word of advice ! Spoilers ahead for NCIS : Origins episode 13 , " Monsoon . "

One hang around mystery from arguablyNCIS ' most tragic twist is ultimately answered 18 years later inNCIS : Origins , but it create a new plot of ground cakehole along the style . While theNCISfranchiseis not new to spinoffs , the Mark Harmon - spearheaded offshoot is the first one to be set in the past . pick up after Leroy Jethro Gibbs ' family is mangle , NCIS : Originsfollows him as he rebuilds his life , which includes joining the then - bid NIS . The first few episodes of the prequel stay reliable to this premiss , but as the show extend on , its storytelling has proceed to expand .

Since refund from its mandatory winter break , NCIS : Origins has usedAustin Stowell ’s young Gibbsso sparingly , even though the field day are still bookended by Harmon ’s narration as the original translation of the grapheme . Instead , Kyle Schmid ’s Mike Franks has been at the center of its storytelling . After ascertain about his pre - Vietnam War deployment life in Texas , NCIS : root instalment 13 , " Monsoon " uncover what happen to him after he came back from being deployed . Subtly , the oblation also answers a major mystery that stem from arguably Franks ' biggest grief on the flagship that befall 18 years ago .

Austin Stowell as Gibbs in NCIS_ Origins and Sean Murray as Tim McGee in NCIS

NCIS: Origins Episode 13 Introduced Liam O’Neill’s Mother

The Mother Of Mike Franks' Son In NCIS Has Been Unknown Until Now

As old Gibbs talks about his most loyal friend and mentor , NCIS : Originsepisode 13 extend back in time to 1982 Texas . The flashback establish that Franks was in some variety of romantic relationship with a char named Mary O’Neill . The outing does n’t spend much prison term in this setting , because they finally split up after Franks chose to take a mule business that would have taken him to San Diego . Despite that , considering the name and the timeline , Mary is the mother of Liam O’Neill — Franks ' surprise sonin NCIS time of year 4 , episode 18 , " Iceman . "

NCIS : origin just released its worst Leroy Jethro Gibbs sequence and it indirectly highlights the rationality why the mothership has gone downhill .

By the prison term this was revealed in the flagship serial , Muse Watson ’s variant of the character was already an established Edgar Albert Guest star in the flagship . His family relationship with Gibbs allowed him to pop in and out , especially after the then - MCRT loss leader ’s near - death experience . InNCISseason 4 , episode 18 , however , his coming back was drive by his own tie to Liam . regrettably , even Gibbs did n’t know about the son ’s existence , because his father only memorize about him a couple of years prior to him being a victim . It turned out , Liam cross down his dad after his mother croak .

Austin Stowell in NCIS: Origins and Mark Harmon in NCIS

Franks Claimed That Mary Left Him, But NCIS: Origins Episode 13 Reveals Otherwise

It Was Franks Who Walked Out On Mary

It ’s great to see that CBS is usingNCIS : Origins ' storyto fill some gaps in its narration . The franchise has been on the air for more than two decade , but because of its adjective format , it has n’t been able to amply explore the personal lives of characters beyond its effect cast . The prequel has done a great job flesh out Gibbs ' grief and thirstiness for revenge during this metre , so it ’s great to see that Franks also benefits from the show being capable to retroactively ramp up on what ’s known about the character ’s future .

… Franks offered some introductory information about his relationship with Mary , saying that they were only together for 6 months and that he did n’t know that she was fraught when she left him . As seen in " Monsoon , " however , it was Franks who chose to leave .

Mary O’Neill’sNCIS : Originsepisode 13 is well - executed — if not for a small but important game fix that it creates . Back in 2007 ’s " Iceman,“Franks order Josiah Willard Gibbs that it was Mary who left him . They did n’t have a lot of time discuss the matter , because MCRT was also seek to solve the case . That tell , Franks offered some canonical information about his human relationship with Mary , saying that they were only together for 6 months and that he did n’t do it that she was pregnant when she left him . As ensure in " Monsoon , " however , it was Franks who chose to impart .

NCIS Season 22 Gary Cole as Alden Parker In The Office

Liam’s Mother Twist Makes His Story In NCIS So Much Sadder

It Highlights How Franks' NCIS Life Had Been Defined By Tragedy

Franks and Mary ’s last fundamental interaction inNCIS : Originsepisode 13 is alsothe last time that Liam ’s parents were ever in contact . For what it ’s worth , he is likely internally struggling after his time in Vietnam , and as " Monsoon , " highlights , it is n’t until he meets Tish later on that he is able to get back on his foot . While Franks and Tish also cease up carve up at the end of the same outing , NCIS : Originssuggests , through Harmon ’s recital , that she was his true love .

After a protracted break , NCIS : Origins has confirmed my bad fears about how Mark Harmon ’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs ' prequel is going to pan out .

That said , the agency Watson ’s version spill about Mary inNCISseason 4 , sequence 18 build that despite their wretched , and now discombobulate snag , they had some fond memories . Although they did n’t get to spend much meter together as a family , Franks and Liam were able to immediately connect when they connect just two year before the latter ’s death . ManyNCIScharacters have tragic personal lives , but somehow , NCIS : Originsjust made Franks worse .

Muse Watson and Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks in NCIS

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Summary

The NCIS franchise is an American medium enfranchisement that focus on military - related criminal investigations by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service . It began with NCIS in 2003 , a spin - off from JAG , and has since exposit to include multiple spin - offs position across unlike locations .

Melissa O’Neill in NCIS: Origins

Franks and Liam in NCIS

NCIS (2003) TV Show Poster

NCIS

NCIS

NCIS: Origins