**Mark Harmon Returns to NCIS: Origins for Third Season Premiere**
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Television fans are in for a treat as the new season of *NCIS: Origins* prepares to hit screens, featuring the much-anticipated return of Mark Harmon. The third season is set to commence on October 6, and it promises to delve deeper into the formative years of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a character that Harmon famously portrayed in the original *NCIS* series.
*NCIS: Origins* serves as a prequel to the beloved police procedural, immersing viewers in Gibbs’s early career shortly after the loss of his wife and daughter in a tragic car accident. While the series stars Austin Stowell as a younger Gibbs, Harmon will reprise his iconic role as the elder Gibbs, appearing in every episode throughout the upcoming season.
Harmon, who has taken on the additional roles of executive producer and narrator since the show’s launch in October 2024, expressed his commitment to the franchise. “I’m here to help this franchise and this show, and these individual actors, who are all great,” he stated in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, highlighting his dedication to the continued success of *NCIS: Origins*.
The trajectory of Season 3 follows the emotional aftermath of the Season 2 finale, where fans were treated to a pivotal moment: the long-awaited kiss between Gibbs and his colleague, Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez, portrayed by Mariel Molino. Showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal explained that the decision to advance their relationship was a careful one, crafted to feel both surprising and earned. “We wanted to do something surprising, yet something that felt very earned,” she remarked. The characters’ evolving romance is expected to intertwine with Gibbs’s professional journey and his relationship with his mentor, Mike Franks, played by Kyle Schmid.
Moreover, the characters will grapple with the precarious possibility of their Camp Pendleton office closing, heightening the tension for the team. This season not only focuses on characters’ personal lives but also ventures into present-day storylines involving older Gibbs, creating a narrative bridge that links the prequel to the wider *NCIS* franchise.
Returning cast members for the new season include Molino’s character, Lala, alongside Schmid’s portrayal of Mike Franks and other familiar faces such as Mary Jo Hayes (Tyla Abercrumbie), Vera Strickland (Diany Rodriguez), and Bernard ‘Randy’ Randolf (Caleb Foote). With Harmon’s continuous involvement, fans of the franchise can expect a blend of nostalgia and fresh storytelling.
The upcoming season will consist of 10 episodes, a shift from the 18 episodes featured in each of the first two seasons. This change suggests a concise narrative focus, allowing deeper character exploration and arc development for the main cast.
*NCIS: Origins* Season 3 is scheduled to air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, following the popular programming block that includes *NCIS: New York* at 9 p.m. and the flagship *NCIS* series at 8 p.m. For those who prefer to watch on-demand, the latest episodes will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.
As *NCIS: Origins* prepares to launch its third chapter, viewers can expect a captivating blend of personal drama intertwined with investigative storytelling, all set against the backdrop of the early days of one of television’s most enduring characters.