The romantic tension between young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino) on NCIS: Origins has kept viewers guessing since the first season. Their almost-kiss in the Season 1 finale left fans wanting more. But the Season 2 premiere took a different turn, with Lala surviving a terrible car crash and Gibbs moving on with Diane Sterling (Kathleen Kenny), the woman who becomes his second wife according to the original show’s timeline.
The co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North recently shared why that intimate moment between Lala and Gibbs never happened the way audiences expected. They explained that while the feelings between both characters are real, the timing was simply wrong.
“The Right Decision for the Characters” at That Moment
When asked about the near-kiss in the first season finale, Monreal confirmed the creative team made a deliberate choice.
“We felt it was the right decision for the characters. They both really wanted to [kiss] in this moment, but it wouldn’t have been right for Gibbs to let that happen because he had this immense news to tell her. It just wouldn’t have been truthful in that moment. So he pulls away and tells her the truth.”
Gibbs had just decided to turn himself in for the death of Pedro Hernandez. His confession to Lala in the pool ruined what could have been a romantic moment. The showrunners believed Gibbs pulling away showed honesty in his character rather than leading Lala on.
Gibbs’ Fear of Losing Someone He Cares About
The second season dives deeper into why Gibbs chooses not to pursue a relationship with Lala despite his obvious feelings. Mariel Molino, who plays Lala, explained the character’s perspective in an interview with Us Weekly.
“As much as he has incredible feelings for Lala, he’s trying to protect his heart from the thought of losing her again. It’s [him] just not wanting to open up his heart again just to have it ripped out again.”
Austin Stowell shared similar thoughts with Parade, noting how much Lala means to Gibbs in the bigger picture of the NCIS universe.
“This is somebody that he’s writing about in Alaska 40 years down the line, so this is obviously someone that he cares about very, very deeply.”
The nearly fatal car accident that Lala suffered at the end of Season 1 made Gibbs pull back even more.
Physical Intimacy vs. Emotional Connection
The showrunners made it clear that the lack of a kiss or physical relationship does not mean the emotional bond between Gibbs and Lala is weak. Monreal told Deadline that the connection between them will continue to be explored even without a full romance.
“He’s afraid of losing her. I mean, he lost the love of his life in Shannon. Now he has these unique and strong feelings for Lala. She almost died and he backed away. All of that is going to be explored this season. We’re not just going to leave it there.”
The show follows the NCIS canon, meaning Gibbs eventually marries Diane. The writers had to respect that timeline while still making the prequel interesting. North explained that the relationship with Diane was necessary to follow the original story.
“We knew they had to get married and this year. We actually had text for how Gibbs proposed. We didn’t play that actual text here, but we know in canon what he said to propose, and it didn’t feel like our normal Gibbs.”
Lala’s Feelings Remain Strong Despite the Obstacles
Mariel Molino admitted that Lala still loves Gibbs even as she watches him build a life with Diane. The Season 2 premiere showed Lala returning to work after her accident, only to find Gibbs already in a new relationship.
“She still loves Gibbs, but she also has to respect the fact that he’s moved on and he has a girlfriend, and Lala is just as proud as Gibbs, and so she’s not going to let that show. But I mean, if we were being honest, yes, I think she would love to explore that.”
Molino also told TV Insider that Lala feels resentment toward Gibbs because he did not visit her in the hospital after her crash. That absence made Lala believe he did not care, pushing her to bury her own feelings even deeper.
A Split Heart for Gibbs
David J. North described Gibbs’ emotional state at the end of the fall finale as complicated. Gibbs married Diane in Las Vegas after a conversation with Lala in his car gave him the push he needed to commit.
“Split. I think that deep down, these feelings that he has for Lala are undeniable, but she’s a coworker, and also it’s difficult. Life is complicated. And Diane came into his life, and those feelings are real, too, and I think he maybe kind of shoves down the feelings for Lala and goes for what’s there and what’s really more possible.”
The showrunners believe Gibbs followed Lala’s advice in his own way. She told him not to let his past stop him from finding happiness. He took those words and used them to say yes to Diane’s offer to move to Los Angeles, leading to a spontaneous wedding.
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What Viewers Can Expect When the Show Returns
The midseason finale aired on December 9, 2025. NCIS: Origins will return on February 24, 2026, at 9/8c on CBS. The show moves to a new timeslot, so viewers should mark their calendars.
Monreal teased that Lala will have a strong reaction to Gibbs’ marriage when the team finds out.
“She definitely has a reaction. Everybody has a reaction. It’s huge news. As we know, gossip spreads like wildfire in that place. It is because it’s a family. It’s just because everybody cares and loves each other. So there will be a big reaction from our team, including Lala.”
Austin Stowell’s Gibbs continues to navigate his feelings for both women while building his career at NIS. The show has already introduced a possible new love interest for Lala, a man named Manny played by Miguel Gomez, which could change the romantic landscape even more.
NCIS: Origins Season 2 is available to stream on Paramount+ for those who missed the fall episodes. The midseason return will pick up right where the Vegas wedding cliffhanger left off.
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