It’s safe to say the NCIS franchise swung big when it introduced audiences to NCIS: Origins. For one, not everyone has been on board with the casting of the younger Gibbs.
For many other viewers, including yours truly, the issue with the show had a lot to do with the story being framed around new characters, namely Special Agent Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez.
The main mistake NCIS: Origins made was immediately establishing that Gibbs’s origin story would revolve around Lala.
However, sticking with the series has paid off, with things finally falling into place.
Lala was never an unlikable character. What bothered a lot of viewers was that the focus on Lala and Gibbs didn’t make sense at the time.
Well, thirteen episodes in, the real issues are obvious now, and it took a massive twist to see things clearly.
All in all, we have the writers to blame and to thank for the emotional rollercoaster no one realized they were signing up for.
For The First Five Episodes of NCIS: Origins, It Felt Like the Series was Torturing Viewers by Leaving Us in The Dark About What Made Lala Such an Important Character
If you kept up with the NCIS: Origins reviews, you probably noticed that there wasn’t a lot of love for Lala in the earlier episodes. Now that we are well past the halfway mark, I can genuinely say that I have come around to liking the character.
However, this change in mindset made me curious as to when exactly the shift happened. So, we’ve already established that the show messed up by throwing a massive spotlight on the character.
From there, the question in everyone’s mind was, “What’s so special about Lala?” Sadly, that question would take many episodes to answer, if at all.
In the meantime, audiences tuned in week after week hoping there would be some kind of peek behind the curtain of Lala’s life.
And, yet, week after week, we were left with the same burning questions. Why were we supposed to care about this new character when we’re here to explore the history of fan-favorite NCIS characters?
It also didn’t help that the series made Lala out to be a potential love interest of Gibbs.
For one, it didn’t make sense for Austin Stowell’s character to have a romantic arc when he was supposed to be getting over the loss of his wife and daughter.
Then, like a beacon of hope, NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 6 seemed like we would finally get a clue to the enigma that was Lala.
The Only Lala-Centered Episode Of NCIS: Origins Left Viewers with More Questions About the Character Than Answers
Well, anyone who watched “Incognito” knows there were, sadly, more questions than answers about Lala by the end.
For one, it was revealed that the NIS agent is pretty messed up in the head. She has some kind of compulsion to self-sabotage like she did with her ex-boyfriend, who she cheated on multiple times.
The cause for this misguided behavior? No freaking clue because there hasn’t been a deep dive into Lala since that episode.
Again, there wouldn’t have been as much scrutiny on the character if the NCIS: Origins Premiere hadn’t gone out of its way with a Mark Harmon voiceover stating, “This is the story of her (Lala.)”
Thankfully, that was overshadowed by a monumental twist in the middle of NCIS: Origins Season 1.
Lo and behold, it was revealed on “Vivo o Muerto” why the series had been putting Lala and Gibbs into so many sexy situations.
It Literally Took One Man Dying and Another Man Lying Until He Was Blue in the Face, But Audiences Were Finally Given the Perfect Opportunity to Relate to Lala, And It Worked
It was the gasp heard around the world with the shocking revelation on NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 9 that Gibbs had already gotten his revenge against the man who killed his wife and daughter.
If you’re anything like this TV Fanatic, you audibly gasped when the flashbacks revealed what Gibbs had done. But it finally made sense why he had been making eyes at Lala.
Even better, the setup allowed the audience to learn this news at the same time as Lala.
This well-thought-out plotting established a connection between the viewers and the character. It was a major turning point for Lala, the story, and every audience member watching.
For many viewers, this is when we started sympathizing with and relating to Lala because she no longer felt so out of place in the plot.
We still don’t know much about the character other than that she is incredible at her job, has a kind heart, and is easily underestimated by the male characters.
Upon rewatching the first half of NCIS: Origins Season 1, it’s clear that some of us were too harsh on the character and should’ve spent that time dissecting what Gibbs had been up to.
The moral of the story is that we just needed to trust the process and what the writers had in store.
At the end of the day, the actress did a phenomenal job with what she was given to work with.
Speaking of Mariel Molino, has anyone else noticed that she has heterochromia? She has two different-colored eyes. Just a fun fact about a talented actress.
Whatever Your Feelings Are About Special Agent Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez, You Have to Admit Mariel Molino Is Acting Her Butt Off
Granted, I’m not super familiar with Mariel Molino’s work, but that’s only because her filmography is more Latin-based, where subtitles are a necessity.
That said, she’s still starred in many critically acclaimed shows, such as The Watchful Eye as Elena Santos, Promised Land as Carmen Sandoval, and Narcos: Mexico as Nurse Bianca.
Sure, she’s not a household name yet, but given her talent, I have a feeling she’s not leaving TV screens any time soon.
Hopefully, NCIS: Origins is planning another Lala-centric episode. Now that we’re all on board with the character, it’s pretty much all anyone wants to see at this point.
The last few episodes have been centered around Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid), and for good reason. He has been the breakout star of NCIS: Origins.
However, now is a good time to pivot back to Gibbs and expand on his and Lala’s budding romance.
Which means circling back to Lala and her somewhat tattered love life. Whatever happened to her boyfriend anyway?
Suffice it to say, I am all in for a Lala and Gibbs shipping, but Miss Dominguez will have to get her life right first. The last thing Gibbs (Austin Stowell) needs is more drama, but we love to see it.
How did you feel about Lala when the character was first introduced?
Are you on board with Gibbs and Lala coupling up?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think, and join me again when I bring you fun questions and opinions about NCIS: Origins.
Watch NCIS: Origins Online
Living in La-La Land: How NCIS: Origins Took Lala From Zero to Hero
It was a rough start for Mariel Molinos’ Lala but viewers have come to love the character. TV Fanatic breaks down when and how that happened.
NCIS: Origins’ Austin Stowell Embodies a Younger, Taller Gibbs (With a Chiseled Chin That Can Cut Glass). Why Isn’t That Enough for Viewers?
Austin Stowell had big shoes to fill when he took on Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but luckily the man is a big, tall, drink of water.
Are NCIS: Origins’ Ratings Suffering Because CBS Scorned Fans by Canceling NCIS: Hawai’i?
Have NCIS: Origins ratings suffered because NCIS: Hawai’i fans were too angry to watch the new show? Never scorn the audience!
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