NCIS: Origins Finally Settles the Debate Over Mark Harmon’s Gibbs Replacement With 1 Perfect Scene

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The recent crossover event between NCIS: Origins and NCIS has clarified the backstory of Mark Harmon’s character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The two-part episode, airing on November 11th, showed a case developing over three decades. It began in the 1990s with NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 5, “Funny How Time Slips Away,” and concluded in the present day with NCIS Season 23, Episode 5, “Now and Then.” Each show approached the mystery in its own way, with NCIS ultimately resolving the case.

In 1992, young versions of Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) and Gibbs (Austin Stowell) start investigating the death of a sailor. His body was found staged in his car on the railroad tracks, meant to hide a murder. The episode included appearances from the original actors Mark Harmon and Muse Watson, playing their characters later in life – these scenes effectively framed the story. However, these cameos also sparked conversation about how Austin Stowell portrayed Gibbs.

The Controversy Over Mark Harmon’s New Gibbs Replacement in NCIS: Origins Explained

Since the show NCIS: Origins began casting for a younger version of Gibbs, fans have been debating how well the new actor captures the original character. Some viewers feel actor Stowell doesn’t look like Mark Harmon, while others are okay with slight differences in appearance. A bigger issue for many is the contrast in how the characters behave – it’s hard to see the younger Gibbs as the same serious and commanding leader Harmon portrayed in NCIS.

Some viewers focus on noticeable details, like the height difference between the two actors who played Gibbs. While Timothy Stowell is 6’1″, he’s only an inch taller than Mark Harmon, which has led to debate online. This shows how much viewers scrutinize the differences between the actors, often pointing out how unlike Harmon Stowell appears. Despite these criticisms, Stowell still does a good job in the role.

Despite aiming for a fresh take, Stowell sometimes strongly resembles Mark Harmon’s portrayal of Gibbs. He clearly studied the original character, frequently mirroring Gibbs’s movements, subtle facial expressions, and speech patterns. Stowell’s performance also has some creative freedom. However, the show’s use of flashbacks featuring both a softer young Gibbs (played by Sean Harmon) and a 1990s version of Gibbs (also Harmon) creates several different interpretations of the character’s past, which can be a bit confusing.

You know, I’ve been thinking about young Gibbs, and honestly, I don’t think NCIS: Origins was so much trying to fix how he’s been shown before. It felt more like they were finally saying, ‘This is the version of young Gibbs we want to present.’ And with Mark and Sean Harmon both heavily involved as executive producers, I’m inclined to trust their vision. They clearly had a specific idea of who this character was, and they wanted us to see that Gibbs. Of course, people will still debate how much he looks like the original, but the show definitely tried to give a definitive answer, even if it doesn’t completely shut down the conversation.

NCIS: Origins’ Crossover Episode Proves Austin Stowell Looks Like Gibbs

Okay, so NCIS: Origins is clearly trying to address some skepticism, and they’re doing it with a really interesting visual trick. We see Harmon thinking about his old team, and then the show smoothly jumps back in time. The way they connect older Gibbs with the younger version played by Stowell is surprisingly effective. It’s definitely some clever editing, but it works – you really buy the transition, and it feels like a direct response to the questions people have been asking about how these characters connect.

While there are some differences, changes in Gibbs’ face could simply be explained by the effects of time and aging. It’s complicated by the fact that the actor portraying Gibbs should ideally show characteristics of both his younger and older self. However, comparing the two actors is tricky because both previously played Gibbs in the 1990s, making it difficult to establish a clear starting point. Despite this, the gradual transition between the actors does provide a better basis for comparison, allowing viewers to see the similarities in their appearances.

What Happens In Mark Harmon’s NCIS Return & What It Means

The scenes featuring both the older and younger actors playing Gibbs were compelling, and the visual effect of him transforming into his younger self was particularly impactful. This face morph effectively highlighted how quickly three decades had passed for his character. It wasn’t just a way to move between scenes; it visually represented the years Gibbs was remembering and how much he had changed. Throughout the episode, older Gibbs continues to reflect on his former team and his past, and the face morph felt like a direct entry into his memories.

This marks Harmon’s first return to NCIS: Origins since the show’s beginning, and his second appearance within the NCIS franchise after leaving the original series in Season 19. Gibbs’ appearance on NCIS: Origins highlights the show’s focus on key moments from his past, and could also offer clues about what’s to come. Now alone, Gibbs is revisiting memories, particularly those involving Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino). Some viewers speculate that this revisiting might allow Gibbs to address unresolved issues from their past.

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2025-11-13 01:07