NCIS: Origins is shedding light on one of the most pressing questions fans have long had about the original series: why did Jackson Gibbs distance himself from his son, Leroy Jethro Gibbs?
In Origins, viewers get more time with a young NIS Agent Gibbs and his father, Jackson, unraveling the layers of their strained relationship. But what truly drove them apart? Here’s what the series has revealed so far.
A Family Torn Apart by Tragedy
Jackson and Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ relationship became strained after the loss of Leroy’s mother, Ann. While Ann’s cancer diagnosis was kept quiet, she insisted on ending her life on her terms—a decision supported by Jackson’s best friend, Leroy Jethro Moore (the man Gibbs was named after). This event marked the beginning of a rift between Jackson and Moore, and over time, it seemed to create an unspoken resentment between Jackson and his son as well.
Despite the distance, Jackson found hope in Gibbs’ marriage to Shannon and the family they built together. But when Gibbs lost Shannon and their daughter Kelly in a tragic car accident, Jackson recognized himself in his son’s grief, especially when Gibbs decided to join the NIS. In NCIS: Origins episode 3, titled “Bend, Don’t Break,” we see Jackson’s growing concern about Gibbs’ path, knowing his son was on a quest for revenge.
A Father’s Desperate Warning
When Jackson realizes Gibbs plans to hunt down the man responsible for his family’s deaths, he tries to caution him. He urges his son to reconsider, pointing out that joining the NIS with vengeance in mind would lead to a dangerous path. “That sonuvab*tch killed Shannon and Kelly and ran to Mexico, and you’re just gonna let that go? No. You didn’t join NIS to become a cop, you joined to hunt him down—not just to cuff him and walk away,” Jackson says in the episode.
But Gibbs, resolute in his mission, dismisses his father’s advice, bluntly telling him to “just go home.” This moment is a heartbreaking turning point for Jackson, who takes his son’s words to heart, recognizing the deep divide that has formed between them. Although Jackson is set to appear in episode 5, it’s clear that he felt his son was lost to him the moment Gibbs chose his path.
This prequel is giving fans a deeper look into the complexities of Jackson and Gibbs’ relationship, illuminating the personal struggles that shaped Gibbs into the man he became in NCIS.
For more updates and deep dives into your favorite shows, follow our official Facebook page!