NCIS: Origins Post Mortem: Is [Spoiler] Gone for Good? And What’s the Show’s Plan for Pedro Hernandez?

The following contains spoilers from the Oct. 21 episode of CBS’ NCIS: Origins .

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This week on CBS’ NCIS: Origins , Special Agent Mike Franks was subject to a pop quiz — meaning, a grilling from Gibbs’ father, Jackson.

As soon as Jackson ( Longmi re’s Robert Taylor) appeared on Mike’s (Kyle Schmid) doorstep, it was clear that the two shared a complicated past, dating back to NIS’ investigation of the deaths of Jethro’s wife and daughter, who earlier that year were killed by drug kingpin Pedro Hernandez — while Jethro was finishing his tour in Operation Desert Storm.

Here, Jackson suggested/asked/demanded that Franks cut Jethro loose from the team, saying it didn’t work out. His son is a sniper, no Navy cop. But Franks said he sees potential for the younger Gibbs to be a great agent.

The talk then turned to NIS’ handling of Shannon and Kelly’s murder, and how Franks had “no jurisdiction” to chase their killer into Mexico.

Jackson left in a huff, and later confronted his son about his true interest in NIS.

“You think I don’t know…? It took me a minute, but I put it together,” Jackson told Jethro (Austin Stowell). “That sonuvabitch killed Shannon and Kelly and runs to Mexico, and you’re just gonna let that go? No. You didn’t join NIS to become a cop , you joined to hunt him down — and not just to cuff him and walk away.

“I’m not going to let you throw your life away just to put that bastard down” in the name of “vengeance,” Jackson asserted. “It’s not worth it.”

Jethro begged to differ. Vehemently.

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“You don’t tell me what it’s worth!” he roared, before ordering his father to “ go home . I want you out by the time I get back.”

Jackson took his son’s wishes to heart, leaving behind a new mattress for him to sleep on and also quietly retrieving the tin of “rules” that Jethro and Shannon had compiled, and Jethro just threw into the curbside trash.

Is Jackson gone for good?

“We absolutely adore Robert Taylor, and he and Austin we think are magic together. Robert and Kyle [Schmid], Jackson and Franks, are also fantastic,” Origins co-showrunner David J. North shares with TVLine. “We will see Robert again, in Episode 5 — and in a unique way.”

The prequel spinoff’s grand plan for Pedro Hernandez, who per NCIS lore was at some point in time taken out by Gibbs in sniper mode, is a bit more cryptic, however. Has Gibbs pulled that trigger yet? Or is that moment yet to come?

Pedro Hernandez, co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal tells TVLine, “is such a huge part of the canon of the show, and we definitely are adhering to that and servicing that. So yes, there will be moments of Pedro Hernandez that I think our fans will find that both satisfying and enlightening.”

What did you think of NCIS: Origins Episode 3, including Gibbs’ first “elevator stop” and the Jackson/Franks and Jackson/Gibbs scenes?

Want scoop on NCIS: Origins , or for any other TV show ? Shoot an email to InsideLine@tvline.com , and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!

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