A familiar face is returning to the NCIS universe. Adam Campbell is reprising his role as the young Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard in an upcoming episode of NCIS: Origins. The episode, titled “The Edge,” serves as a tribute to the late David McCallum, who originally played the beloved medical examiner for 20 seasons. Campbell’s appearance will explore Ducky’s early dynamic with a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs and reveal the backstory for one of the character’s most famous traits.
The Edge Episode Acts as a Tribute
The upcoming episode of NCIS: Origins is designed to honor the memory of David McCallum, who died in 2023. The show’s producers confirmed the episode is a specific tribute to their former colleague. Co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North stated, “We wanted to do this episode to honor the memory of our dear friend David McCallum. He was a beloved member of the NCIS family for so many years.”
The episode’s title, “The Edge,” holds special significance. It is the name of an instrumental song composed and recorded by David McCallum himself in 1967. The piece will be featured prominently throughout the episode. Campbell shared that the song was played during the table read and acts as a central theme. He described it as “a central theme of the episode, and it’s such a cool piece of music for Ducky to walk around with.” The song is also widely recognized for being sampled in the intro to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s 1999 hit “The Next Episode.”
Ducky and Gibbs Reunite After Twelve Years
The storyline for “The Edge” brings Ducky from the Washington, D.C. headquarters to Camp Pendleton. His official mission is to shadow the team on a case and evaluate whether the California office needs its own in-house medical examiner. The episode is set in 1991, and this visit marks Ducky’s reunion with Special Agent Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell.
Their reunion comes twelve years after their first, life-changing encounter in 1980. Campbell explained that their initial meeting was profoundly significant for Ducky, as it was Gibbs who challenged him and suggested he might make a good medical examiner. However, the two characters remember the event differently. “I don’t think Gibbs puts the same amount of weight on that interaction,” Campbell noted. “There is, perhaps, in Ducky a slight disappointment, that Gibbs isn’t quite as fond of the reunion as Ducky is.” Despite this, the episode deepens their connection, with Campbell sharing that “they go from being familiar with each other to actually by the end of the episode, having a very, very deep connection.”
A Different Tone and New Revelations
Campbell has hinted that this episode has a unique feel compared to the rest of the series. He told reporters that the installment “carries a slightly different tone to the rest of the series.” He pointed to the presence of levity and described it as “quite a profound episode in terms of what we learn about Franks and Gibbs and Lala.”
Ducky’s arrival is met with suspicion by some of the team, especially Mike Franks, who is not thrilled about a visitor from D.C. potentially shaking things up. Yet, Ducky’s avuncular and calm nature allows him to connect with the team in a meaningful way. Campbell said that Ducky’s simple presence during an autopsy helps to “bring out” new dimensions in characters like Franks and Lala Dominguez “that we otherwise might not see.” He acts as a “healing balm” to their situations.
Honoring Ducky’s Legacy and Origins
For fans of the original NCIS, the episode will include several special nods to the character’s future. A key element explored is the origin of why Ducky famously talks to the dead bodies on his autopsy table. Campbell confirmed that the episode touches on this, saying, “He does leave California a slightly changed man because of his new understanding of you know, [his work].”
The actor also has a personal connection to the role and its legacy. When Campbell was first cast as a young Ducky for a 2014 episode of NCIS, David McCallum personally called him. The two met for lunch, and McCallum offered his advice on portraying the character. Campbell recalled that McCallum encouraged him to find his own interpretation, agreeing that Campbell shouldn’t try to do an impression but instead capture Ducky’s essence. McCallum described Ducky as “a calmness in the mayhem” and advised him “not to be afraid to find the comedy in Ducky.”
Returning to the set for this tribute was meaningful for Campbell, who felt “the magnitude, coupled with the fact that Mark Harmon wrote me the loveliest message at the beginning of the episode, to say how much it would mean to David that I was doing this.” The episode concludes with a parting gift from Ducky to Gibbs, which Campbell teased is a “little private inside joke” between them that long-time fans will appreciate.
When to Watch the Episode
The tribute episode “The Edge” is scheduled to air on Tuesday, October 28. NCIS: Origins Season 2 premiered on October 14 and airs new episodes on CBS as part of the network’s all-NCIS Tuesday night lineup. As of now, Campbell is only confirmed to appear in this single episode, though he has expressed his openness to returning, joking that “Every show should have more Ducky in it.”
Also Read: NCIS: Origins Season 2 Premiere: Lala’s Survival Revealed and Gibbs Starts a New Romance
