3 questions that are left unanswered in NCIS: Origins Season 1 that Season 2 needs to answer

All episodes are now streaming on @paramountplus! ( Image via Instagram / @ncisverse )
All episodes are now streaming on @paramountplus! ( Image via Instagram / @ncisverse )

The initial season of NCIS: Origins not only turned the clock back—It rewrote what we perceive Leroy Jethro Gibbs to be. With its premise set in his early days at the nascent NCIS agency, Season 1 stripped off just enough layers to keep you hooked without spilling the beans. From the tension-filled initiation to the new friendships with Mike Franks that are starting to emerge, the narrative unfolded rapidly but left us with significantly more questions than answers.

And then there was the finale—Cecilia, a jarring, emotional conclusion that served up a literal crash and burn. As the television screen went dark with Lala (Cecilia Dominguez) battered and unconscious after a catastrophic car accident, viewers were left stunned: What just occurred? Although some plot lines were neatly resolved, others were purposefully left open, setting the stage for a Season 2 that has a great deal of explaining to do.


Here are 3 questions that are left unanswered in NCIS: Origins Season 1 that Season 2 needs to answer

1. What became of Lala after the crash in NCIS: Origins?

This isn't loose-end territory—it's the emotional cliffhanger of the season. Lala's plot had been gaining steam for episodes, and just when her character was getting to that fully fleshed-out place, the finale cut to her car flipping, blood on the windshield, and no word on her status. Fans have speculated everything from survival to permanent farewell, but to date, the showrunners have remained silent.

Her destiny doesn't only matter emotionally, but also narratively. Lala's presence had become central, not just as a co-worker, but also as a person who appeared to thoroughly know Gibbs. The fate of that crash could redefine the emotional trajectory of Season 2. If NCIS: Origins is serious about revealing what informed Gibbs' sense of loss, justice, and personal connection, then this is the time that requires explanation.


2. What are the complete consequences of Gibbs' first big assignment in NCIS: Origins?

Season 1 explored Gibbs' early years with a combination of subtle flashbacks and building tension. The Pedro Hernandez case—the eventual impetus for Gibbs' vigilante-style justice years later—was teased but never fully developed. We glimpsed fragments: the pain, the unreleased emotion, and the first cracks in his moral code. But the complete emotional aftermath? Unexplored.

This is an obvious setup here for Season 2 to explore deeper. What exactly did Gibbs experience in this first significant mission? How did it shape the "rules" he then operates by later on? The season presented us with the blueprint of a formative trauma, but didn't flesh it out. It's not about watching Gibbs toughen up; it's about knowing how he did it. And currently, the story's only half-heard.


3. Is there a deeper level of intrigue within the NCIS office?

Throughout the season, characters have behaved off. Offhand looks, mysterious disappearances, and mystifying lines were all hints that not everyone had been playing fair. But making it clear—to be explicit—the show has neither a confirmed mole, overt treason, nor actual accusations. Still, fans and critics have felt the vibe: Something feels unhinged beneath the surface.

Is it perhaps a foreshadowing? Possibly. But it's the type of narrative build-up that either goes somewhere, or becomes a red herring. If NCIS: Origins wants to establish how Gibbs created his ingrained suspicion and uncompromising loyalty, then some type of internal deception might be the missing link. It has not been revealed, but Season 2 has all the building blocks to refine this theory further.


Season 1 of NCIS: Origins provided a grounded, character-driven view of a young Gibbs and the world that shaped him. But it did leave a couple of doors open. Lala's destiny is the most pressing thread. And then there's Gibbs' initial trauma, and the unspoken tension within NCIS itself. These questions aren’t just for drama’s sake—they’re the building blocks of a character we’ve followed for decades.

If Season 2 wants to deliver, it won’t just move the plot forward. It’ll go back and fill in what was left unsaid.

Also read: NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 17 – Release date news, time, streaming details and more

Edited by Deebakar