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NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Last Rites

Critic's Rating: 4 / 5.0
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The hands behind NCIS: Origins should have titled this episode “There’s Something About Mike Franks.” I think the man just about felt every emotion under the sun in “Last Rites.”

It doesn’t take long after meeting Franks to see he is an acquired taste for some. So, it’s not at all surprising that he manages to rub people the wrong way.

The NCIS character has a big heart. Unfortunately, his mouth is connected to his brain, and that thing is soaked in brown liquor. Still, it wouldn’t be NCIS: Origins without the franchise vet.

Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Mariel Molino as Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez, Caleb Foote as Bernard “Randy” Randolf, and Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)

Before we get into it, let me start by saying I went into NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 5 thinking Franks had lost all his marbles. However, by the end, I fully understood his POV.

Did You Also See Things Mike’s Way By The End Of The Episode?
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Mike Franks Is The Kind Of Man That Leads With His Fists

Despite coming around to seeing things from Mike’s point of view, it still has to be said that the man was nuttier than a squirrel up a tree. There is unhinged, and then there is whatever Hope did to Franks.

A few flashbacks revealing Hope’s interactions with Mike over the last six years would have enhanced the episode.

It might be morbid, but does anyone else have an itch to know what Hope told Mike to drive him so crazy? That guy was all kinds of creepy. How was Hope married in the first place?

Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)

The strangest thing about what he did was how he went about disposing of the bodies. He buried them according to their religion. Is that considerate or just wrong on every level?

Let me save you some time. Murdering them overshadows any possibility of their being even the tiniest bit of redemption. The guy was a monster. And it seems like he’s good at bringing out in others.

Remember how I said I saw things Franks’s (Kyle Schmid) way by the end? That’s because Hope had the audacity to tell the victim’s sister that she needed forgiveness for getting her sister killed.

And why? Because she drove her sister to a bar with “fancy drinks” where she met a nice guy. Yeah, he was that crazy.

If you’re like me, that was your breaking point. That was when you were ready to reach through the TV and strangle the character.

So, in that regard, I understand entirely why Franks was ready to rip Hope’s head off.

NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 5
(CBS/Screenshot)

But how awesome was it watching Franks tell Hope they finally discovered the location of Anna’s body right before he died? That was so delicious, and I wanted more.

As dramatic as NCIS: Origins is, you’d think they would’ve had Hope react. Oh, well.

At least the case is closed, and Franks can move on because he has some cleaning to do in his personal life.

No One On NCIS: Origins Is Safe From The Work Place Drama

It’s obvious why Mike Franks married Tish. Steel sharpens steel. Did you see how quickly she was able to shut him down? Lord, that is one intimating lady.

I’m pretty sure that was fear in Mike’s eyes when she got on him about how intensely he was taking the case. And when he told her it wasn’t her business, I thought she was going to kill him right then and there.

Mariel Molino as Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)

However, the lady of the house was absolutely right when she responded that it becomes her business when Mike brings it into her house. Don’t worry about Mike; Tish is going to set him straight.

Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later because Mike seems to struggle with talking and interacting with the opposite sex. Strickland is the biggest victim of this.

It’s unclear what went wrong with Franks and Strickland’s partnership. It was briefly discussed during the NCIS: Origins Season 1 Premiere but with vague details.

In “Last Rites,” we saw multiple turning points in their relationship. What did Vera mean when she said, “How can I be partners with someone who doesn’t even see me when I enter the room?”

That was a loaded question she asked, and we still haven’t really gotten an answer to what happened. However, it may be a moot point by now.

Franks came through in the end for Vera by getting Wheeler to approve Strickland’s profiling program.

Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks and Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)

Little do they know they are just getting Gibbs one step closer to finding the man who killed his family.

What NCIS: Origins Needs More Than Anything Is A Staff Therapist At The NIS

In NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 4, we saw the moment Gibbs received the news that his family had been killed. In that instance, he made a decision that we finally saw the results of.

Gibbs walked right towards the enemy camp during a battle, hoping to be taken out. There are no words to describe what a cry for help that was.

Like Lala said about his psych eval, Gibbs has depression due to trauma, impulsivity, and unaddressed anger issues. So, let’s give him a gun and send him after bad guys.

All that says is that this series clearly takes place in the ‘90s. There’s no way that would fly today.

Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)

At least Lala softened the news by revealing that she and Franks also had disturbing evaluation results. This put Gibbs and Lala one step closer to whatever entangles their stories.

However, he really flew off the handle when he pulled his gun out on those two Hispanic guys in the truck. The optics really weren’t excellent, but to be fair, those guys were misogynistic, racist jerks. They had it coming.

Gibbs (Austin Stowell) definitely needs to meet with a therapist twice a week, but I guess fishing will do the trick for now. I don’t think catching bass is going to stop him or his plan.

NCIS: Origins Could Either Make Or Rewrite The History Of Gibbs

NCIS: Origins has done a great job tip-toeing around what we know is coming. According to Gibbs from NCIS, he eventually found the man who murdered his family and killed him.

Still, there could be more to that story than was previously revealed. With Franks having Strickland build a profile for the killer, we could see Gibbs build his plan at any time.

Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks
(Greg Gayne/CBS)

Quite frankly, it doesn’t seem like Franks or Gibbs should be out in the field right now. Both have shown that they need to get their heads right.

There is only so much Mary Jo can keep in her “vault” for the team. Speaking of Mary Jo, I am officially praising NCIS: Origins for the character.

