SPOILER ALERT! This story contains plot points from Monday’s episode of NCIS: Origins on CBS.
In the December 9 episode titled “Vivo o Muerto,” a case of a missing woman who disappeared after a night of clubbing with a Navy seaman ends up answering some burning questions about Leroy Gibbs’ past.
Here, Executive Producer David J. North explains why he and co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal decided it was time to explain how and when Gibbs’ exacted revenge on Pedro Martinez, the drug dealer who killed Gibbs’ wife Shannon and daughter Kelly.
DEADLINE What did NCIS fans think they knew about Leroy’s past?
DAVID J. NORTH Most of the hardcore fans know, of course, that Gibbs killed the man who killed his family, Pedro Hernandez. And many of ’em may have known that he did it before he started at NIS. But I think Gina Lucita Monreal and I really wanted to dig in and get to the reality of it. What would’ve happened? It’s not as simple as Frank showing him that folder with the name and then suddenly, Gibbs goes and kills Pedro. We wanted to show how this was a killer who no one else could find, that NIS couldn’t find. And how did Gibbs do it, really? Was it by sheer will, absolutely needing to find this man and not sleeping until he did? And in the process he kinds of learns that he has a skill for this and maybe being an agent is something that he could do.
DEADLINE So it sounds like you guys pretty much knew you wanted to tell the backstory of how Gibbs killed Pedro within this first season.
NORTH Yes, absolutely. We’ve built a lot of season one around this moment. It was certainly one of the tent poles that we were working towards. Austin Stowell [who plays Gibbs] is just incredible. Some of these themes, it’s tough to put yourself in that head space. We write this up and we give him the runway to perform. We continue to be blown away by these performances he gives us. He is studying Mark Harmon nonstop and always holding himself accountable to deliver these performances. Gina and I and Mark have all just been absolutely thrilled.
DEADLINE The shooting did get a little bloody.
NORTH I showed exactly how much they allowed me to, yes. Because it’s on a broadcast network, it’s very regulated. But we deal with wonderful people who know how important this is in NCIS lore and also they really believed in the episode. They really allowed us to show what we wanted to show. Our show is darker. It’s a little grittier than what you’re used to in the other NCIS franchises, and we’re really proud of how grounded and how real we think that moment came across. I mean, you’re showing brain matter as well, which we did.
DEADLINE We need to talk about the use of Spandau Ballet in this episode.
NORTH That was Gina. She sent me the script and it was awesome. I was blown the f–k away. And the way she tied in those two songs in the opening, the split screen opening with Gibbs and Lala. I mean, it just was remarkable. I have had so much pride in what Gina wrote in what we delivered in this episode.
DEADLINE Is this the end of it? Will Jethro basically get away with this?
NORTH Based on NCIS canon and the fact that there was so many years of NCIS, we do know that Gibbs does get away with it. But is this the end of it? No. This is something that’s going to follow him and in our show, it’s going to follow him in very intense and unexpected ways.
DEADLINE Is there a chance that folks within Pedro’s circle may suspect Jethro in some way?
NORTH Over time? Yes. For that, we’ll just tell people to stay tuned, but there was a lot of holes to fill and we’ve had a lot of fun filling those plot holes in the history of NCIS.
DEADLINE So now that we know Jethro got rid of Pedro, will his anger issues go away?
NORTH He thought maybe he would feel differently than he did after doing it. This guy has been through hell, so yes, there’ll be moments, but also we’re going to see in an upcoming episode that he wants to do better and be better for himself and is willing to accept help in whatever form that could come in.
DEADLINE So what is happening between Mariel Molina’s Lala and Jethro? I mean, obviously it’s beyond just a rapport. They’re seeing something in each other. And is Lala going to get over the idea that Gibbs killed Pedro?
NORTH I think it’s very complicated for Lala. She’s someone who would understand why he did what he did. I mean, this is a guy who was going to get away with murdering Gibbs’ family. But it’s tricky because she really, for the first time, got emotional with Gibbs in that hotel room, poured her heart out and said, Franks is going to pull you off of this, but I’m going to get him. I’m going to get him for you.’ And Gibbs didn’t tell her. He didn’t say, ‘Hey, I already got him.’ So it’s a complicated thing for her. She understands what he did, but there’s a certain degree of trust that’s been broken.
DEADLINE In the NCIS lore, do fans know that Jethro potentially hooked up with an agent back in the day? I’m trying to see where you’re going with Lala.
NORTH Well, there is Rule 12, I always forget which numbers they are, but Rule 12 is to never hook up with a coworker. But no, there wasn’t necessarily any planted seeds directly about Lala. We’re just telling the story as it unravels for me and Gina, which is we think that these two people came into each other’s lives at a time that was inopportune. But there’s obviously an attraction there that’s continuing to develop.
DEADLINE Do you already know, are you going to end this season on a cliffhanger?
NORTH That is the plan. Gina and I know what the ending of this season that we would like to tell for sure.