The NCIS franchise continues its dynasty, winning more gold with NCIS: Origins.
In fact, I’m absolutely delighted that this engaging prequel has been given a full-season order at a time when the television landscape and its offerings seem bleak.
“NCIS: Origins” succeeds for many reasons: focusing on young Leroy Jethro Gibbs when “NCIS” was still known as the National Intelligence Service, exploring his recent loss of his wife and Sadness after Daughters, and Needles in the 90s.
But the thing about “Origins” is that it doesn’t feel like Gibbs’ show at all.
Shockingly, that’s the best thing.
The series manages to use Gibbs, the most stalwart and famous character in the NCIS universe, as a Trojan horse to tell Mike Franks’ story, and I loved every second of it.
Make no mistake – this is Gibbs’ story, and Austin Stowell is excellent as young Gibbs.
Stowell has given powerful, poignant performances in each installment, taking over the role not only of Mark Harmon, but also of his son, Sean Harmon.
While this is Gibbs’ story, there’s no denying that this is McFranks’ show.
Franks is the heart of “NCIS: Origins,” and there’s not a scene the humans don’t steal.
Mike Franks has always been a fan-favorite character in the original series.
His relationship with Gibbs is unique and one of the best ever created in the series.
After all, Gibbs has been likeable and unapproachable in many ways throughout the series, but we always see something different when he’s around Franks.
Thanks to NCIS: Origins , we can totally understand why.
The series gives us the context for one of the series’ best bits of direction, and knowing that Franks was there after the most devastating moment of Gibbs’ life certainly makes sense for their close connection. of.
The truth is, without Mike Franks, Gibbs and Gibbs’ legacy on NCIS wouldn’t exist.
Much of what we know and love about the series’ main characters is due to this gruff but kind-hearted man who opened the door and set Gibbs on the path to his eventual legacy.
Interestingly, when news broke about a Gibbs prequel, it was easy for me to tilt my head and wonder how they were going to pull it off.
The series, titled “NCIS: Origins,” initially felt like a failure.
But in hindsight, now that we’ve seen a few episodes, “Origins” was a very smart title for the series.
Sure, because it’s about NCIS and Gibbs’ origin, but it expands the scope of what the show can explore over multiple seasons.
I desperately need a few seasons worth of belt buckles from this collection.
The series’ title “Origins” means it explores many characters, not just Gibbs.
But it especially could have focused more on Franks, which the series has done so far.
It’s like they lured us in with Gibbs’ story and then dazzled us with the chronology of Mike Franks and his origin story, which could have continued for a while within the time frame of NCIS: Origins.
We know McFranks’ fate in the original series, but what’s lovely about Origins is that he’s suspended in time because of the era the series focuses on.
That means we get to delve deeper into the character and peel back all of these layers.
It’s clear there’s more to Mike Franks than meets the eye.
He’s not just a snarky, witty, cantankerous guy – an old dog who can still learn a few tricks.
“NCIS: Origins” tells this story, and does it brilliantly.
Kyle Schmid is excellent as young Mike Franks.
He is so good at capturing all the nuances and mannerisms of his predecessor, Muse Watson, that they are worth studying.
Every time the camera turns to him, you can’t turn away because he delivers a riveting performance in every film: hilarious, badass, frustrating, and yet utterly human.
Franks is rough around the edges and isn’t anything close to filler, but he has such a big damn heart that shines through in such a way that it reiterates what I mentioned above: Mike Franks is the star of this prequel core.
“NCIS: Origins” is compelling because it’s surprisingly impassioned as a series.
Two of the series’ most deceptively stoic, manly pinnacles helm an evocative series that’s not afraid to show how strong men can still feel.
They feel everything, not just anger or aggression.
I understand Gibbs at such a vulnerable moment in his life, but what surprised me the most is how they did the same thing to Franks.
He is a passionate person and the show does a good job of focusing on this in every episode as it applies to every aspect of his life.
It shows his passion, romance, reverence and tenderness through his relationship with Tish.
We see this in the case of NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 5, which is a powerful example of how far he can go and the emotion he puts into his work.
But most importantly and consistently, we see this within his team and how a man who is completely screwed up in his own way will stop at nothing to protect his people and make sure they are okay.
Few seemed to understand his love and admiration for Gibbs, and why he was willing to risk having a sad man join his team who, to most, seemed to him and others is an open wound and dangerous.
But Franks’ instincts are delightful, and through that and him as a character, the series flows smoothly.
Of course, NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 1 teased that an underdeveloped lesbian was somehow the center of the story—who Gibbs had never talked about in the entire time we’d known him.
The implication is that this story is about her.
But we haven’t seen that yet.
What are we have As we can see, the most charismatic, multi-layered, sexiest man with a mustache since This Is Us’ Jack Pearson has been at the center of it all.
Franks is bridging the gap between all the characters while holding the title of best character development outside of Gibbs.
It’s through Franks that we get the best look at Gibbs’s mental state in some of the most exciting, nontoxic, albeit subtle, depictions of brotherhood and male friendship currently on the air.
It’s through Franks that we see some of the best interpersonal conflict – and I eagerly await the show to further explore how his and Vera’s relationship became so strained.
It’s easy to imagine that this was partly due to a realistic but forgivable political incorrectness that led him to simultaneously respect and despise the strong women around him.
We also get some of the cutest moments and touching dynamics through Franks.
By the way, his and Mary Jo’s relationship is already one for the books, as there is mutual respect and affection that brings out the best in both characters.
I have no idea where NCIS: Origins plans to go this season (and hopefully many seasons to come).
I’m curious to see how they’ll expand their focus within the team and explore the various characters and their individual stories.
But I do know that while NCIS: Origins attracted me with the promise of exploring Gibbs (and is delivering on that promise), Mike Franks is the reason I come back every week.
NCIS: Origins belongs to Mike Franks, and I loved every second of it.
And you?
Are you a big Mike Franks fan?
Is he the reason you watch the show and the ultimate scene-stealer?
Please keep your voice down, baby!
Watch NCIS: Origins online
