Intriguing Twists and Heartbreak in 'NCIS: Origins' Season Finale
Spoiler alert: Details from the April 28 season finale of ‘NCIS: Origins’ are discussed below. The burgeoning romance between young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell) and Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez (portrayed by Mariel Molino) could be over before it even began, with the pair not managing to share their first kiss. In this prequel series, fans have watched sparks fly between Dominguez and 1991-era NIS agent Gibbs, who remains haunted by the tragic murder of his wife and daughter. The first season climax (now streaming on Paramount+) sees Gibbs’ decision to shoot drug lord Pedro Hernandez, the man responsible for his family’s death, causing unexpected repercussions for both himself and Dominguez. Expect plot twists, echoes of classic ‘NCIS’ lore, a near-kiss that ends in heartache, and countless questions waiting to be unraveled in Season 2 this coming fall. “We’ve left it hanging for the audience,” says executive producer Gina Lucita Monreal.
In ‘Origins,’ the tension builds to a will-they-won’t-they between Dominguez and Gibbs, culminating when Dominguez’s friend, military police investigator Lara Macy (Claire Berger), reignites the probe into Hernandez’s death. Gibbs circumvents a planned coverup by bringing forward the rifle he used on Hernandez, effectively taking the blame to shield Dominguez and mentor Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid). After resolving the matter, Gibbs plunges into the night pool that Dominguez favors, initiating one of TV’s steamiest underwater scenes that ends just shy of a kiss. The potential embrace halts mere centimeters apart. “We considered whether the kiss should happen,” explains Monreal, “and brought them to the brink, but Gibbs couldn’t let it proceed, knowing the hefty truth he had to impart. It would alter everything.”
As Gibbs confesses to relinquishing his rifle to Macy, a heartbroken Dominguez exits the pool, exclaiming, “I’m done.” But her story doesn’t end there. Without Gibbs’ knowledge, Dominguez incriminates herself in the case to persuade Macy to drop it. “She risked it all for Gibbs,” Monreal notes, enriching ‘NCIS’ lore. Macy’s future appearance in ‘NCIS’ Season 6 (played by Louise Lombard) reveals that she halted the Hernandez investigation, without Gibbs knowing the real reason, clarified in ‘Origins’: Dominguez bailed him out.
Packing up his home with family photos, Gibbs encounters his future second wife, redheaded real estate agent Diane (Kathleen Kenny). This ties back to the original ‘NCIS’ series, where Gibbs, thanks to creator North’s writing, ends up with four marriages, three ending in divorce and one in death. “From the beginning, Gina and I envisioned bringing Lala’s love story to life,” North shares. “We laughed about Gibbs eventually marrying three more times, aligning with the canon.”
In a grave twist, Dominguez races to Gibbs’ house to share her breakthrough with Macy. Her journey ends in calamity when she swerves her vehicle to miss a young girl crossing the road, causing her Jeep to overturn. In the final scene, Dominguez appears lifeless, adorned with a bloody nose, trapped in the wreckage. Harmon’s reflective voiceover captures her intention to reveal her assistance to Gibbs, which he would only learn about later. “That’s not why I loved her,” Harmon narrates. “I loved her from the very start. I still do.” The uncertainty of Lala’s fate forms the season’s riveting cliffhanger. “The truth about Lala remains for Season 2,” North teases, “as her tale—integral to Gibbs becoming the character in ‘NCIS’—is far from over.”