NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 16 Review: The Return of Gibbs’ Rules

NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 16 ‘Who’s Gonna Drive You Home?’ puts an end to the Gibbs and Diane marriage much earlier than we expected, as it establishes that the person Gibbs really loves, the one who really knows him, is Lala. But of course, things are complicated, and they will continue to be complicated for Gibbs. And that includes not just his romantic life, but also his relationship with his father.

Jackson Gibbs also returns this hour to show us all the ways in which he’s very similar to his son, and all the ways he’s very different. Our time in NCIS left us with mixed feelings about Jackson Gibbs, but NCIS: Origins has done a pretty good job of giving the character some depth. Dare we say we like him? Dare we say we think he’s right sometimes? Hey, even Gibbs probably agrees, even if he would never admit it.

MORE: Want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We’ve got one!

YOU TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE

This episode mainly focuses on the end of Gibbs’ marriage to Diane, and his relationship with Lala. That the two are contrasted is not a coincidence. We know Gibbs was mainly running from something in his relationship with Diane. He liked her, yes. He probably even loved her. But the relationship started because she was safe, and it continued because it was easier than try to face what he felt for Lala.

After losing his wife and daughter, Gibbs just couldn’t let himself commit to someone like Lala because he cares too much. And that means that if he loses her, he could not go on. He doesn’t think he’s strong enough to go through that again. And Lala’s accident scared him so much that he shut down. Better to not have loved and never lost or something. Except he still cares way too much about Lala. And she cares about him, too.

This episode exemplifies why their relationship works, even if they might not want it to sometimes. Because Gibbs knows Lala and Lala, she knows him as well. Not just because she’s observant and around him a lot, though there’s that, but because he lets her in more than anyone else. He’s shown her who he is, and that makes it much easier for Lala to love the real Gibbs, not the mask he puts up sometimes.

Diane could never crack that mask. He didn’t want her to. But does the end of that relationship mean he will finally let Lala close enough to hurt him? Probably not. We know how this story ends.

MORE: Here’s how to watch every NCIS show in order!

Things I think I think:

• “At first, it seemed like it was all gonna be okay.”
• Famous last words, truly.
• “Long-distance marriage is for idiots.” I mean.
• Why did he suddenly show up with the box, though? Did he figure Diane meant Gibbs was ready?
• “He gets all his best ideas from me.” And all the bad ones too!
• Randy is so good at noticing people’s issues; we don’t give him enough credit.
• “You need a hug?”
• Yeah, Mike, who orders buffalo wings at a business lunch?
• A PDA being treated as the height of technology, lol.
• Kowalski needs people to talk to him!
• “Gibbs was distracting me with his daddy issues.” You asked!
• The friendship between Lala and Randy is so pure.
• “Does that happen a lot?”/”Which part?”
• Ouch.
• Very subtle that look you threw Lala as you two were talking about the Admiral and his wife, very subtle.
• Gibbs dad is gonna charm everyone in the office and Gibbs is gonna hate it.
• “Never take anything for granted.” That was one of them.
• Indeed, Rule 8.
• “Are you happy?” Lala, you kill me.
• Mike being all like I believe her, who would make up that story.
• Gibbs is good, just saying.
• So, bye Diane?
• “I ain’t here to pry or pass judgment. I just want to know that you’re okay and it’s over.”
• Mike Franks, who are you?
• And a hug, too?!
• Lala holding her own with that dude is badass.
• And Vera coming in clutch!
• “We should start a support group,” omg Lala.
• “Never let cabinets come between a family” is a horrible rule, Lala.
• “If you’re not gonna love her, you need to be a man and end it” is actually good advice.
• The cabinets as a metaphor for Gibbs thinking that everything in his life now is temporary.
• “When you love someone, you tell them who you are.”
• “Problems don’t go around fixing themselves. You gotta make an effort.” Dead on.
• Why didn’t you file for divorce?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 16 ‘Who’s Gonna Drive You Home?’? 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.