‘NCIS: Origins’ 1×02 Review: “Enter Sandman, Part 2”

Gibbs continues on the hunt for the sniper they started going after in the first episode. And we continue to get a deeper look at not only a young Gibbs, but a young Mike as well. Which is definitely welcome! Especially since we lost him way back in season eight of the OG show. And definitely shouldn’t have! But Gibbs wastes no time proving himself as an investigator, even as a probie himself. And the rest of the team is going to have to stop questioning, doubting, and worrying about Gibbs. Instead, they need to just believe in him because he had this case in the bag. So keep reading for my NCIS: Origins 1×02 review!

Healing and Promises

Why did my heart actually kind of break when Gibbs struggled to take off his wedding ring? I completely understood why he felt like he needed to. And I get why it was such an emotional moment for him. I also feel like it gives us a look into why Gibbs holds his emotions on complete lockdown later in life. Because it’s clear that those around him in his younger years consider those emotions to be a weakness. Or they state that those emotions make him unstable or unreliable. And they discuss cutting him off the team if he gives any indications to struggling with those emotions. So yeah, he might be emotional right now and is clearly struggling. But it does make a lot of sense for why he keeps things cold.

I absolutely know and usually agree that investigators shouldn’t make any kind of promises to victims or family members of victims. But I understand why Gibbs felt like he had to in that moment. And I absolutely believed that he was going to do whatever necessary in order to keep that promise. Though it was a team effort. Gibbs put a lot of the clues together and did a lot of skillful observation as well, but everyone played their part. And together they absolutely discovered and were able to catch Bugs. But the confession that Mike was able to get out of him obviously played a major role in the takedown. Just goes to show the man has some serious skills.

Family, Found and Born Into

This sniper was causing some serious issues. He was killing people left and right. So I definitely hand it to Gibbs. He made it clear from moment one that he can hold his own in an investigation. And this one was a serious one. But he was on top of things and if it hadn’t been for him, I am completely convinced they wouldn’t have been able to solve it. I think that Gibbs and Lala are going to make a really great team. But they are going to have to learn how to trust each other first. We’ve seen it time and time again in all the different iterations of NCIS. If the team can’t trust each other and work as a team, they aren’t going to be able to solve cases. And they aren’t going to be able to have each other’s backs.

We got our first look at Jackson Gibbs! And I’m not sure how to feel about him. He came off as a cross between kind and caring and aloof and strict. It’s a weird combo. But strangely enough, one that is not surprising to me. And is actually quite fitting for a man who is the Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ father. We got to see the older version of him for a bit here and there in the original NCIS. But I definitely feel like we need more details on their fallout that lasted fifteen years. Though with his father’s attitude about Gibbs not being cut out for NIS, and how abrasive he was, I can definitely understand how a fallout between the two of them is possible.

Giving Time

I really like Lala and I want to keep on liking her. But I don’t love that she seems to feel like Gibbs isn’t capable. Or that he needs her to save him somehow. I don’t really think he has been extremely reckless, and certainly not more reckless than Lala has proven herself to be. So I really don’t understand why everyone around Gibbs continues to question his abilities. I get that he is the probie here, but like he said before, he isn’t some guy off the street who hasn’t seen anything investigative before. He has seen plenty and been through plenty. So I’m going to need everyone to chill the heck out and give the man the benefit of the doubt. And maybe instead of giving him a hard time, he can be given a bit of a break. Jeez.

What did you think of NCIS: Origins 1×02? What did you think of the second episode? Were you glad that we got a double episode premiere for this show? What are you thinking of all the characters so far? Are you going to tune in every week for this one? Or are you going to give it a pass? Do you prefer watching the original series over the prequel series? Find and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads to discuss all things NCIS: Origins 1×02! And be sure to check out our site for more articles, quizzes, podcasts, and more on all things Disney and beyond!