‘NCIS: Origins’ Bosses Say Gibbs Is Torn Between Lala & Diane in Fall Finale

As NCIS: Origins heads into its highly anticipated fall finale, the creative team is teasing an emotional storm brewing around young Leroy Jethro Gibbs — and fans are already bracing themselves. According to the show’s producers, Gibbs finds himself caught in a deeply personal crossroads involving Lala Dominguez and Diane Sterling, two women who are shaping him long before he becomes the iconic team leader NCIS fans know today.

And the fallout from this love-tension twist may define Gibbs’ path for seasons to come.

A Love Triangle That Reveals a New Side of Gibbs

While NCIS: Origins has stayed true to the franchise’s crime-solving roots, its prequel format gives audiences something they never truly got from the original series: a look at Gibbs’ vulnerabilities.

Producers say that in the fall finale, Gibbs faces one of the most intimate dilemmas of his early life — choosing between two women who represent very different sides of himself.

Lala, the grounded, emotionally open Marine, challenges Gibbs to be honest about who he is beneath his quiet exterior.

Diane, sharp, ambitious, and unpredictable, pulls him into a world of intensity that fans know will eventually shape the man he becomes.

The creators emphasize that this isn’t simply a romantic storyline — it’s a pivotal moment that helps define Gibbs’ emotional blueprint.

“He’s not the Gibbs we know yet.”

Showrunners explain that this chapter is crucial because it reveals a Gibbs who hasn’t yet built the walls viewers are familiar with.

“We’re watching Gibbs at a point in his life where he’s still learning who he is,” they tease.
“Both Lala and Diane expose different strengths — and different fears.”

This internal conflict offers rare insight into why Gibbs later becomes a man of rules, distance, and controlled emotions.

In other words… this is the beginning of the Gibbs mythology fans have always wanted to understand.

Diane’s Arrival Changes Everything

The arrival of Diane Sterling — a character fans know from later NCIS seasons — shakes up the prequel timeline in a big way. Her dynamic with Gibbs is electric, unpredictable, and destined to become complicated.

Producers suggest that her presence will “shift the energy of the finale,” pushing Gibbs into choices that have long-lasting consequences, both personally and professionally.

Lala’s Connection to Gibbs Deepens

Meanwhile, Lala’s connection with Gibbs takes on new emotional weight. Their growing bond, built on loyalty and shared experience, represents a version of Gibbs’ life that could have been — one rooted in stability rather than chaos.

Fans are already torn, mirroring Gibbs’ own struggle.

A Finale of Romance, Tension, and Fallout

What makes this upcoming episode so gripping is that it isn’t just about romance — it’s about identity.

Who is Gibbs choosing to become?
What kind of man does he want to be?
And which relationship will leave the biggest mark on his future?

The showrunners promise the finale will deliver:

Emotional turning points

A surprising choice

A cliffhanger that sets up the next chapter in powerful ways

Why Fans Need to Pay Attention

Anyone who has followed Gibbs’ journey through the original NCIS knows how deeply his past relationships shape him — from heartbreak to loss to the bitter humor he later develops.

Origins is finally filling in those missing pieces.

And according to the bosses, the decision Gibbs makes in the fall finale will echo throughout the character’s entire future.

The Bottom Line

With emotions running high, loyalties tested, and the weight of Gibbs’ destiny hanging in the balance, the NCIS: Origins fall finale is shaping up to be one of the most compelling episodes of the season.

One woman represents who he could be.
The other represents who he’s destined to become.

And Gibbs can’t avoid the choice forever.