NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 3 ‘The Edge‘ is a heartwarming tribute to David McCallum and the character of Donald “Ducky” Mallard, and the kind of episode that feels like every second of it was crafted with care and affection. It is, of course, the kind of episode that works much better as someone steeped in the nostalgia of NCIS and what the character was. But, as an intro to the character for the Origins team, and even for new fans, it’s still hard to resist the charms of Ducky.
Adam Campbell portrays the young version of Ducky, as he did in a few episodes of NCIS, and manages to embody a character that became part of the fabric of this franchise so well that by the time he leaves, we wish we didn’t have to lose him. We wish Ducky were part of this team, always. Like Gibbs says in the voiceover at the end, we miss our friend. And that part won’t change, no matter what.
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MY FRIENDS CALL ME DUCKY
The episode is like a balm for everyone who has ever watched NCIS, and part of that is how much of a calming presence Ducky’s character is. McCallum is gone, but Campbell does a great job of embodying his essence as he “sprinkles sunshine” around the NIS office and helps absolutely everyone, Gibbs included. In a way, it almost makes you wish they did need a full-time medical examiner, and it could be Ducky. In other ways, though… perhaps sunshine is better when sprinkled sporadically. Either way, we kinda hope this tribute isn’t actually the last we see of the character.
Because this is mostly a tribute, yes, but it also helps to advance the characters we see every week, as Ducky not just helps put into place another piece of the Gibbs we will one day know, but also helps Franks and Lala with what they’re each facing. That doesn’t mean Ducky has all the answers, no. Or that he’s fixed them. Ducky is just very good with people, and that ironically applies whether they’re dead or alive.
Franks is depressed. How could he not be? Lala has changed since her accident. How could she not? And sometimes, the hardest part is accepting those things. Putting them into words. Ducky did that. Now it’s up to Mike and Lala to take the next steps.
MORE: Here’s our review of the Season 2 premiere! And Episode 2.
WHO AM I?
‘The Edge’ gives us an honest glimpse of Lala post-accident, and it’s such an effective episode for her because it’s not about her relationship with Gibbs or about her bad coping strategies; it isn’t even about how much of a badass she is. Instead, it’s about the other side of Lala, the vulnerable one. The one who suffered a traumatic brain injury and is noticing she’s different and is now scared of what that means. Is she still herself?
Ironically, the answer to that might just be that we are our experiences, and that means we change depending on the things we go through. Who Lala is isn’t a static thing. She has changed, yes. Something huge happened to her. And perhaps a part of her just wished coming back to work would mean getting back to normal. Except it’s not as simple as that. Normal is a different thing for her these days. We can’t ever go back to who we were. All we can do is figure out what our new normal is and how we exist in what that looks like.
MORE: Want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We’ve got one!
Things I think I think:
- I can’t even imagine Ducky in silence.
- “Something for an old friend.” AN OLD FRIEND.
- Why don’t you want the bread, Lala?
- Randy is right to check on you.
- Wheeler is right about the name change and probably even the restructure, actually. We know this. NIS will be NCIS soon.
- “I briefed him. I don’t know if he heard.” He did not. I promise you.
- “I’m adverse to idiots”
- Yeah, Lala’s temper is worse than it was before! But I’m not sure she doesn’t have a point. Either way, yelling is not gonna get the cop to help.
- Gibbs trying to warn Randy about Franks’ mood, lol.
- Ducky was just gonna hug Gibbs, someone sedate me.
- He had not heard Mary Jo, called it.
- Everyone trying to get Franks to be nice is hilarious.
- Randy and Ducky are perfect together lol.
- “Sprinkling sunshine.”
- Randy truly sees everyone.
- “They both get aggressive when they’re sad.”
- Order food from their computers! A miracle!
- “You yell at everyone, Mike.” He does yell at Lala, and we know he likes her.
- “Your middle name’s Jethro?” Notice that Lala already knew.
- “I knew him for a couple of days 12 years ago.”
- Gibbs doesn’t really remember suggesting Ducky join NIS.
- “My friends call me Ducky,” And if I cry?
- Basically, Gary is depressed cause you’re depressed, Mike.
- He used to be a medical doctor, true! Good for Mary Jo’s headache.
- Franks and Gibbs, and computers is hilarious too.
- This all makes sense about Lala’s traumatic brain injury, and I kinda loved this convo with Ducky.
- Ducky even got to Franks!
- “If you fix yourself.”
- He really said “limp disk” instead of “floppy disk.”
- “She was trying to communicate with me, and I didn’t hear her.”
- The voiceover of “he helped us with more than the case.”
- I mean, Randy can probably cure Gary. Or Gary will miss Franks and it’ll get worse.
- “Jethro. A name for leader of men.”
- Aww, this is an origin story for Ducky, too.
- “I miss hearing him every day. I miss my friend.” Tears.
- “He always had a way of knowing who I was meant to be.”
- THE WOOD. A BOAT.
- Music by David McCallum? And if I cry again?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think about NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 3 ‘The Edge’? 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.
