The WORST episodes of NCIS: Origins

Every episode of NCIS: Origins ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of NCIS: Origins!

In 1991, years prior to the events of "NCIS," a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.

Last Updated: 3/24/2026Network: CBSStatus: Continuing
The Gambler
star
4.00
1 votes

#1 - The Gambler

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/24/2026

When the NIS Regional Director tries to transfer Mary Jo, she reconnects with an old friend from Atlantic City to help investigate the roadside deaths of two Marines.

Enter Sandman (1)
star
7.44
490 votes

#2 - Enter Sandman (1)

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/14/2024

Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office, where he forges his place on a gritty ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Enter Sandman (2)
star
7.51
429 votes

#3 - Enter Sandman (2)

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/14/2024

Gibbs and the gritty ragtag team continue their investigation at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
star
7.54
216 votes

#4 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/2/2025

The team investigates the murder of a Marine who had recently been handpicked for a classified mission. Also, Wheeler’s personal life is upended, Lala is thrown by unexpected news from Vera, and Gibbs and Diane double-date with Randy and his wife.

Directors: Jann Turner
Incognito
star
7.56
382 votes

#5 - Incognito

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/11/2024

Gibbs goes under cover for the first time with Lala as NIS works the case of a dead Navy seaman who may have been sharing top-secret intel that poses a threat to national security; Lala struggles with an unexpected development in her personal life.

Directors: Pete Chatmon
One Flew Over
star
7.56
363 votes

#6 - One Flew Over

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/25/2024

NIS investigates the murder of a dementia-afflicted Jane Doe. Also, flashbacks reveal the first time Gibbs met Franks.

Directors: Jessica Lowrey
Watch Now:Apple TV
Feelin' Alright?
star
7.57
67 votes

#7 - Feelin' Alright?

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/17/2026

When a lieutenant’s water-logged body is discovered with a potential connection to an international smuggling ring, NIS Panama agents are called in to assist, and Gibbs comes face-to-face with an old nemesis: Special Agent Dwayne Pride. Once the two are assigned to a dangerous undercover mission together, Gibbs must find a way to move on from their past.

Watch Now:Amazon
Bend, Don't Break
star
7.58
434 votes

#8 - Bend, Don't Break

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/21/2024

A murder near Camp Pendleton leads Gibbs and the team to a suburban mall in San Diego, where Gibbs takes matters into his own hands. Franks receives an unexpected visit.

Directors: John Terlesky
Writer: Jon Worley
Sick as Our Secrets
star
7.58
357 votes

#9 - Sick as Our Secrets

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/2/2024

Gibbs and the team investigate the case of a Navy priest who was killed in the confessional booth and may have been targeted by mistake. Meanwhile, Randy shows Gibbs the ropes of working a protective detail while struggling with a personal situation.

Directors: Edward Ornelas
Last Rites
star
7.60
403 votes

#10 - Last Rites

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/4/2024

With the countdown on to an execution, Franks races to extricate the location of a missing body from a death row inmate and honor a promise he made to the victim's sister before time runs out.

Directors: Lionel Coleman
Watch Now:Amazon
Lean on Me
star
7.61
74 votes

#11 - Lean on Me

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/10/2026

When a marine captain shows up at Camp Pendleton exhibiting symptoms of a fatal virus, NIS goes on lockdown and Gibbs is forced to take charge. As panic spreads, the team races to determine whether it really is a deadly outbreak or something else entirely.

Who By Fire
star
7.61
234 votes

#12 - Who By Fire

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/21/2025

When the body of a college swimmer washes up on the beach, the team must determine if it was an accident or murder. Also, Gibbs prepares for his first interrogation.

Directors: Jessica Lowrey
Watch Now:Apple TV
Monsoon
star
7.61
320 votes

#13 - Monsoon

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/2025

The team investigates the murder of a veteran who fell on hard times after serving in Vietnam. In turn, the discovery leads Franks to reflect on his own struggles following the war. Meanwhile, Gibbs considers a new path forward.

Touchstones
star
7.66
331 votes

#14 - Touchstones

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/2025

When the evidence room is broken into and significant cash goes missing, the team looks into a connection to a recent case; Lala opens up to Gibbs; Kowalski struggles to move forward.

Directors: Anya Adams
Happy Birthday
star
7.66
219 votes

#15 - Happy Birthday

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/18/2025

When an anonymous tip leads to the discovery of a young Marine’s body at a chilling crime scene, Randy believes it could be connected to a previous case where a coin was left in the victim’s throat. Also, Franks tries to track down priceless packages meant for his brother, Mason.

Directors: Lionel Coleman
Fools Rush In
star
7.69
149 votes

#16 - Fools Rush In

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/3/2026

As the team discovers Gibbs’ drunken Vegas elopement with Diane, the newlyweds contemplate their future. Also, the team investigates a fatal movie theater bombing with a connection to the Pruitt compound where Mason is staying.

Watch Now:Amazon
To Have and to Hold
star
7.71
312 votes

#17 - To Have and to Hold

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/24/2025

The team works the case of an investment advisor found dead shortly after her release from prison. Also, Mary Jo is left reeling by an unexpected development in her personal life.

Directors: Diana Valentine
Flight of Icarus
star
7.72
341 votes

#18 - Flight of Icarus

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/27/2025

The team investigates the death of a famed Marine commander’s son, while a pivotal part of Franks’ past involving his family is revealed.

Directors: Ruben Garcia
The Funky Bunch
star
7.76
256 votes

#19 - The Funky Bunch

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/14/2025

Gibbs and Franks investigate the disappearance of a young Marine connected to a mysterious compound with a charismatic leader, and Lala’s fate is revealed.

Watch Now:Amazon
End of the Road
star
7.76
219 votes

#20 - End of the Road

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/9/2025

When Lala’s favorite CI is shot, the team joins forces with Oceanside PD to determine who was behind the attack. Also, Franks visits his brother Mason at the compound, and Gibbs’ relationship with Diane is tested when she gets a job in Los Angeles.

Directors: Loren Yaconelli
Watch Now:Amazon
All's Not Lost
star
7.77
426 votes

#21 - All's Not Lost

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/28/2024

Still grieving the loss of his wife and daughter, Gibbs helps the team work a case involving a missing girl. Meanwhile, Franks finds himself at odds with a team member, Lala's personal life meets work, and the moment that irrevocably changed Gibbs' life is revealed.

Bugs
star
7.79
284 votes

#22 - Bugs

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/14/2025

Vera receives an unexpected call from Bugs, who claims he’s ready to answer more questions from prison after being identified as the sniper known as “Sandman.” When she arrives, Bugs has suddenly changed his mind, prompting the team to reconsider the case and race against the clock to try and stop another tragedy.

Directors: Jessica Lowrey
Watch Now:Amazon
From the Ashes
star
7.80
308 votes

#23 - From the Ashes

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/31/2025

The team investigates the brutal murder of a military sergeant found burned in her car, a case Franks suspects could have a connection to the assault of his estranged wife.

Funny How Time Slips Away (1)
star
7.81
246 votes

#24 - Funny How Time Slips Away (1)

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/11/2025

When a naval officer mysteriously dies in the ‘90s, Gibbs and the team travel to the small dust-blown town of Serenity, Calif., where they encounter secret-harboring residents, an uncooperative sheriff and an investigation that will reverberate for decades.

No Man Left Behind
star
7.83
228 votes

#25 - No Man Left Behind

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/4/2025

Tensions rise when Franks’ estranged older brother, Mason, blows into town, desperate for help after hitting rock bottom. Also, the team investigates the robbery of a Navy bank while Lala, still struggling after her accident, makes a decision about her future.