Spoiler Alert for NCIS: Origins Season 1, Episode 4, “All’s Not Lost”
While NCIS: Origins aims to explore the early life of Leroy Jethro Gibbs through Austin Stowell’s portrayal, Mark Harmon’s iconic Gibbs also plays a significant role, creating an unexpected challenge. Set in 1991, shortly after Gibbs lost his first wife and daughter, the series delves deeply into how their deaths shaped his personality and mental state. Although the show focuses on Stowell’s younger Gibbs, Harmon’s appearances add a powerful emotional layer to intense scenes.
Mark Harmon’s return to the NCIS franchise has been warmly received since his departure in NCIS season 19. However, his presence in NCIS: Origins sometimes overshadows Stowell’s portrayal. Rather than merely providing context, Harmon’s role often dominates, particularly in episode 4, where the emphasis on his character’s emotional journey somewhat detracts from Stowell’s pivotal scene.
In episode 4, it’s revealed that after the tragic loss of Shannon and Kelly, Gibbs felt he had nothing left to live for. The heartbreak is heightened as we see he learned of their deaths through a letter while deployed, wrapping up Shannon and Kelly’s story and exposing Gibbs’ grief like never before. Austin Stowell powerfully conveys the weight of Gibbs’ hopelessness and sorrow, yet Harmon’s voiceover grounds the scene, connecting the younger Gibbs with the man viewers have known for years.
Stowell brings depth and vulnerability to the role, but it’s evident that Harmon remains synonymous with Gibbs. While Stowell and Harmon portray distinct versions of the character, it’s the synergy of their performances—Stowell’s raw grief paired with Harmon’s reflective voice—that makes the scene resonate so deeply.
