Review of episode 4 of season 1 “NCIS: The Beginning”: not all is lost

Critic’s rating: 4/5.0

4

It becomes obvious why the title NCIS: Origins was plural. This series is as much about the people around Gibbs as it is about the main character.

Somehow we got a clearer picture of Gibbs’ past and his new vulnerable side. However, he held his own in this episode better than any other.

For a show with so much masculine energy, NCIS: Origins does a fantastic job of balancing it with genuine displays of emotion.

I broke down when Gibbs burst into tears when he brought Mildred his daughter’s old toy.

It says so much about him that he would be willing to give up something so precious for another child in need. Gibbs may act distant and emotionless, but this action shows us the true size of his heart.

Mary Jo is a force of nature in heels high enough to touch Jesus

It was so nice to see Mary Jo act as an agent rather than the secretary everyone shares.

I know that after reviewing the premiere of NCIS: Origins, I gave the show some flack about Mary Jo’s character being cliche and cliché, but I still love her.

She has some of the best spontaneous lines. I got angry when she commented on Wheeler after he stole the ad she was trying to get out to all the civilians who wanted to help find Mildred.

And did you see how high her heels were when she made Mildred’s sandwich? Only the worst ones wear heels high enough to touch Jesus to work.

Mary Jo is a force of nature, and I wasn’t surprised for a second that she didn’t have a scratch on her after the killer tried to attack her.

This is good news for everyone because I was prepared to lose her if anything happened to Mary Jo. Now I know I have nothing to worry about because this woman means business.

It wouldn’t hurt if Franks remembered that the next time he wants her to work as a witness just because they have the same skin color.

I’m not here to be the politically correct police, and I have no desire to be one. That’s why I’m not going to criticize Franks (Kyle Schmid) for his reasoning and I’ll tell you why.

While Mike’s comment was as subtle as a shotgun, it’s clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Franks is a family man. For him, his team is his family.

Moreover, although his reasoning was quite simple, he was not wrong. Children need companionship to feel safe, and given everything Mildred had been through, it was the right choice.

The little girl was comfortable enough to play foosball with Mary Jo. However, Frank needs to remember to show respect to Mary Jo’s name.

However, Franks gave us one of the best quotes that I can never forget. “Deader than a strip club on Mother’s Day.” I mean, it’s poetry.

At this point, it seems like NCIS: Origins is as much about Franks as it is about Gibbs.

Gibbs has finally reached a much-needed turning point.

We should all applaud Gibbs because he really pulled it off in this episode.

If you’ve been reading NCIS Origins Season 1 Episode 4 spoilers, you know that I was fully expecting Gibbs to completely lose it over this case.

It honestly felt like that was the direction the story was going, considering it started with a flashback to Gibbs receiving news that his wife and daughter had been killed.

The writers were dirty for this. At least give your viewers a warning before you make them cry.

There were so many tear-worthy moments in this episode that it’s a wonder there was any water left in my body.

I think we’re seeing a turning point for Gibbs. He could part with one of his daughter’s favorite toys and even voiced his loss in front of everyone at work.

The whole area around him was tiptoeing, but he seemed to be in control and knew his limits.

However, the scene where Mary Jo comforts him when he brings the toy to Mildred is devastating.

I don’t know if it’s because he’s a somewhat intimidating person, but seeing Gibbs cry was like seeing a parent cry. There is no easy way to process this.

But the anguish he must feel when faced with a case that reminds him of his recent loss, and the ability to overcome it to work on that case, says a lot about this man.

Gibbs may be ready to move on, but his journey is just beginning

A talented young actress named Hattie Hoskins brought Maddie to life and she was a marvel. This child cried so many times on command. It was absolutely incredible.

Mildred had so many lines, and Hoskins delivered them with completely restrained emotion. If anyone knows this Agent Hoskins, tell them to start campaigning for an Emmy.

We saw a different side of Gibbs (Austin Stowell) as he sang with Mildred as they worked to identify the killer. It’s hard to imagine Mark Harmon doing as well as Gibbs Sr.

It works here because the man we’ve known for so long is not the same person he was shortly after his family was killed and he just accepted the job.

People have wondered why a show like Origins is necessary, but getting to see Gibbs as a vulnerable first-time husband and father adds a lot of context to the elder Gibbs and goes far beyond any memories we had of NCIS .

It was incredibly emotional watching Gibbs and Mildred sing Whitney Houston while tears streamed down her cheeks.

The entire episode was emotionally charged and there were as many happy tears as there were sad ones. We were also promised a moment that would irrevocably change Gibbs’ life.

Gibbs, lost and stranded after killing his wife and daughter, finally accepted the hand Franks offered to pull him out of his despair.

When he showed up at Franks’ door, it wasn’t just a gesture on his part; it showed his willingness to be part of the family again.

This is a major turning point in Gibb’s life. It’s surprising that we got there so soon, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have a lot of work to do to overcome his pain.

Now that Gibbs is ready to accept help and build real connections, the real hard work of rebuilding his life will begin so he can become the man we’ve come to know.

And yes, I mention this in every review and spoiler for NCIS Origins, but how does Agent Dominguez Mariel Molino (Promised Land) factor into Gibbs’ story beyond just being a colleague?

It’s been four episodes now and while the character is fantastic and very good at her job, I haven’t seen her make a significant impact on Gibbs’ life. I guess we’ll just have to keep watching.

NCIS: Origins takes an established story and breathes new life into it. Austin Stowell and the rest of the cast are doing a fantastic job on the series so far, but there’s still a lot of material to unearth.

What about Randy? He is both sweet and competent. He doesn’t have the intensity that Gibbs brings to every room, but he adds some much-needed lightness to the series.

If the rest of CBS’s first season of NCIS: Origins is anything like the first four episodes, I’d say we have a lot to look forward to.

What’s most telling about the tone of the upcoming episodes is that one of the defining moments in Gibbs’ life is on the horizon – the moment when Gibbs finally tracks down the man who killed his wife and daughter.

It’s enough to make you feel cold thinking about it.

But what do you think? Did Gibbs do a good job in the aptly titled All Is Not Lost?

How do you think Agent Lala will impact Gibbs’ story?

Please leave a comment below to let me know what you liked about this episode, and join me again when I review the next episode of NCIS: Origins!

Watch NCIS: The Beginning online