NCIS: Origins did not leave us hanging long when it came to the mystery of Lala’s fate. In a voiceover from Mark Harmon’s older Leroy Jethro Gibbs while bringing the audience up to speed on how the team is doing, we learned that Wheeler has taken over while Randy is now on desk duty. In the meantime, the team is having a hard time working together with all the mistakes Wheeler is making.
We learn that Lala did survive the car accident, but suffered a leg injury and a traumatic brain injury. She has been focused on doing water therapy in the pool where she and Gibbs almost kissed at the end of season 1. By the time of the case for this episode, she gets back to work. In order to take his mind off of Lala, Gibbs begs Mary Jo to let him in on the case of a missing marine.
Abe Pruitt runs a compound that their missing marine, Thomas Meyers, could have been visiting before his disappearance. However, upon questioning him and those living there, it doesn’t appear anyone there is involved with what happened. But Gibbs does find Thomas’s body outside the area, the young man having been shot and caught in a snare trap, leading to blood loss.
Lala makes her first work appearance at the scene. She’s quieter and doesn’t move as quickly, but she is determined to get back to work. A young man with a dog tells her that traps are left by other people who don’t live at the compound, so this seems like a lead that is not involved with Thomas’s death.
Was the team able to come back together in the NCIS: Origins season 2 premiere?
After some awkward moments at the scene, her first conversation with Gibbs is a bit stilted, mostly because she is respectful of his new relationship, and Gibbs is also flustered. But it is clear that since the accident, things are different between the two of them.
Gibbs is overprotective of Lala, to the point that when they discover a suspect wearing the light up shoes that match the type forensics figured out he was wearing, he stops her from chasing the person they are searching for. Lala snaps back at him that she is fine and he shouldn’t try to stop her again.
Luckily, they do get a tip from Pruitt, even though he tries to bribe them in order to get what he wants so he will lead them to their suspect, Fabian. However, Gibbs made a heartfelt plea to get answers to his whereabouts.
With Thomas’s killer apprehended, the team was back together at last once Randy and Wheeler went to the acting director. They gave him stats that proved their team had higher solve rates before Wheeler was put back in the field. It allowed them to go back to their respective jobs and do what needed to be done to get Franks’s team in place.
Now that we know Lala is alive and well, we will have to follow the journey to find out what kept Gibbs from ever talking about her. Season 2 is off to a great start so far, and we’re looking forward to following along.
NCIS: Origins airs Tuesdays on CBS at 9/8c. You can find previous episodes on Paramount+.