NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 1 ‘The Funky Bunch’ throws us immediately into a world without Lala, only to pull the rug from under us very quickly with the revelation about her fate after what happened in the Season 1 finale. And though no one’s really complaining about Lala being alive—the show is and will always be better with her—there’s no escaping the fact that perhaps, the best version of Gibbs’ backstory didn’t bring back Lala, but instead allowed him to explore the grief of her loss on top of all the other grief he carries.
That, however, isn’t the case. And since Mariel Molino’s Lala Dominguez is by far my favorite character in this show, I will just take the win and move on. This is still, after all, as Gibbs reminds us early in the episode, a story about her. Hopefully, there’s a lot more to learn about why she’s so important to Gibbs and why we’ve never heard of her in the future despite that.
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IT’S MY FAULT
In many ways, “The Funky Bunch” is about establishing a new normal for this team—even after that brief detour spent examining what life would be like without Lala. But it also presents an interesting look at a Gibbs who just doesn’t feel capable of actually risking something he truly cares about. Enter Diane.
Because Randy is right, Gibbs just cannot cope with the possibility of losing Lala. And somehow, he thinks not “having” her, not being with her, would make it easier if he were to lose her. That, and he thinks that he’s somehow to blame for absolutely everything, and she’s better off away from him. Everything that has happened to the people he loves is his fault (even when it isn’t), and so he’s trying to save Lala from himself. And hurting both of them while at it.
The thing is, Lala sees it. Just as everyone else does. She understands. She just doesn’t have to put up with it. She’s not confronting Gibbs about it (though it feels like that will surely come), but she also doesn’t have to be happy about him deciding to put protecting his heart over simple things like checking in on her after her accident. Particularly after everything she did for him.
So, make no mistake, this isn’t over. There’s still more to learn as we examine why this is a story about Lala. Hopefully, that means we’ll get a little happiness from the two of them, at some point. One thing is for sure: no one can deny what this is now—or what it means to Gibbs.
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WITHOUT ANY ONE PART
This episode makes it clear that without Lala, the team just doesn’t work. This isn’t just about Gibbs, because even though NCIS: Origins has been a story about how this character became the man we will one day see on NCIS, it has never been just about him. No, instead, this is about Franks and about how much he came to rely on her, sometimes without noticing. About Randy and how much he likes Lala and needs her.
It’s a story about a team, the first one Gibbs had, that became his family. And Gibbs will one day build another found family with his team at NCIS, and be very good at being that mentor and being the one to guide the team. Those things, he learned here, with these people. And that makes them important, not just to the Gibbs of now, but to the one from the future.
But NCIS: Origins isn’t just about filling in the blanks. It never has been. If it were, we wouldn’t care so much about the past, would we?
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Things I think I think:
- The first five minutes or so were bleak. “Without Lala” sucks.
- Wheeler kinda sucks as a field agent, too. Can’t say that’s not hilarious to me.
- I figured Randy was going to have second thoughts, but I hope the show (and they’re really good it!) explores his fears a little more. They just don’t go away.
- What do you mean Gibbs didn’t know Lala was the reason why Lara Macy dropped the charges?
- Please tell me he’s going to find out.
- I hate the boss that’s not Wheeler.
- This kinda paints the entire Gibbs/Diane relationship in a different light, and I kinda love it. No wonder it didn’t work.
- Plus, the months without Lala kinda give context to the Gibbs we will one day meet.
- Franks almost hugs Lala, that’s how much he missed her. See, Mike. See!
- What do you mean you haven’t seen her since the hospital, Gibbs?
- “I don’t want to make it weird,” he says as he proceeds to make it weird.
- You should be mad, Lala.
- “Love” likes her. Randy!
- And his whole thing about how Gibbs started dating Diane because it was safer. He’s right, it’s just hilarious how he read them for filth.
- This weird sexual tension + anger between Lala and Gibbs works well.
- Yes, badassery lives, Woody.
- Gibbs being about 100 times more concerned about Lala than the suspect is very important to me.
- Franks is right to yell at both, though.
- Wow, the speech worked.
- Literally everyone knows why Gibbs is dating Diane; it’s funny. It is. Not for Diane, I guess, but still…
- “Focus on what was in front of us instead of the doubts.”
- “But we still had them.”
- Truly, can’t say I’m mad about this ending with the four of them in the car, badly singing.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think about NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 1 ‘The Funky Bunch’? Share with us in the comments below! And if you have any thoughts about the show, share them with us in our NCIS: Origins hub!
NCIS: Origins airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.
