NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 10 ‘Lean on Me’ is perhaps the first time that this Gibbs, the one Austin Stowell has embodied, really feels like our Gibbs. The one we spent almost two decades with on NCIS. And sure, we all change. No one was expecting the young version of the character to be the same person as the man we knew. But it’s good to see that he’s in there, somewhere.
Part of the joy of NCIS: Origins, particularly for people who came into this after watching NCIS, is seeing Gibbs grow into the man we will one day know. And it’s been rocky, at times. It was hard to see the forest for the trees. But the journey has, in general, been so enjoyable, the family this show has built so engaging, that we haven’t even minded.
‘Lean on Me,’ however, gives us that Gibbs. Or at least, shows us how this man could have become that man. And that makes us even more invested in what’s going on.
MORE: Read our last NCIS: Origins review
I KNEW I HAD WHAT IT TOOK
The journey for Gibbs in this episode is not just external. Sure, it’s important for other people to see and recognize his leadership abilities, but that’s not nearly as important as Gibbs believing it himself. And at the beginning of the episode, he doesn’t think he can be a leader. And Stowell plays the difference brilliantly, with even the way Gibbs holds himself changing drastically from the beginning of the episode to the final scene.
Sometimes we don’t know until we’re faced with a situation how we’re going to react. Gibbs didn’t think he had it in him to give the inspirational speeches, but he gave a pretty good one when he had to. He didn’t think he had it in him to make the hard calls, but he did that too, and he didn’t even struggle with it. He is an innate leader, and now he knows it.
The journey now is more external because Gibbs recognizes his path. So the question then becomes, how do we get there? And almost as importantly, what happens to the rest of this family when he does? We know about Mike and Vera, but what about Randy? What about Herm? And, especially, what about Lala? How is this story about her? And does it have anything to do with Gibbs’ final line in this episode?
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YOU NEVER MISS CHEERS
In some ways, it’s good that the one who is onto Lala is Randy and not Gibbs, because as this episode proves, the thing with Lala and Gibbs is still there, still present, and they both see it. They feel it. They have just decided not to act on it. Gibbs because, after the accident, he realized Lala meant too much to him, and he couldn’t risk taking that next step for fear of losing her—as he almost did in the Season 1 finale. He’s already suffered a loss like that, and perhaps another one would break him.
Lala, meanwhile, channeled her hurt over how Gibbs was acting into her recovery and then into working with him, like nothing had changed. But everything has changed. And even though he has tried to move on, and she is trying to do the same, when push comes to shove, they still reach for each other. They still think about each other. They can’t help that.
How would Gibbs react to knowing Lala is sleeping with this particular gangbanger, as he called him? Probably not well. But the thing is, Gibbs has no right to an opinion here. At least not about Lala moving on. Her choice in men, well… that leaves a little to be desired, and it’s surely going to end up having consequences. But that’s a Lala problem, not a Gibbs problem. He made sure of that.
MORE: Want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We’ve got one!
Things I think I think:
- I really like what this show has done with Kowalski, who feels like the one who sets the tone for everything in the office. And the montage at the beginning was very fun!
- You never miss Cheers, Lala!
- Randy is a good detective, and he caught you because of Cheers.
- Look, I’ve never thrown out my back like Mike, but I don’t think this only happens to old people.
- Gibbs sure took command easily.
- Mike was more worried about Gary than Gibbs and Herm.
- No, Randy, seriously… what does it matter what Lala was doing when you’re in lockdown?
- I do like Diane’s faith in Gibbs.
- “I was gonna give you an inspirational speech, but I guess that’s not really my thing.”
- Doesn’t mean he didn’t appreciate you calling.
- Gail, I’m actually impressed.
- Noo, not the onions, Gary!
- See, inspirational speech. And it was a good one, Gibbs.
- Okay, but group hug! Randy is right.
- OMG, Dalton Basement was there all along.
- Lala, this relationship is going to go sooo bad.
- Mike being proud of Gibbs is very nice.
- “I’d have my own team, and they would call me boss.”
- “A family that I would protect no matter what.”
- Indeed.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 10 ‘Lean on Me’? 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.
