So, since when has Leroy Jethro Gibbs kept a journal? NCIS: Origins shows the legendary agent in a different light in the premiere episode. But what could have driven him to jot down his past cases? Here's what the showrunners had to say.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for NCIS: Origins, so proceed with caution.
What's Up with Gibbs' Journal in NCIS: Origins? Since When Has He Kept One?
Across 19 seasons of NCIS, Leroy Jethro Gibbs has been anything but sentimental. It's exactly what landed him his job in the first place.
Apart from mourning the mysterious death of his wife and daughter, his stoic demeanor bodes well with his commitment to serving justice to the people.
This, however, changes when the premiere of NCIS: Origins shows him carrying a journal through his narration. What's that about?
"To tell an ending of justice, no matter the cost," Harmon's Gibbs wrote, "But this one wasn't like the others. This is a story I don't tell. This is a story... of 'her'."
Narrators usually hold their thoughts by penning them down, but Gibbs with a journal seems totally different in this scenario.
Heck, even fans were surprised but surmised that this may be his way of establishing his memories and experience before he's gone.
According to NCIS: Origins co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal, Gibbs owning a journal had long been teased since his journey to Alaska aka his last canon appearance in NCIS.
Co-showrunner David J. North adds in the same interview that when Gibbs reached Alaska, he was "searching for someone" and officially "found peace there."
Considering that there was no telling whether Gibbs could ever return from there, North said, "he knew he was never coming back." In this case, the journal makes sense.
"When we were writing that episode, we didn't really know what Gibbs would take with him," North explained, "One of the things was a journal because he's going to be in solitude. That worked out very well for us here at Origins."
READ NEXT: What is NCIS: Origins a Spin-Off Of, Exactly? Exploring the Franchise's Timeline
NCIS: Origins aired its premiere episode on October 14 at 9 PM ET on CBS.
Make sure to follow our official Facebook page for more news and explainer articles about your favorite films and TV shows!