16-Year Original NCIS Death Decision Proves Ducky Wrong
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For over two decades, viewers have watched as the relationship between Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Donald "Ducky" Mallard has played out on screen, and NCIS: Origins just ironed out a long-standing point of contention between the friends. While NCIS heartbreakingly said goodbye to Ducky (David McCallum) during the show's 21st season after the actor's unexpected passing, NCIS: Origins has been able to bring a version of the character back to life alongside an early version of Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell in the past timeline of the show and Mark Harmon in the present timeline, and built up the pair's iconic friendship.
While Gibbs and Ducky's connection was always clear, it wasn't always obvious how the pair became so close. As a thoughtful confidant who always stood by Gibbs throughout their mutual time on NCIS, Ducky was someone who held up a looking glass for the stoic character after seeing him through some of the toughest times in his life. While Ducky was always there for Gibbs in times of need, during one of Ducky's most difficult moments, he chose not to lean on his close friend, which read as strange at the time to NCIS viewers who were watching live.
Though it was revealed during an NCIS season 7 episode that Ducky's mother, Victoria Mallard, had passed, the medical examiner chose to keep it to himself for some time before sharing it with the larger team. An oddity at the time, even if just for how long Gibbs had known Ducky, NCIS: Origins season 3 episode 3, "Return of the Mack", proved the choice to be even stranger than originally anticipated.
NCIS: Origins Proves Ducky Not Informing Gibbs Of Victoria's Death Was A Mistake
While her appearances on the original NCIS were slim, Victoria Mallard (Nina Foch) was someone viewers recognized when she was brought up after appearing on the series in early episodes. An outspoken, mischievous, and sometimes oblivious mother, Victoria was somewhat embarrassing to Ducky, but charmed the rest of the MCRT during her time in the medical examiner's office. Giving viewers a different view of Ducky, getting to see the younger version of Victoria (Caroline Lagerfelt) during NCIS: Origins season 3 episode 3, "Return of the Mack", during a visit to Camp Pendleton was exciting, and shifted the perspective of the original NCIS story.
When Ducky failed to deliver the news of his mother's death to Gibbs in the original series, it seemed somewhat strange, but with the little viewers had seen of Victoria, was fairly easy to excuse away. Knowing, however, that Gibbs had met Victoria long before her first appearance on NCIS in its early days, changes things a bit. NCIS: Origins choosing to see Victoria visit Pendleton as she becomes more involved in the team's activities, also pushed Gibbs and Ducky closer throughout the episode, which makes it stranger that Ducky didn't let Gibbs in all those years later.
Ducky choosing not to let Gibbs know about his mother's passing or allow him the opportunity to support him and say goodbye was a mistake, more than ever after knowing about their earlier relationship from Origins.
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Ducky & Gibbs' Odd Similarities Explain Their NCIS Friendship
Although the way that Gibbs and Ducky handle their personal lives aren't exactly the same, their strange similarities and sensibilities are something that connects them, solidifying their long-term friendship. Gibbs, known for being a stoic man who quietly deals with his grief and strife without burdening others, does expect others to be somewhat different in the way that they share their problems. Ducky, who seems like a more gregarious and extroverted person throughout his time on NCIS, may appear like a person who would be outward with his feelings, but he's more like Gibbs than viewers (or Gibbs himself) expect.
The Victoria story on NCIS: Origins, which allows the series to lean into some established characters and breathe new life into storylines that may have been dormant or over for years, does more than just bringing more of Ducky's past into the series. By bringing his mother into the picture and reminding viewers of the partial snub that would happen later in life, NCIS: Origins is able to deepen the lore between Gibbs and Ducky even further. The pair's similar styles has always been a reason they click and a reason they clash, but NCIS has established Gibbs and Ducky as an epic friendship for a reason.
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NCIS: Origins
- Release Date
- October 14, 2024
- Network
- CBS
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Austin Stowell
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
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Kyle Schmid
Special Agent Mike Franks
NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, preceding the events of the original series. The series introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs as a new special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. Under the leadership of NCIS legend Mike Franks, Gibbs navigates his role within a tenacious, unconventional team.
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NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
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