If you read previous reviews for the show, you know I dinged the series for using the cliched “black woman in admin who is everyone’s secretary” trope. Mary Jo is not that woman.

It’s apparent that Mary Jo’s role is to be wise and sane. Just about every episode so far has featured Mary Jo giving all the comfort and sweet words to either Mike or Gibbs.

However, I doubt even she could talk Gibbs out of killing the man who murdered his family. Either way, unless the show pivots to some previously unrevealed secret, it’s inevitable.

Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)

CBS‘s NCIS: Origins sure knows how to keep its audience guessing.

Do you think Mike went overboard with his reactions in this episode?

How many episodes do you think it will take before we see Gibbs and Lala end up together?

Please drop a comment below to let me know what you like about this episode, and join me again when I review the next episode of NCIS: Origins!

Watch NCIS: Origins Online

Jasmine Blu

Wednesday 6th of November 2024

This continues to be a fascinating series for me because I don't want to take anything away from Austin Stowell who is doing a remarkable job as young Gibbs and gives this really tempered but emotional performance every week. I don't envy this man at all because he has to bring a younger version of this iconic character to life under the scrutiny and judgment of the masses.

But Kyle Schmid is slaying this series. This frankly feels more like Mike Franks' story than Gibbs', and I enjoy that. I think referencing it as "Origins" rather than some hardline statement about Gibbs specifically broadens the scope of what the series can explore, and they're taking full advantage of that. I feel like Gibbs was the Trojan Horse to tell Mike Franks' story, and it's so clever, and I'm loving every second of it. The show sneaks up on in me the best ways.

I loved this episode. I loved the exploration of that inexplicable bond between two people that others can't quite figure out. Franks had a deep connection with Hope, and it makes sense that no one else understood that... it's so easy for his partner to think that it had romantic undertones or for the others to think he got too involved in a case when sometimes there just isn't a proper description or definition; some dynamics just transcend them. Those are among my favorite depicted, truthfully.

I felt the episode had some editing quibbles, like you, I felt some more context to that case and relationship over the years could've been nice, and the jump to the closure was a bit grating.

Loved this episode for Franks, though.

I love Mary Jo because she's so much more than "just a secretary," and she's breaking away from that with a bit more depth. I also like that there's respect for the profession in that sense because, unfortunately, now, the reaction to that position is that it's somehow beneath or not good enough. Mary Jo is so insightful, and she's quietly the glue that keeps this merry band of misfits on point. I love how she tapes into the vulnerabilities of other characters.

I also need more of Vera and Franks. A lot to unpack there. The characters, especially the secondary characters, certainly need more fleshing out across the board, but I'm struggling with Lala the most.

Jasmine Blu

Thursday 7th of November 2024

@Joshua Pleming, Lala is probably their weakest point right now. They have to do something with her character quickly because given that they mentioned this story is at least partially about her, I'm not seeing it at all. She's the least developed and has the least presence.

Kyle had to have studied the OG series to nail Franks because he has the mannerisms and everything DOWN. Every time he's onscreen he has my undivided attention. Haven't enjoyed a mustached man this much since Jack Pearson. Different vibes, same yum factor.

I'll defend Stowell to the hilt because he really is knocking this out of the park. Has a jawline that could cut glass and still gives puppy dog when he cries. Gimme more.

Joshua Pleming

Thursday 7th of November 2024

Girl, yes! Yes to all of this! We are absolutely on the same page. Origins was definitely the correct titling for the series and the Trojan horse reference is exactly what happened in this episode. Kyle Schmid is insanely well cast as Franks. All I see is the character. I'm definitely down for more Vera and Franks because that seems very unresolved. And Mary Jo is the vibe, the moment, and the solution. I absolutely love that character so much. I'm so glad the series is moving away with the cliched role she was originally presented in with more screen time and moments with central characters. As for Lala, girl, I don't know what's going on there. She has had no character development beyond what was established in the premiere. At least Austin Stowell is killing it. My god, that man is a whole presence.

Jasmine Blu

Thursday 7th of November 2024

@Dean, I had zero expections watching this series, I only did it out of a mild curiosity. I, too, get hesitant about prequel series. But, yes, they're really nailing this.

Young Gibbs is so accessible in this, and I love that. I've noticed that one of the criticisms is that who he is here doesn't align with the Gibbs we know as an older man. But, why would he? I think that's the point. I love that we're getting this rare insight into this very raw and vulnerable person before he conditioned himself to hide behind a dozen walls.

I mean, he lost his family, his child, it makes all the sense in the world that so soon after that, he's more of an open wound than we ever would've known him to be in the OG series.

Dean

Wednesday 6th of November 2024

@Jasmine Blu, Yeah I binged watched it over the weekend. After Winchesters I was hesitant into another prequel series and I absolutely love the performances of the actors who play both Young Gibbs and Young Franks. Honestly despite the tragedy young Gibbs has a vulnerability that he rarely shows in the old show.

Marie

Tuesday 5th of November 2024

I like that you’re able to help me sort out every episode because for some reason I can’t figure things out as clearly as the original NCIS episodes. Or maybe I’m just getting more senile the older I get. So thanks for your narrative I really appreciate it

Joshua Pleming

Thursday 7th of November 2024

Oh, thank you! I appreciate you saying that so much and I'm so glad I was able to help clarify the events for you. To be honest, I struggle to keep up a lot of times, so I get it and I want to make sure everyone gets the full experience of every episode. Again, thank you and I hope to hear from you again!

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