The announcement of two new NCIS spinoff series heralds significant changes for the franchise, with NCIS: Origins taking a substantial risk that NCIS: Tony & Ziva isn’t. Both spinoffs share key similarities, notably their focus on expanding the narratives of core Major Case Response Team (MCRT) members from the original NCIS show. However, NCIS: Origins, which delves into the backstory of Mark Harmon’s iconic Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is taking a distinctive departure from the established formula. This approach offers viewers two very different character revivals when the series premiere.
The new spinoffs will explore the lives of Gibbs, Tony (Michael Weatherly), and Ziva (Cote de Pablo). Gibbs and Tony have been integral to the franchise since its inception, appearing in the two episodes of the legal drama JAG that served as a backdoor pilot for NCIS. Both characters debuted in NCIS season 1, episode 1, “Yankee White.” Ziva joined the cast in season 3 after the departure of Kate Todd (Sasha Alexander). While all three characters are pivotal to the franchise, the revival of Harmon’s Gibbs diverges significantly from the return of Tony and Ziva, promising a fresh and bold direction for NCIS: Origins.
