NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 5 ‘No Man Left Behind’ brings back Franks’ brother and provides us with an intimate look at a character we sometimes have a hard time believing we enjoy as much as we do. Because the Mike Franks of NCIS: Origins might have started out as a misogynistic hardass, but the more we’ve come to learn that Franks has a lot of layers, and we’re really glad Kyle Schidmt is putting in the work to peel them back.
Schmidt gets a great scene partner in Philip Winchester, who will always be Peter Stone in that short-lived Chicago Justice series to us. Winchester and Schmidt get the brunt of the emotional work this hour, and they really and truly deliver. Not answers, no. Sometimes there are decisions you can’t take back, situations you can’t fix, no matter how you wish you could turn back the clock. But, at the very least, catharsis. And a confirmation that, even outside his work family, Franks has people. He always did.
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IT’S WHAT MA WOULD HAVE WANTED
Franks has been a lost character, carrying so much grief and anger, and resentment for so long. And a big part of it is this, the feeling that he failed his ma, that he didn’t get to say goodbye, that he wasn’t given a chance. And sure, he has a point. His brother could have reached out before. Should have reached out before. But Franks is also a grown man, and he could have taken the first step a long time ago, and he didn’t. So, there are regrets on both sides.
But this feels like a good step forward. It’s not a full reconciliation, and even this pause in hostilities doesn’t mean all of Mike’s issues are fixed. Life is never that simple. But it does mean he can put a little bit of his anger behind him and truly let himself believe that his ma would have been proud of the man he became. And that he now knows that his brother is also proud, that he didn’t mess everything up with the people who made him who he is.
It might not seem like such a big deal, but when you’re trapped in a hole like Franks has, anything that brings you a little bit of light and fresh air is a very welcome change. Now, to see if he can use it to break out.
MORE: Here’s our review of the Season 2 premiere! And Episode 2 and Episode 3.
NO MAN LEFT BEHIND
‘No Man Left Behind’ is about the case, yes, but it’s also about the team. About the way these characters have managed to come together after Lala’s accident. About how Gibbs is trying to both protect himself from feeling too much for Lala, and yet still be there for her somehow. And about how Franks’ literally stopped a car chase because Lala was having a panic attack. But also about how Randy feels comfortable enough to joke around with Mike and everyone else.
This has a lighter season team-wise so far, but that doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t have their issues. In fact, if it’s been lighter, it’s because we’re no longer in the immediate aftermath of grief with Gibbs. That doesn’t mean he’s over it, of course, but he’s trying to, if not move on, at least move forward. And in the meantime, Lala is trying to get over the accident, Wheeler is trying to pretend he’s not in love with a man, and Mike is trying to act like he’s not absolutely lost without Tish.
But whatever this team needs, there will be no man left behind. Or, well, no person. They’ve all got each other’s backs, for better or worse. They haven’t had to go out of their way to prove it yet, but I have a feeling this season we’ll get to see that in play sooner rather than later.
MORE: Want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We’ve got one!
Things I think I think:
- “It wasn’t about what he owed, it was about what he stood to lose.”
- Is Gary back with Mike?
- The drug use among veterans is something I wish this show would focus on, because I always get very upset just thinking about how little help they actually have.
- “You fall off a horse best thing to do is get back on.” It’s decently good advice, at a bad time.
- He is just worried about his cold cuts, isn’t it?
- Mike stopping for Lala says a lot.
- Randy being all like “ok you do have a brother, we’re just not gonna talk about it” was so funny, the team dynamics on point this season.
- “You want me to crack some skulls?” Get them, Gibbs!
- No one dares disrespect Mary Jo in our presence.
- Lala wanting to fight FBI agents is also funny.
- “I know trucks, I could go with you.” Slippery slope.
- His besotted face, though.
- I get throwing him out originally, I guess, if it was for his own good, but it’s been over a decade. Never reaching out again?
- Not awkward with Lala there, not at all. And Gibbs didn’t even introduce her!
- LOL, Franks is so bad at staying put.
- Wheeler and his FBI “friend.”
- I like that Wheeler tried to comfort Mary Jo, even if he failed.
- “No use getting worked up over things you can’t control.”
- BEDROOM KNOTS?
- Randy’s face.
- “You didn’t tell me nothing. You didn’t tell me she was sick. You kept me from her.”
- And he didn’t get to say goodbye.
- I think does believe in signs.
- “Boss, you good?”
- Vera really knows how to get to Franks sometimes.
- “No man left behind. You were right.”
- Well, not Mary Jo knows about Wheeler.
- “Diane seemed nice.”
- I liked the brothers reconciling, even if I would have liked an apology for not reaching out all this time. And I don’t mean from Mike.
- “It’s what ma would have wanted.”
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 4 ‘No Man Left Behind’? 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.
