5 kicks off with a heartfelt cameo by Mark Harmon. The team behind the two shows teased that the crossover would revolve around a case that spans three decades, where we see the beginning of it in Origins Season 2 and how it is properly solved in NCIS Season 23. Origins’ side of the case in the episode titled “Funny How Times Slips Away” is haunting and sets up the pieces for NCIS’ team to follow, but this recap will focus on the former.
Episode 5 opens with the usual sound of Harmon’s narration, but this time, the screen fades to his face as he makes his second appearance in the prequel. Harmon’s Gibbs is in his cozy cabin and talks to a dog about how, early in his career, he used to carry around a notebook with all the faces of victims, never letting himself walk away from a case. He also reminisces on Gary Callahan, a sweet nod to Franks’ (Kyle Schmid) dog. As the screen cuts to young Gibbs (Austin Stowell) carrying said notebook, fans of NCIS may recognize that we are about to see the origins of Rule #11: When the job is done, walk away.
