Summary
- Mariel Molino shared a behind-the-scenes image from the set of
NCIS: Origins
as production kicked off. - The image revealed that the title of episode 1 will be “Enter Sandman.”
- The title could refer to the time period of the prequel, which follows the younger years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
A behind-the-scenes image has revealed the title of NCIS: Origins episode 1. The spinoff prequel show is set to follow the younger years of Mark Harmon’s long-running NCIS character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who departed the flagship program midway through season 19 in 2021. While Harmon will return as the narrator of the upcoming NCIS: Origins, the younger version of the character will be played by Austin Stowell, who will be surrounded by an ensemble cast that includes Mariel Molino, Kyle Schmid, Tyla Abercrumbie, and Diany Rodriguez.
On her official Instagram account, Mariel Molino shared a story celebrating the fact that production is kicking off on the upcoming CBS series, which is set to debut as part of the network’s 2024-2025 season alongside the returning shows NCIS (for season 22) and NCIS: Sydney (for season 2). The image Molino shared depicts her touching her script for the first episode of the season, which is titled “Enter Sandman.” See a screenshot of the story below:
What Does The NCIS: Origins Pilot Episode Title Mean?
The Title Is A Metallica Reference
It seems likely that the title “Enter Sandman” is a reference to the 1991 Metallica song of the same name. It is possible that this could be indicating that every episode of the NCIS spinoff will be named after a song, a tradition that extends to shows as varied as Grey’s Anatomy and Hannah Montana. However, this is likely not the case for the NCIS spinoff, as no other shows in the franchise have made a habit of including music-themed titles.
Some
NCIS
episodes have music-inspired titles, such as season 4’s “Twisted Sister” and season 6’s “Silent Night,” but the franchise ultimately hasn’t used this trick often.
It is also possible that the title could be playing off the themes of the song itself. The title refers to the character from European folklore who uses magical sand to put people to sleep, and the lyrics conjure images of restless sleep and nightmares. The episode could involve Gibbs dealing with nightmares or an inability to sleep in some way as he prepares to join the NCIS team at the Camp Pendleton office, where he will meet his eventual mentor, Mike Franks.
Related
15 Essential Gibbs Episodes To Watch While Waiting For NCIS: Origins
Here’s 15 essential NCIS episodes for Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs to watch while waiting for the NCIS: Origins spinoff starring Austin Stowell.
Ultimately, the most likely explanation for the episode title is that it is a reference to the time period in which NCIS: Origins takes place. The show will be set in the 1990s, at around the time that the Metallica song was a big hit. However, even if that is the reason for the episode’s title, there are many songs that were hits in the early 1990s, so the specific choice of title could still imply that sleep or nightmares are part of the storyline, applying a double meaning to the name of the song.
Source: Mariel Molino/Instagram
NCIS: Origins
Set before the original entry in the long-running procedural crime-drama franchise, NCIS: Origins takes place in the 1990s and follows a younger Leroy Gibbs at the beginning of his career. The series will focus more on Gibbs’ journey to becoming the star investigator he became in the original series and his relationships with past partners and colleagues.
- Cast
- Mark Harmon
- Seasons
- 1
- Showrunner
- Gina Lucita Monreal , David J. North
- Creator(s)
- Mark Harmon , Sean Harmon