The following contains spoilers for NCIS: Origins episode 10.
NCIS: Originsshowrunner teases Operation Sundown and a “bigger bad” in the back half of season 1. The prequel series ofNCISfollows Leroy Jethro Gibbs' (played by Austin Stowell) early days working as a new agent in NIS after his first wife and daughter’s murder. The show’s opening murder investigation revolves around a sniper. While Mike Franks initially caught someone else for the crimes,a series of events ultimately led to a drifter named Jamison “Bugs” Boyd.
In an interview withTVLine, co-showrunner David J. North spoke about what viewers can expect in the upcoming eight episodes. While he doesn’t want to “give away too much with it,” he teases thatOperation Sundown will be a focus, confirming that it has been the plan all along withsubtle clues planted earlier in the season. The showrunner explains that “snipers in reality do work in pairs,” and there’sa “bigger bad” behind the crimes. Check out what he said below:
Yes, Operation Sundown is going to be big deal. I don’t want to give away too much with that, but obviously with Bugs…. I know some people missed it, but at the end of “The Sandman Part 2” (the series premiere), Mark’s voiceover says “the worst monsters lie in wait” and then come back, so this was always the plan. Snipers in reality do work in pairs, and we’re going to learn that Bugs had a partner and it’s thebiggerbad that was more responsible for all this.
What This Means For NCIS: Origins
NCIS: OriginsIs Getting Serious With Operation Sundown
In addition to the initial 13 episodes ordered by CBS, the network has given the green light for a full season order, adding five more episodes toNCIS: Originsseason 1. There will beeight more episodesafter the December 16 airing, withthe rest of season 1 resuming on August 11, 2025.This means that the show is just getting into the sniper storyline, which has been teased throughout the first 10 episodes.
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Earlier in the season,Bugs was initially ruled out as a suspectdue to his substance abuse and his genuine care for the victim. Mike Franks uses a forceful interrogation style for the false “Sandman” to take the fall. However,Mark Harmon’s voiceoversuggests that he had a hunch that there’s more to the story. The reveal of a second sniper not only makes Operation Sundown the focus for the rest of the story, but it also indicates an impact on the NIC team.
Our Take On NCIS: Origins
It’s A Jigsaw Puzzle Rich With Details
The show is in it for the long haul, andNCIS: Originsis taking its time to tell the full story of a complicated case and bringGibbs' possible storylinesto light.Operation Sundown is the first big case Gibbs worked on, and he has been on it since the first day he joined the NIS. Between episode 1 and 10, Gibbs has grown a lot as an agent already. It seems that his character development is running alongside Operation Sundown.
On a personal side, with a five-month gap between the incident that killed Gibbs' family and the time he joined NIS, there’s still a lot to tackle with the dual timeline format. The prequel has offered a lot of answers, butNCIS: Originsepisode 10’s revealshave led to more questions. The high-ratedNCISprequel series has entranced audiences with emotional storytelling, but it’s also a jigsaw puzzle rich with details.
NCIS: Origins
Cast
NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, preceding the events of the original series. The series introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs as a new special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. Under the leadership of NCIS legend Mike Franks, Gibbs navigates his role within a tenacious, unconventional team.
