‘NCIS: Origins – Season One’ DVD Review
Stars: Austin Stowell, Kyle Schmid, Tyla Abercrumbie, Caleb Foote, Diany Rodriguez | Created by Gina Lucita Monreal, David J. North
NCIS remains the longest-running scripted drama in CBS history, and even after 22 seasons it continues to draw a loyal audience. The latest season has just arrived on DVD, while Paramount+ keeps expanding its lineup of original series. With NCIS still thriving, the network decided to dive into the backstory with a brand-new prequel, NCIS: Origins.
Its announcement stirred controversy, particularly since it came at the expense of NCIS: Hawaii, which was cancelled, sparking backlash from disappointed fans. Despite that, NCIS: Origins proved successful, earning a quick renewal for a second season. Now, as the premiere of Season 2 approaches, Paramount Home Entertainment has released NCIS: Origins – Season One on DVD, giving viewers the perfect chance to revisit the story or catch up for the first time before the new season begins.
NCIS: ORIGINS begins in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS and follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, narrated by Mark Harmon. In the series, 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.
Prequel series have become a trend in television, with shows like Young Sheldon and Dexter: Original Sin paving the way. NCIS: Origins, created by Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, continues that tradition by exploring the early career of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell) as he begins his journey as a Special Agent with the NIS at Camp Pendleton.
The writing and direction are sharp, giving the series a strong foundation. Stowell brings depth and conviction to the young Gibbs, while the supporting cast – Kyle Schmid, Tyla Abercrumbie, Caleb Foote, and Diany Rodriguez – deliver solid performances that enhance the story. With well-paced character development, the show feels both fresh and respectful of the franchise’s legacy.
NCIS: Origins – Season One has been transferred to DVD in widescreen format in 1.78: aspect ratio. The audio track is an English Dolby Digital 5.1. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. All 18 Season One episodes are spread across 4 DVD Discs. The first two discs have 5 episodes each and the last two have 4 episodes each. The video quality of these episodes is really crisp and clean. The audio is clear. There are no signs of digital artefacts or audio anomalies.
In addition to 18 dramatic episodes on 4 discs. There are bonus features included on this DVD set; let’s take a look at what is included:
Special Features:
- Gag reel
- “NCIS: Origins Season 1- The Story Behind The Story” featurette
- “Retro Crime-Solving: The Sets And Style Of NCIS: Origins” featurette
The featurettes are solid, but for me, the gag reels steal the show. There’s just something endlessly entertaining about watching the cast stumble over lines and break character. The bonus content overall adds real value to the set, elevating it beyond the standard release. Fans of NCIS will definitely want to dive into the prequel series, NCIS: Origins. If there’s one drawback, it’s that this deserved a Blu-ray edition – something that would have made the package feel even more complete.
**** 4/5
NCIS: Origins – Season One is out now on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment.
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