NCIS: Origins Season 1, Episode 15 ‘From the Ashes‘ is a deeply emotional episode, one that examines how far we are willing to go for the people we love and what it means to have people to not just have our back, but to pull us back from the ledge.
On a show that was, ostensibly, meant to showcase the origins of one Leroy Jethro Gibbs—and one that started Season 1 promising the story was actually about Lala Dominguez, it’s been Kyle Schidmt’s Mike Franks that has really carried a lot of the emotional burden of the first season. This has often worked in the show’s favor because Franks is a very good character, and the other characters’ storylines have complimented his perfectly. That is once again the case in ‘From the Ashes’, an episode that sees the show finally delve into what happened to Tish and the ghost that has been haunting Franks for the past few months.
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we all have our monster
The fact that Gibbs already slayed his monster, metaphorically speaking, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t understand monsters. In fact, he’s uniquely suited to understanding what Franks is going through in this episode, which is why he’s literally the only person who can talk Franks off the ledge when he’s ready to throw away his life for revenge. Because Gibbs isn’t saying don’t do it. He’s not saying I wouldn’t do it because he actually has.
He’s saying don’t do it this way because this way isn’t worth it. What you’ll lose doing it this way isn’t worth it. You’ve helped me, so let me help you. Let us help you. We’re your team. You looked us all in the eye and asked for our help, so this is us doing just that. Helping you. Now, all you need to do is let us.
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help me catch him
It’s a big moment, but the fact that they get there is step two. The first step was taken by Mike himself. The first step was asking for help. Was sharing way more than he felt comfortable sharing, way more than he probably wanted to share, about himself, about Tish. Because it was the best way to catch the guy, yes, but also because, deep down, he trusts his team. He wouldn’t have done it otherwise.
And isn’t that a big thing. Growth. This Mike Franks might steal deal in half sentences, but now there are truths being revealed in those half sentences, and thanks to those, in this episode, they caught the guy. Thanks to those, justice was served. And no, that doesn’t mean Mike Franks got a happy ending. Sometimes, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. You can’t unbreak what was broken. For Tish, she still needs to go away and heal. Whatever that means.
For Mike, healing will also be a challenge. Last time he did it, he had Tish by his side. But he isn’t alone now, either. He’s got a team. He’s just gotta keep asking for help when he needs it.
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Things I think I think
- The whole ‘he knew things could never be the same’ kinda hurt.
- “We didn’t know exactly why she left, but we all knew she was gone.”
- Hummingbird. Tishmal.
- “Something was keeping the hummingbird from flying away.”
- Well, someone saw through Franks.
- Man, Tish IDed him and didn’t tell Mike.
- Gonna be honest: Mike telling the team made me tear up.
- ”In order to help me catch him.”
- Vera’s profile being so essential.
- Lala running point on this is so huge.
- Gibbs does know what it’s like. He does.
- And yeah, Franks is losing it.
- I think two things can be true at once; Tish can be unfair, and she can be right.
- Lala dropping Gibbs off where Franks is.
- I knew the group was not helping.
- ”Since day 1, you helped me.”
- The difference between Gibbs and Franks is, of course, Franks wouldn’t get away with it. It’s a little hypocritical, of course. But Gibbs is helping in his own way.
- And not just Gibbs, either.
- ”She needs to learn a new way to breathe, without you there.”
Agree? Disagree? What did you think about NCIS: Origins Season 1, Episode 15 ‘From the Ashes’? Share with us in the comments below!
NCIS: Origins airs on Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.
Here are our last 5 NCIS: Origins reviews:
