NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 13 ‘Homeward Bound’ is a very nice episode about family, memory, and belonging, one that brings back Ducky and that clearly demonstrates this show’s clarity of purpose. It’s not the first time the show has told a poignant, important episode, and done so from the point of view of a secondary character. But NCIS: Origins’ success in this respect reaffirms that this show can tell different, nuanced stories, and do it well.
The show is also good at remembering the time it exists in. 2026 sensibilities are never applied to the 90s, because they shouldn’t be. We’re telling a story set in a time period where even the best of intentions sometimes came with unintended issues. But NCIS: Origins is proof that, perhaps, it’s possible to not just be good… but to be better, every day. That’s a comforting thought.
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IT ALL STARTED WITH DUCKY
We haven’t even seen Ducky that much, but the way he’s become integral in the lives of absolutely everyone in NCIS: Origins doesn’t even seem out of place. In fact, it’s probably the best tribute the franchise can give to David McCallum. The best tribute Adam Campbell can give to the man who originated this character. And it works because Campbell has worked since the first moment he stepped into young Ducky’s shoes.
But also, because we like Ducky. We always did. We believe his little quirks fit in with the NCIS we will one day meet, and fit in here, with who so many of these people were in a timeline long before the one we first saw on NCIS. And the lessons Ducky learns, the ones we learn through him, feel like very important ones for the franchise at large.
In many ways, NCIS: Origins is a race towards a defined finish line. But the show has managed to never feel like that. Instead, for us, it’s just a very interesting story about a group of characters who are very much like a messy but fun found family. Sure, we know what happens to some of them, what happens to some relationships. But there’s still a lot we don’t know… a lot we’re eager to discover, and to examine.
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THE PROBLEM WITH GOOD INTENTIONS
That Franks, who is a way nicer guy deep down than he pretends to be, immediately jumps to try to help Doc Tango, isn’t surprising at all. There’s a lot of history there, because of Tish. But there’s just a lot of history in general. That Franks is a bit casually problematic as he’s genuinely trying to help isn’t either. We’ve seen this from Franks before, through Lala, through Vera, and even through Mary Jo.
And I’m not saying Franks has completely learned when it comes to them, no. But as much as NCIS: Origins is Gibbs’ origin story, the character that has changed the most during these first two seasons is Mike Franks. Every layer of the onion we peel back showcases a man who was made by the circumstances of the time, but a man who can learn, even if it the road might be a little bumpy.
I’m sadly unequipped to speak much on how well the show handles the cultural aspects of Dr. Tango’s story, as much as I attempted research. Some things are for others to speak on. But as I was watching, I felt a deep respect and appreciation for the way NCIS: Origins handled the character, his intentions, and the end result. We live in a world that has often tried to present that which is different as a bad thing. It is not. It is a joy to get to experience things that are outside of the norm for us. It is a joy to learn.
Mike Franks is learning here, but so are we. Who said TV couldn’t teach us lessons?
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Things I think I think:
- “It all started with Ducky.”
- Awww, Ducky and Tango friendship for the win.
- “Tango wouldn’t miss their Wednesday night call for anything.”
- Okay, Lala, let’s dissect those dreams.
- And why do they end before the kis?!! Is it because that’s where it ended in real life?
- And you turn around and give this dude a key?!
- LOL, they misspelled Gibbs’ name.
- Everyone being so happy to hear Ducky makes me happy.
- Don’t try to be serious, Randy.
- Mike displaying casual racism while complaining about racism, ah, the 90s.
- “Gotta show him you’re just like a white person, only more native to the land.”
- The jokes tell themselves, truly.
- Yeah, Ducky. You’re never leaving DC.
- “I don’t know why I’m building it.” Makes so many of us, Gibbs!
- Yeah, Ducky cannot shut up.
- Mike, Gibbs is right. If you want it to be perfect, ask Mary Jo.
- Ducky hitting the guy was not on my bingo card.
- “Newsletter be dammed, keep doing what you’re doing.”
- Well, Ducky and Tango in jail together was kinda hilarious.
- “It’s me who’s alone.”
- Mary Jo for the win, always. Also, Dalton is the one who got her the answering machine back!
- “It’s nice to have one thing that isn’t going anywhere.”
- Well, Gibbs and Lala, what are we doing here?
- “If you’re looking to build a home, there’s no better place to start than with the one thing that isn’t going anywhere.” Deeeeep.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 13 ‘Homeward Bound’? 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.
The time periods simply don’t add up. in the original NCIS young ducky was set in the 1970s and in the origins it’s supposed to be the 90s so he would’ve aged quite a bit and again from the 90s to say 2006 when NCIS began there’s not that much of a time jump so I can’t buy into this show because if those reasons They should’ve at least set the show in the 80s that would’ve made more common sense time wise. And my biggest pet peeve is the difference between young Gibbs and old Gibbs. There is simply no resemblance whatsoever so if you can look past that good for you, I can’t