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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNCIS: Origins goes back to 1991, long before Leroy Jethro Gibbs became the familiar team leader of the original NCIS. The CBS prequel follows Gibbs at the start of his federal career, when he is a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS office at Camp Pendleton and still learning under Mike Franks.
Here is the current guide to the cast, premise, seasons, streaming options, notable guest appearances, and what CBS has announced for Season 3.
What is NCIS: Origins about?
The series is set in the early 1990s and focuses on the formative years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Rather than beginning with the experienced investigator seen in the long-running NCIS, it presents Gibbs as a younger agent working cases with a rough, developing team at Camp Pendleton.
Mike Franks serves as Gibbs’ mentor and superior. Their relationship is central to the show because it explores how Franks’ methods and instincts helped shape the investigator Gibbs would eventually become.
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The series premiered on October 14, 2024, with the two-part episode “Enter Sandman.” CBS Studios produces the drama. Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North are the co-showrunners and co-wrote the premiere.
The main cast
| Actor | Character | Role in the series |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Stowell | Leroy Jethro Gibbs | The young special agent at the center of the story. |
| Mariel Molino | Lala Dominguez | A member of the Camp Pendleton team and one of Gibbs’ colleagues. |
| Kyle Schmid | Mike Franks | The NCIS veteran who leads the team and mentors Gibbs. |
| Tyla Abercrumbie | Mary Jo Sullivan | A member of the early NCIS group. |
| Diany Rodriguez | Vera Strickland | Another member of Gibbs’ Camp Pendleton team. |
| Caleb Foote | Bernard “Randy” Randolf | A member of the fledgling investigative unit. |
| Mark Harmon | Older Leroy Jethro Gibbs | The older Gibbs narrates the story and returns on screen for the Season 3 storyline. |
Mark Harmon’s involvement is worth clarifying. He is not simply an off-screen narrator in the series overall. Harmon plays the older Gibbs, and CBS has announced that he will appear on screen in every Season 3 episode as part of a present-day mystery connected to Gibbs’ Camp Pendleton years.
How many seasons are available?
CBS and Paramount+ currently list two completed seasons of NCIS: Origins. Season 2 was renewed on February 20, 2025, and its episode guide contains 18 episodes, concluding with “Hollywood Ending.”
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Season 2 continues the team’s early cases while dealing with the aftermath of Lala’s Season 1 car crash. It also broadens the show’s connection to the wider NCIS universe through appearances by established characters.
Notable NCIS guest characters in Season 2
- Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, played by Adam Campbell.
- Dwayne Pride, played by Scott Bakula.
- Jackson Gibbs, Gibbs’ father, played by Robert Taylor.
- Mason, Mike Franks’ brother, played by Philip Winchester.
These appearances give the prequel more than a standalone origin story. They connect Gibbs’ early career to people, relationships, and institutions familiar from the original franchise without requiring viewers to have watched every episode of NCIS.
What is planned for Season 3?
CBS has renewed NCIS: Origins for Season 3 as part of its 2026–27 lineup. The season is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
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The broadcast schedule is changing. The show previously occupied a 9 p.m. slot, but Season 3 is scheduled for Tuesdays from 10 to 11 p.m. ET/PT, following NCIS at 8 p.m. and NCIS: New York at 9 p.m.
Season 3 is also being described as a shift in format and emphasis. Instead of relying primarily on the narrated flashback structure, CBS says it will center on an action-driven, season-long mystery in the present day that is tied to Gibbs’ Camp Pendleton past. Mark Harmon is scheduled to appear as older Gibbs in all episodes.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Where can you stream NCIS: Origins?
In the United States, the complete currently available series streams on Paramount+. The service’s program page lists both seasons and identifies the show as having all available episodes streaming.
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New episodes also air on the CBS Television Network. Your exact options depend on which Paramount+ plan you use:
| Option | What it offers |
|---|---|
| CBS broadcast | Watch episodes through a local CBS affiliate when the show is airing. |
| Paramount+ Premium | Includes the live feed of the local CBS station, as well as on-demand episodes. |
| Paramount+ Essential | Does not include the live CBS feed. New episodes are available on demand the day after the CBS broadcast. |
| CBS website | The show page includes a “Watch Now” button and a “Full Episodes” area with Season 1 and Season 2 selectors, though access can depend on location and provider authentication. |
A note about the Season 2 finale listing
The official listings currently contain a date conflict for “Hollywood Ending,” the Season 2 finale. The CBS public series page lists May 5, 2026, while Paramount Press Express lists July 28, 2026. Because those pages do not agree, it is safer to check the episode listing on the platform or network page before relying on either date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the prequel fits the original series
NCIS: Origins is designed as a character-focused prequel rather than a reset of the franchise. Its central question is how Gibbs became the investigator audiences already know: what he was like as a new agent, which cases shaped him, and how Mike Franks influenced his approach to law enforcement.
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The early-1990s setting also gives the series a distinct period identity. The Camp Pendleton office is less polished than the later NCIS teams, and the cases unfold around a younger group still establishing its methods and reputation.
Where to find reliable episode information
- For the official series overview and full-episode links, use the CBS NCIS: Origins page.
- For episode titles, cast information, and CBS announcements, check Paramount Press Express.
- For streaming access in the United States, use the Paramount+ show page.
FAQ
Is NCIS: Origins a prequel to NCIS?
Yes. It is set in 1991 and follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs at the beginning of his NCIS career at Camp Pendleton.
Does Mark Harmon appear in NCIS: Origins?
Yes. Harmon plays and narrates older Gibbs. CBS has also announced that he will appear on screen in all Season 3 episodes as part of a present-day mystery.
Where can I watch NCIS: Origins?
In the United States, both currently available seasons stream on Paramount+. CBS also broadcasts new episodes. Paramount+ Premium includes the live local CBS feed, while Essential provides new episodes on demand the day after broadcast.
When does Season 3 of NCIS: Origins premiere?
CBS has scheduled Season 3 for Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The season is expected to feature a present-day mystery linked to Gibbs’ Camp Pendleton past.
The Bottom Line
NCIS: Origins is a 1991-set prequel about Gibbs’ first years as an NCIS agent under Mike Franks. Two seasons are currently listed as available, both streaming on Paramount+ in the United States. Season 3 is scheduled for October 6, 2026, with a new Tuesday 10 p.m. time slot and a larger present-day mystery involving older Gibbs.
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