Things are about to change when it comes to Mark Harmon’s involvement on “NCIS: Origins.” After appearing in just two episodes physically so far, despite narrating the whole show, he is set to get a much bigger role. Now the series has teased just how that is going to happen.
CBS has made a big push when it comes to its fall lineup this week. Trailers for most of its fall shows have been released, but fans are still waiting for the “NCIS: Origins” Season 3 trailer. That’s set to arrive later on Sept. 3, 2026, but for now, there is a tease about Harmon’s expanded role.
Mark Harmon Will Appear in All 10 Episodes of ‘NCIS: Origins’ Season 3
CBSAfter Gibbs moved to Alaska during “NCIS” Season 19, eyes were on the prequel series. That’s the only place Harmon has returned to the screen in the iconic role, starting with the pilot episode. In that episode, he made it clear that this story was about “her,” and we would later find out that “her” was Lala.
He then only narrated the show until the two-episode crossover with “NCIS,” where he returned to help kickstart the story. That’s when we also learned that Gibbs was no longer alone in Alaska. He had found a companion in a dog, who was a stray Gibbs took in. That certainly warmed the hearts of the fans, but there were calls for more appearances.
The great news is Gibbs will appear in all 10 episodes of “NCIS: Origins” Season 3 — and the dog will be back! Sadly, there are only 10 episodes to the season, with the finale airing before it goes on hiatus for Christmas. That 10/9c timeslot will then be taken over by “NCIS: Sydney” Season 4, which will also be an abbreviated season compared to last season.
Why Is Gibbs Back for Longer on Season 3?
CBSWithout the trailer, it’s hard to tell why Gibbs is back for more episodes. However, the synopsis for the “NCIS: Origins” Season 3 premiere is out, and that gives a few details. It tells us that a ghost of Gibbs’ past is going to come out, because we all know that the past never stays buried.
Take a look at the synopsis from CBS: “In the present day, ghosts from Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) past finally catch up to him, shattering his peaceful retirement in Alaska. In 1992, the team races to rescue a kidnapped Randy (Caleb Foote) while Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and Lala (Mariel Molino) deal with the aftermath of their kiss.”
This could be linked to the team’s search for Randy, who was abducted at the end of the second season. Is it possible that it’s an investigation that was never solved? This is a character Gibbs has never mentioned in the mothership series, and it could hint that it ends in a bad way. An older Randy also never popped up in the two-way crossover event, even when the team went to California to speak with older versions of other characters.
Of course, Lala also hasn’t been mentioned over time. It’s possible that’s due to a broken heart rather than something sinister like a death. People tend to want to bury the memories of their exes. With the friendship that Randy and Gibbs have in the prequel series, it’s shocking that he was never mentioned before, so eyes are on how this will play out.
Gibbs has carried a lot of guilt with him over the years. There are people from his past he has never forgotten, but he doesn’t like to talk about them. However, something is pulling him from his quiet retirement, and it’s linked to a season-long arc on “NCIS: Origins” Season 3.
