The latest trip to the 1990s just delivered one of the most exciting crossover moments for NCIS fans. NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 11 brought a young Dwayne Pride (played by Shea Buckner) to Camp Pendleton, and the meeting between the legendary agent and a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) did not go smoothly. The episode, titled “Feelin’ Alright?,” aired on March 17, 2026, and gave viewers a fresh look at how these two iconic characters first crossed paths long before their teams joined forces in the main series.
The Big Meeting: Gibbs vs. Pride
The episode revealed that Gibbs and Pride have a history that goes back to 1981 in New Orleans. Pride once punched Gibbs’ father, Jackson, in a bar and threw both Gibbs men out. Gibbs carried that anger with him for years, and when Pride showed up at Camp Pendleton to assist on a case involving stolen weapons, the tension was immediate.
What Gibbs did not know was the full story. His father later admitted that he actually swung first, making Pride’s actions more about self-defense than aggression. This revelation forced Gibbs to rethink his grudge while trying to work alongside the agent from the Panama office.
Pride came to Pendleton with a completely different energy than Gibbs. He was laid back, offered advice like “go with the flow,” and suggested Gibbs loosen up when it came to his struggling marriage with Diane. The contrast between the intense, rule-following Gibbs and the easygoing Pride made for great television.
The Fed Five Origins Get Explained
This episode was extra special for longtime franchise fans because it started building the story of the Fed Five. This legendary team included Gibbs, Mike Franks, Dwayne Pride, Felix Betts, and Dan McClane, and they handled the toughest cases the agency could throw at them.
Mark Deklin has been cast as a younger Dan McClane, and his arrival signals that the show is finally giving viewers the backstory they have wanted since the Fed Five were first mentioned in the main NCIS series years ago. The team worked together on major cases, including the Privileged Killer case that made their reputation.
For viewers who only knew Pride from his own show in New Orleans, seeing him as a younger agent added new depth to his character. He was confident but not yet the seasoned leader fans remember from NCIS: New Orleans.
Vera Strickland Gets Overlooked
One of the most talked-about moments from the episode involved Vera Strickland (Diany Rodriguez). The story revealed that Vera did most of the work that eventually made the Fed Five famous, but she was pushed aside while the men got the credit and the photo op.
Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) spent much of the episode acting like a fanboy around the visiting agents, ignoring Vera’s contributions. It took Vera literally slapping Franks to knock some sense into him and remind him that the women on the team deserved respect. Franks finally stood up for Vera and admitted he was wrong, showing some character growth for the legendary agent.
Mary Jo Hayes (Tyla Abercrumbie) also looked out for Vera, proving that the women on the team had to support each other in the male-dominated 1990s workplace.
Gibbs Goes Undercover as Leland Spears
Fans of the original NCIS know the name Leland Spears from conversations about Gibbs’ undercover work. This episode showed the birth of that alias when Gibbs went undercover to take down an international smuggling ring.
Gibbs worked alongside Pride during the dangerous mission, and despite their personal issues, they managed to get the job done. Austin Stowell shared that playing undercover scenes is always exciting because it lets Gibbs step outside his usual personality and try on a different identity.
Diane Meets Lala
The personal drama in Gibbs’ life also took center stage. Gibbs brought his wife Diane (Kathleen Kenny) to a bar where Randy (Caleb Foote) was practicing stand-up comedy. This led to the first meeting between Diane and Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino).
The moment was awkward but important. Diane mentioned the interrogation tapes Gibbs had been watching nonstop, and she also revealed that she still had not decided about a job offer in Los Angeles. The tension between Gibbs’ wife and the woman he clearly has feelings for at work is building toward something, and viewers are watching closely to see how it all plays out.
Austin Stowell described Gibbs as constantly suppressing his feelings for Lala because he does not want to go through that kind of pain again or jeopardize her position on the team. He called the situation a “powder keg waiting to blow.”
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Episode 12 Release and Streaming Information
NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 12 is titled “The Gambler” and will air on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The show continues its regular weekly schedule on CBS from 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT.
For viewers who prefer streaming, new episodes are available live on Paramount+ with the Premium plan. Subscribers with the Essential plan can watch the episode on demand the day after it airs.
Global audiences can also catch the show. In the UK, NCIS: Origins streams exclusively on Paramount+. Viewers in Canada and Australia can find the series on the Paramount+ platform as well. The show is not available on Netflix or other major streaming services, so a Paramount+ subscription remains the best way to keep up with Gibbs’ early years.
The season continues to build toward more Fed Five stories, and with Dan McClane now in the picture, fans can expect more connections to the larger NCIS universe in the coming weeks.
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