Did 'NCIS: Origins' Tease Season 2 Undoing a Key Character's Death?

The Mystery of Lala’s Fate in NCIS: Origins

Fans of NCIS: Origins are left wondering whether the show has truly killed off a main character or if the death might be revisited in future seasons. The latest speculation stems from an Instagram post shared by Mariel Molino, who plays Lala, on Monday, July 28. In the photo, she posted an image of her dog at the same Paramount lot where NCIS: Origins is currently filming new episodes. The shot closely resembles a previous post by Kyle Schmid, who plays Mike Franks, after he returned to film his scenes.

Molino's return to the set comes three months after the season 1 finale, which left Lala’s fate ambiguous following a tragic car accident. In the episode, Lala was on her way to Gibbs’ (Austin Stowell) house when she swerved to avoid hitting a child in the street. Her car flipped multiple times, and she appeared to die on the spot. While the scene left fans questioning whether Lala was truly dead, it also sparked discussions about the show’s connection to the original NCIS series.

Original NCIS fans were not surprised by the potential death, as they know that Gibbs had four wives throughout the series: Shannon, Diane, Rebecca, and Stephanie. However, the finale kept Lala’s fate just vague enough to keep viewers guessing. Molino, however, seemed more certain about her departure from the show.

What Did the Cast Say About Lala’s Fate?

In April, Molino spoke to TVLine about her time on the show, expressing both nostalgia and relief at moving on. “I am going to miss our crew,” she said. “Our crew and our cast, we get along so well. I miss seeing all the familiar faces every morning, joking around, doing this show that we love to do so much.” She added, “I feel really lucky. I really like these guys, I like my team, I really like my character. So, I do miss them, but it’s definitely nice to have a little break as well.”

Molino also mentioned other projects she has in the works, including Die Like a Man and Vgly. Meanwhile, the show’s creators, Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, as well as Stowell, remained tight-lipped about confirming Lala’s death.

North told Us Weekly that while the show couldn’t promise Lala’s survival, it would provide answers in season 2. “We can’t promise that [Lala is alive], but we can promise that you’ll get an answer if you come back in season 2,” he said. He added that Molino was aware of the risks involved in the storyline. “Mariel knew going into this that we were going to take big swings and she was on board for whatever was the best way to make the audience feel something in a truthful way. That’s what we’re doing.”

Monreal hinted that ending the season with Lala’s life in the balance was always part of the plan. “That was really our ultimate goal from the start—to make a show that the fans of the original show loved and felt satisfied by,” she explained. “But it’s also a show that new viewers can come in from the beginning of NCIS: Origins.”

A Show Rooted in Canon

Monreal emphasized the importance of staying true to the NCIS universe while introducing new characters. “We’re really keen on sticking to canon events. We’re strict about that. We want to pay respect to the mothership. We both have written for the mothership and do love that show. But we also love branching out into our new characters and digging into their emotional lives.”

As fans await the return of NCIS: Origins, the question of Lala’s fate remains one of the biggest mysteries. The show returns to CBS on Tuesday, October 14, at 9 p.m. ET, promising to deliver answers to some of the most pressing questions surrounding its characters.