Origins still has a Mark Harmon problem and Gibbs’ most harrowing revelation makes it worse

Spoiler alert for NCIS: Origins season 1, episode 4, ‘All’s Not Lost’While NCIS: Origins is intended to feature the beginnings of Austin Stowell’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but it also has a major role for Mark Harmon’s Gibbs, which causes a significant problem. NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, shortly after Gibbs lost his first wife and daughter, and their deaths played a significant role in shaping Gibbs’ mental state and personality through the NCIS spin off. Despite the setting, Harmon also appears briefly throughout the show, adding emotional context to heavy scenes.

Although Mark Harmon’s reappearance in NCIS franchise is welcome after his departure in NCIS season 19, its appearance in NCIS: Origins often overshadows Stowell’s Gibbs. As a result, what should function as a supportive context turns instead into a reliance on Harmon’s Gibbs. Gibbs’ revelation in NCIS: Origins Episode 4 only emphasized the show’s dependence on Harmon, which detracted from the tragic confession.

Mark Harmon’s NCIS: Origins Narration Is Sadder Than Anything in Episode 4

Gibbs finally revealed the extent of his pain

NCIS: Origins episode 4 revealed that Gibbs no longer felt he had anything left to live for after the deaths of Shannon and Kelly. The situation worsened when it was shown that Gibbs discovered their murders through a correspondence letter while he was on a mission. The heavy and tragic scene ended Shannon and Kelly’s story and revealed more about Gibbs’ mental state than ever before.

Austin Stowell brilliantly portrayed the pain, loss, and hopelessness in the tense scene. However, the weight of the scene fell on Mark Harmon’s narration. Although both actors emphasized the pain of the moment, it was the combination of Stowell’s acting and Harmon’s narration that made the scene so harrowing. Old Gibbs’ thoughts added a level of emotional depth which strengthened the scene by uniting the NCIS Gibbs with the NCIS: Origins Gibbs.

Stowell is good on NCIS: Origins, but Harmon remains synonymous with Gibbs

Stowell and Harmon play very different versions of Gibbs

Austin Stowell did a great job portraying young Leroy Gibbs through NCIS: Origins, but there is a problem. He is associated with young Gibbs, while Harmon is synonymous with Gibbs. The question is that Harmon played Gibbs for nearly 20 years on NCISwhich can make it difficult to see it as anything else. This also means it might be difficult to see Gibbs being played by someone else.

Little by little, Stowell will also become heavily associated and perhaps even synonymous with the character, but since Harmon has over 20 years of experience, it will take some time for Austin to get there. This is also part of why Harmon’s appearance in NCIS: Origins causing a problem. Instead of letting Stowell shine on his own, Harmon is unintentionally overshadowing Stowell’s performance as a result of his iconic history playing Gibbs.

Another problem is that Harmon and Stowell play such different versions of Gibbs that it can be difficult to adjust to seeing Stowell play Gibbs when his character is struggling so emotionally. Gibbs on NCIS It’s cold as stone and would never be seen offering a doll to a girl or sharing her struggles with a new colleague. Gibbs’ version in NCIS: Origins It’s a welcome change and offers more insight into Gibbs’ character than ever before, but it’s different. Mark Harmon’s narration only overshadows Stowell’s complex character.

How NCIS: Origins Can Solve Your Mark Harmon Problem

Harmon may appear briefly as needed

The solution for NCIS: Origins‘Harmon’s problem is strategically limit Mark Harmon’s appearancesand this solution has already been started. In episodes 1 and 2, Harmon had a much larger role than in episode 4. He appeared as a narrator in the background of scenes, but also appeared physically in scenes that showed him sitting around a campfire in the present day. However, in episode 4, Harmon appeared only as the narrator, and only briefly at the beginning and end of the episode.

To reduce the risk of Harmon overshadowing Austin Stowell’s performance, NCIS: Origins You need to be picky when inserting a Harmon narration. Node NCIS: Origins In the premiere, Harmon’s appearance gave the episode an air of mystery, but his appearances are less necessary as time goes on. Stowell already has a solid foundation for playing Gibbs, so Harmon’s narration should only be added if the scene truly calls for it. The addition of Harmon to the worst moment of Gibbs’ life in episode 4 gave the scene an emotional twist, but this should be used sparingly in the future.