NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 5 recap: Gibbs uncovers a decades-old murder and the town’s dark secrets

NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 5, Funny How Time Slips Away, dropped on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Season two kicked off earlier, on October 14, right in the middle of the fall TV lineup. Now, Episode 5 is the big one, as it marks the first-ever crossover between Origins and the OG NCIS. Mark Harmon is back in action, and Gibbs and his crew head to Serenity, California, poking around after a man named Louis Burke dies under mysterious circumstances. There is history, drama, and they are digging up secrets that rattle everyone, rookies and vets alike.

If you have somehow missed the memo, NCIS: Origins is the prequel to the franchise, rewinding to the ’90s when Gibbs was just getting his feet wet at NIS (before NCIS even existed). You get to see how all those legendary Gibbs quirks and rules were formed, plus a whole mentor-buddy dynamic with Mike Franks.

Imagine a younger, scrappier Gibbs running around Camp Pendleton and other throwback locations, solving cases that actually molded him into the no-nonsense person viewers binge-watch today.

NCIS: Origins nails the balance between character drama and the usual crime-solving formula, peeling back the curtain on what made Gibbs the legend he is.

NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 5 recap – Funny How Time Slips Away

Episode 5 of NCIS: Origins (Funny How Time Slips Away) hits the sweet spot for mystery junkies and old-school NCIS fans. If you enjoy a blend of whodunit drama and franchise throwbacks, this one has got you covered.

This installment features a crossover moment with the main NCIS crew, digging up a cold case from the ’90s: naval officer Louis Burke’s death in a sudden train accident. The NCIS: Origins team cracks the lid on it, alternating between flashbacks and the present.

The opener: Burke’s car is on the train tracks in Serenity, California. Everyone in town insists it was suicide, claiming that despite their warnings, he stayed in the car. However, Gibbs (Austin Stowell’s version, the young Gibbs) isn’t buying it for a second.

Soon, around the scene, they find a severed arm with Burke’s watch, immediately suggesting foul play. Bloody smears on the car door and scattered photos look staged, as if someone is trying too hard to sell a story.

There’s even a local store with subtle details like Gibbs’ dad’s place, which resonates with fans of the OG series.

The team starts questioning locals, whose stories are practically copy-pasted. Everyone seems desperate to believe it was suicide, probably to ease their conscience. But forensics proves otherwise: Burke was shot in the heart before the train even arrived. Murder, not accident.

Gibbs and Franks investigate further, pulling prints from the gearshift and preparing to fingerprint the entire town. Sheriff Tommy Mulligan steps up and claims responsibility, even handing over his gun.

However, Gibbs and Franks detect inconsistencies. Mulligan has a thing for Lainey Sims (“Birdie” to locals), who ran the store, was pregnant at the time, and actually owned the murder weapon. The shot was fired from inside her shop. Mulligan’s “confession” is essentially him covering for the woman he loves.

The ending of Episode 5 of NCIS: Origins packs a punch. The whole town is complicit in some way, either by staying silent or going along with the lie. Mulligan ends up in prison, with Mike Franks visiting him every year.

Meanwhile, the modern NCIS team sees how the past refuses to stay buried. In the end, Mulligan’s son, Jason, finally comes clean, keeping the old lessons alive.

The banter between young and older Gibbs, the team’s chemistry, and some clever detective work all click. Episode 5 nails what a prequel should be: honoring the original while still carving its own path.

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Meanwhile, Episode 5 of NCIS: Origins isn’t just ticking boxes or following a formula; it shakes things up for what comes next. Episode 6, titled Happy Birthday, appears to dive back into the mess with Mike Franks and his brother Mason.

And don’t get us started on the cold-case rabbit hole. Digging up old crimes always leaves people rattled, and with this crew, the personal sacrifices just keep coming. The cast of NCIS: Origins keeps finding new ways to rub each other the wrong way or show heartfelt loyalty.

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