NCIS: Origins Season 2 Premiere Unveils Lala’s Fate: Is She Dead?
NCIS: Origins kept fans on the edge of their seats for six months, eagerly awaiting to learn Lala’s fate—did she survive the car crash or not?
The season 2 premiere on Tuesday, October 14, opened with Gibbs (Austin Stowell) contemplating the transformations happening at NCIS. The voiceover was delivered by Mark Harmon, portraying an older Gibbs who took viewers back to the pool where he and Lala (Mariel Molino) nearly shared their first kiss in the season 1 finale.
“The neighbors had no idea about how Lala used to sneak into their pool for a swim. They only knew of a polite young woman who asked to use it a few months back,” older Gibbs shared. “Her left thigh muscle was crushed; she suffered a collapsed lung and a traumatic brain injury.”
While the woman remained off-screen, her serious injuries were depicted, revealing extensive scars on her leg and neck.
“That was her journey towards recovery. She felt the hospital’s rehab wasn’t sufficient, so she took matters into her own hands. Many long nights, too,” Gibbs continued as Lala finally appeared. “She pushed herself to the limits because all she wanted was to return to work so we wouldn’t have to be without her.”
Confirmation of Lala’s survival followed the season 1 finale, which aired in April, depicting Lala appearing lifeless after a catastrophic car accident. In that episode, while on her way to Gibbs’ home, she swerved to avoid a girl in the street, resulting in her car flipping multiple times in what seemed to be a fatal crash.
The shock of her potential demise wasn’t unexpected for long-time NCIS fans familiar with Gibbs’ history of four wives: Shannon, Diane, Rebecca, and Stephanie. Despite the finale leaving Lala’s fate ambiguously lingering, Molino, 32, implied she would not be returning in interviews after the episode.
“[I will miss] our crew. We all get along so well. I miss seeing the familiar faces each morning, sharing jokes, and doing this show we love,” she shared with TVLine in April. “I feel incredibly fortunate. I truly enjoy my team and character. So yes, I miss them, but I also appreciate a bit of a break.”
Molino spoke about other upcoming projects post her apparent departure from NCIS: Origins, including Die Like a Man and Vgly. Creators Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North—alongside Stowell—remained reserved about Lala’s fate.
“We can’t assure that [Lala is alive], but we promise you’ll get answers if you tune into season 2,” North told Us Weekly at the time. “We aimed to take bold risks. Mariel understood from the start that we were making bold choices and was on board for what would resonate best with the audience. That’s our goal.”
Monreal indicated that it had always been planned for the season to end with Lala’s life hanging in the balance.
“Our ultimate aim has always been to create a show that satisfies fans of the original while welcoming new viewers to NCIS: Origins,” Monreal detailed. “We designed it for viewers to easily join in without confusion, really connecting with our characters and their arcs. I feel we’ve achieved that.”
She added: “We are committed to respecting canon events. We take that seriously. We want to honor the original series. Having written for the original, we are fans ourselves. But we also enjoy diving into the new characters and their emotional narratives.”
NCIS: Origins airs on CBS every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.
