‘NCIS: Origins’: Will Mark Harmon Appear Again This Season?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the NCIS: Origins series premiere “Enter Sandman.”]
Going into NCIS: Origins, we knew that we’d be hearing Mark Harmon‘s voice as he narrated the prequel story of his character, now played by Austin Stowell. But a nice surprise was Harmon appearing onscreen in the series premiere.
Harmon sitting by a campfire bookends the episode, as he explains, “My dad used to say, wherever you go, there you are. I guess he was right. No matter how hard you try, or in my case, how far you go, you can’t ever leave it all behind. There is no such thing as a clean slate. They’re always here. They’re always with you. The stories you’ve told. Hell, even worse, the ones you never could. This is a story I don’t tell.”
“What you saw is exactly what we wanted to do,” co-showrunner David J. North tells TV Insider. “It wasn’t always the intention going into this to find Gibbs in Alaska, but it’s just conversations between [co-showrunner] Gina [Lucita Monreal] and I, and then finally we went to Mark and said, we just think it’s important. What a treat for the viewers and also for us, for Gina and I ourselves, and going out there that day and shooting it was a lot of fun.”
North and Monreal both recall seeing Harmon dressed as Gibbs again.
“He stepped out [of his trailer], and I see Mark every day, but he was in the Gibbs wardrobe with the Alaska Gibbs hat and everything else, and I was kind of like, whoa. It had been years and years and funny, just the subtleties of that really took me back,” shares North. (Gibbs was last seen on NCIS retiring to Alaska.)
Monreal agrees, “That was really special, that moment, especially when he put on his boots. I think when he put on his Gibbs boots, David and I looked at each other and it was just an unexpected surge of emotion for us both.”
After, the three sat in Harmon’s trailer talking, and North noted he looked down and saw the star, executive producer, and narrator wearing Gibbs’ ID bracelet. “He already had it on, and I just thought, wow, it’s amazing the transformation,” he says.
Harmon will be heard every episode as he tells Gibbs’ story, but could we see him again? “Gina and I have a lot of private discussions, and obviously Mark is first and foremost with all of that. We’re leaving any possibilities open,” says North.
What did you think of Harmon’s onscreen appearance in the Origins premiere? Do you want to see him again? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS: Origins, Mondays, 9/8c, CBS
Conversation16 Comments
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P
Love to see Gibbs in Alaska again, writing his untold story! We miss Harmon
10 1
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O
Yes please. I miss Gibbs. Nice to see him on the Origins show. It would be nice to see him once in a while. It gives more meaning to the new Origins by using his voice and seeing him. I hope that you will show the start of Gibbs Rules in Origins. Note: I watch all the re-runs of NCIS every day of the week that it is on. NCIS still has a place in my heart. The new actors are doing a great job. Please do not ever get rid of McKee or Jimmy.
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C
I hope he does appear more. His appearance last night really set the gist of his story more so with the flashbacks. I know in the past episodes his story was told, but this felt more real by his narrative.
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O
Yes I absolutely love the flashbacks and seeing Mark Harmon on screen again. He is an amazing man and actor.
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G
Wish he would show up in the old show to guest star and the team goes to alaska for a case
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C
Positive to see Mark Harmon whenever humanly possible! Thank you
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G
I stopped watching "NCIS" when Mark Harmon left, after being with them for every single episode since the first one. Only if he returns full-time to the show would I be tempted to begin watching it again.
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P
Seeing Mark Harmon again as Gibbs was like coming home to safety and love. He set the stage so beautifully for a powerful 2-part premiere. NCIS:Origins is now my must-see show. Great job all around.
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T
It’d be great to see him, but if Gibbs chooses to enjoy his retirement then so be it.
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G
Would love to see “old” Gibbs again!
Is Mark Harmon starring in any new shows this year? Heard something about an Alaska series.
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O
I really want to see more and more of the of the older Gibbs. I miss him so much. He is the best actor I know and I miss him so much . I would rather see the original NCIS LA with Gibbs any day .I miss you Gibbs so so much. Please come back to your original show. My favorite GIBBS, you know I LOVE ❤️ YOU.
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O
Gibbs is the constant that held people's attention.
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R
Gibbs was the reason I watched the show! Yes, I continued to tune in, but for me, Gibbs WAS NCIS. I really want him to come out of retirement!!! Did Mark retire due to health problems and long work days? Can't you provide scripts that only need him one or two days a week? Please? I remember when he was named "Sexiest Man Alive" and all these years later, considering his long and loving marriage, I think he still is, and we need him back!! Please??
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L
I tried to like the show. Personally I found it like a slow movie that someone told you the ending before you finished watching. Although it was nice to see Mark Harmon He should have given NCIS the same courtesy to appear In a episode. I would have found it far more entertaining.
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G
No thanks. Mark Harmon supposedly retired from NCIS so what is he doing now? Trying to get everyone into NCIS Origins so he can walk off and leave everyone high and dry again or get the show cancelled. No thanks, not worth the effort so not even getting started. Harmon has no consideration for fans so why have any for him? Retire and go swiftly into that good night Harmon.
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O
You don't believe in people getting older and tired? That is a normal condition, called retirement. What he is doing now on Origin's gives us more time with him. I commend the writers for including him.
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