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“NCIS: Origins” Unearths Surprising Backstory for Gibbs and Ducky
Fans of the long-running NCIS franchise got a deeper dive into the formative years of Special Agent Leroy Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and NIS medical examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (Adam Campbell) in a recent episode of “NCIS: Origins.” The installment revealed a surprising imbalance in the significance of their early friendship, with Ducky cherishing a pivotal moment that Gibbs barely recalled.
The narrative transported viewers back 12 years, to a day in Washington, D.C., where a seemingly casual conversation between the two men irrevocably altered Ducky’s life path. While Gibbs, engrossed in a ship-in-a-bottle, offhandedly suggested Ducky consider a career as a medical examiner for NIS, this remark resonated deeply with Ducky.
For Ducky, who had endured a traumatic experience at a refugee camp that led him to vow off working with living patients, the prospect of working with the deceased offered a perfect solution. Actor Adam Campbell, who portrays the younger Ducky, shared his insights with Parade, stating, “I think the reason why Ducky has this fond memory of Gibbs is because what Gibbs might have felt was an off-the-cuff remark that, ‘You’d make a good medical examiner,’ Ducky holds that dearly. I think that moment between Gibbs and Ducky years ago changed the course of Ducky’s life.”
However, Gibbs’s recollection of this period is understandably overshadowed by the profound tragedies he would later face, including the devastating murders of his wife, Shannon, and daughter, Kelly. Campbell noted the emotional disconnect, explaining, “There’s almost a disappointment that Ducky has like, ‘Wait, man, you don’t remember this amazing connection we had?’ And Gibbs is rather standoffish with him, and almost suspicious of him, like Mike Franks [Kyle Schmid] is of him, like, ‘Who is this guy in a bowtie and a funny hat telling these long, drawn-out stories?’”
Fortunately, the episode charts the rekindling of their bond. It’s revealed that Gibbs also influenced Ducky’s unique approach to autopsies, suggesting he speak to the deceased rather than adhere to his mentor’s silent methods. This advice proved instrumental, shaping Ducky into the iconic medical examiner portrayed by David McCallum in the original “NCIS.”
Campbell elaborated on Ducky’s character arc within the episode: “In this episode, Ducky goes on his own journey and he realizes that the connection he used to have with living patients he now needs to develop in his relationship with patients who’ve passed away. That’s a cool discovery that we learn in Ducky’s interaction with the victim in this episode.”
The episode also touched upon Ducky’s personal history, specifically his estranged half-brother. This unresolved family narrative informed Ducky’s sage advice to Franks regarding his own complicated relationship with his brother, Mason (to be played by Philip Winchester).
“I think you see a bit of emotion there from Ducky,” Campbell observed. “There’s a sadness to him when he talks about that he had a brother.’
And so, he gets to speak to Franks with real integrity. He knows how important it is to have a sibling, ‘Don’t waste this relationship that you’ve got.
Make the most of it.’”
“NCIS: Origins” continues to air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, with episodes available for streaming the next day on Paramount+.