NCIS Review: Everything Starts Somewhere (Season 18 Episode 2)

It seems like just yesterday we met Gibbs, Ducky, DiNozzo, Abby, and Kate when the death of a Navy commander brought them to Air Force One.

Now 18 seasons later, CBS’s top drama celebrates episode No. 400 with NCIS Season 18 Episode 2, “Everything Starts Somewhere.”

It’s a fun look back at Gibbs and Ducky’s first meeting. Adam Campbell returns as young Ducky, and Sean Harmon once again walks in his dad’s shoes as young Gibbs.

Following last week’s opening, which featured Gibbs shooting McGee, some viewers were upset there wasn’t more of an explanation.

To those fans, sorry you’ll have to be patient. Other than a quick text, there’s no movement on the counterfeit opioids operation. The story of Gibbs and Fornell chasing “the head of the snake” is set to stretch five episodes.

A dead body is found in the NCIS basement. When he is identified as Maurice Zucado, it ties back to the case that brought young Dr. Mallard and Marine Sergeant Gibbs into each other’s lives.

It’s 1980, Gibbs is about to start scout sniper school, while Dr. Mallard has become disillusioned with medicine following his time working at a refugee camp in Afghanistan.

After a run-in with Jonny, the head of the family, the duo talks their way out of trouble and a lifelong partnership is born.

The devoted friendship between Gibbs and Ducky is the foundation of NCIS. It’s one of the many reasons fans are still watching after 18 seasons.

Seeing where it all began is a real treat for those of us who’ve been here since day one. Sean Harmon and Campbell have the same easy chemistry as Mark Harmon and David McCallum, which makes this episode even more special to watch.

There’s a particularly nice scene where Ducky uses the pain of his lost love, which we saw in NCIS Season 12 Episode 3, “So It Goes,” to convince Gibbs not to give up on his relationship with Shannon.

At the same time, Gibbs tells Ducky that becoming a medical examiner would be the answer to his self-doubts. In the present, Gibbs tells Ducky he doesn’t blame him for losing Shannon and Kelly, he owes him, because “they were the best things to ever happen to him.”

Across two timelines and with four different actors, it’s quintessential Ducky and Gibbs.

Over the years we’ve heard snippets of Gibbs and Ducky’s various adventures. It would be great if these flashback episodes became a somewhat normal occurrence. Sean Harmon and Campbell are too good to waste.

The more the team digs into the case, the more they realize Zucado wasn’t trying to hack the NCIS system. Turns out a lost key card that went missing during the original case is what leads to the new break-in.

With the key card and DNA from the original case, Gibbs and Ducky are finally able to take down Jonny.

The way the two cases tie together, and how the present investigation inspires the flashbacks is very creative. It’s nice to know that after 18 seasons, the series can still pull out something new when it wants.

When long-running series do these milestone episodes, they generally try to make them love letters to the fans. NCIS accomplishes that and so much more with this fun, yet emotional trip down memory lane.

Perhaps next time we can get a young Jenny Shepard involved in the action?

What did you think of this episode of NCIS? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8/9c on CBS.

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