NCIS: Origins is preparing to close out its debut season by answering one key Lala Dominguez mystery The NCIS prequel follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he begins his journey with the Naval Investigative Service, and has already introduced key figures from his past, including Special Agent Lala Dominguez. However, longtime viewers of the franchise have questioned why Lala, someone clearly important to Gibbs, was never mentioned until now. Throughout NCIS, several of Gibbs’ ex-wives, lovers, and partners were introduced, yet Lala never came up.
TVLine’s Matt Webb Mitovich reveals that the upcoming finale will justify Lala’s absence from Gibbs’ extensive canon in the original series. According to Mitovich, the point of the series is to raise and fuel the question of why the audience had never heard of Lala before. Read his comment below:
One could argue that since hearing Gibbs’ narration at the end of the very first NCIS: Origins episode — about finally telling “the story of her” — that Season 1’s raison d’être was to raise and fuel the question of why we’d never heard of Lala before. I am happy to report that this Monday’s incredibly powerful finale, at least in my mind, satisfyingly answers that question. In fact, Narrator Gibbs himself pretty much answers it.
What This Means For Lala’s Role In Gibbs’ Life
The Finale Will Provide Some Closure About Why Lala Was Never Mentioned
Lala has been one of the breakout characters from NCIS: Origins, earning praise for her dynamic with younger Gibbs and her strength as a fellow NCIS agent. Her importance to Gibbs has been felt in almost every episode, both in how she challenges him professionally and emotionally. The decision to continue fueling the question of why she was never mentioned before, and to address it head-on in the finale, means that the show has long been aware of the plot hole between the new and old canon.
Given NCIS’s long history of incorporating new elements through flashbacks and spinoffs, the Origins finale taking the time to address Lala’s absence will appease longtime viewers. Whether her story ends with tragedy, a conscious breakup, or some other reason why she was never mentioned in Gibbs’ future, it seems the season finale will finally give some closure to this mystery. By letting Narrator Gibbs answer the question, the episode promises to deliver a satisfying explanation that could turn into a new storyline in NCIS: Origins season 2.
Our Take On NCIS: Origins’ Long Game With Lala
Tying Lala’s Story Back To NCIS Adds Depth To Gibbs’ History
The fact that the series is using its finale to answer this looming question is both narratively satisfying and has the potential to be emotionally impactful for viewers. Rather than leaving Lala as a forgotten character or a plot hole, the show gives her story a sense of closure that could influence Gibbs’ overall arc. It’s a reminder that NCIS: Origins is not just a flashback, but a character study that lets viewers see why Gibbs is the person he eventually becomes.