NCIS: Origins Hit Wheeler With Some Major Shakeups Tied To His Secret Relationship, But I’m Glad One Good Thing Came Out Of It

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Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” are ahead!

Patrick Fischler’s character, Cliff Wheeler, isn’t a main character on NCIS: Origins, but he’s still a vital part of the show. We’ve learned he’s the Special Agent in Charge of the NIS Pendleton office in the early 1990s, and we’ve also seen glimpses of his personal life, including a secret relationship with FBI agent Noah Oakley. Wheeler’s hidden sexuality became a key part of a recent episode, leading to some difficult changes for him. However, I was pleased to see at least one positive outcome from the situation.

What Happened To Wheeler In This Week’s NCIS: Origins

The show NCIS: Origins strongly hinted that Cliff Wheeler was gay and had a past relationship with Noah Oakley, and this was confirmed in a recent episode. While they had previously broken up, the episode began with Wheeler and Oakley rekindling their romance, fueled by Wheeler’s loneliness. However, Wheeler’s wife discovered the affair and, despite previously stating she wouldn’t divorce due to financial reasons, she decided to end their 17-year marriage.

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I’m really starting to appreciate Doc Tango on NCIS: Origins! Honestly, I think he’s one of the most overlooked characters on the show, and I wish more people would notice how great he is. He deserves a lot more attention than he gets.

It’s not surprising Wheeler didn’t immediately share what was happening. But as he dealt with his divorce, he was bombarded with requests at work, and just wanted a moment to himself in the break room. The stress became too much, and he blurted out to everyone in the office that he and his wife were separating.

Cliff Wheeler already had a lot to handle, but this week’s case became even more complicated when he met Colonel Casey Montgomery. Montgomery was a signal intelligence officer who had worked with the murder victim, Lance Corporal Natasha Horvat. To clear his name, Montgomery had to reveal he’d spent the night with another man at a motel in Temecula after dropping Horvat off. While this proved he wasn’t involved in the murder, it also meant admitting to a same-sex relationship. In 1992, being gay in the military was seen as a security risk – people feared blackmail – and could have led to his discharge.

Initially, Wheeler planned to reveal Montgomery’s secret, even though he risked exposing his own. Luckily, Mary Jo Hayes intervened, and Wheeler ultimately decided to keep Montgomery’s sexuality private. However, the episode ended with Wheeler suggesting Noah Oakley for a job in Washington D.C., a position Vera Strickland was also pursuing. It seems Wheeler is trying to get his boyfriend to move far away, likely as a way to suppress their relationship.

How Some Good Came Out Of This For Wheeler

Cliff Wheeler is going through a really difficult time, and it doesn’t look like things will improve soon as the second season of NCIS: Origins nears its end. A positive development, though, is that he’s become closer to Mary Jo. She discovered his past relationship with Oakley in the episode “No Man Left Behind” when both men independently told her about a disastrous date they’d shared. Mary Jo kept this information private, but when she found out Wheeler planned to harm Montgomery, she revealed what she knew, hoping to convince him to reconsider and not destroy Montgomery’s life.

I was so relieved when Wheeler finally made things right with Mary Jo! It was a little rocky at first, but seeing them connect at that bar – the one all the NIS agents frequent – felt like a real turning point. What really struck me, though, was how much of a safe space Mary Jo became for him. She assured him she’d keep his secret, and it’s amazing that he finally has someone he can truly be himself around, without fear of judgment. I’m genuinely excited to see how their friendship develops, and I’m definitely wondering if Wheeler’s secret will come out before the season ends!

The midseason finale of NCIS: Origins airs next Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern on CBS. New episodes won’t return until sometime in 2026, so while we wait, you can rewatch previous seasons on Paramount+.

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2025-12-03 06:09