Gibbs’ love interests weren’t always well-received, but NCIS: Origins can save at least one of them. After the NCIS: Origins season 1 finale, the only love interest most fans likely have in mind is Diane. However, plenty of future characters can join the NCIS: Origins cast in guest-starring roles. And future NCIS Director Jenny Shepard needs redemption more than most.
Plenty of fans liked her when she first appeared, but Jenny isolated fans by seemingly trying to get McGee ousted and nearly causing Tony’s death. She deceptively manipulated the agency in the name of finding her father’s killer and appeared to feel little remorse. But, with a slight caveat, she can be redeemed as soon as NCIS: Origins season 2.
NCIS: Origins’ Timeline Allows The Show To Introduce Young Jenny
They’ve Set Up One Future Gibbs Romance Already
While Diane and Lara Macy’s NCIS: Origins appearances are the most recent, the prequel series has already introduced younger versions of a few flagship NCIS characters. The central plotlines focus primarily on Jethro Gibbs and Mike Franks, but Vera plays an important recurring role with vital contributions to the main overarching story, while Tobias Fornell has been introduced as well.
Jenny Shepard could easily be added to this list. After her father was murdered during his time at the Pentagon, Jenny joined NCIS in the hopes of tracking down her father’s suspected killer, an arms dealer going by the nickname La Grenouille. This led to her tryst with younger Gibbs, although many fans unfortunately remember little other than her bloodlust.
Jenny’s NCIS: Origins Story Can Justify Her Revenge Plot
It Was The Crux Of Why So Many People Hated Her
Of all the things she did during her time as director, the one fans most seem to blame her for is when Jenny had Tony date La Grenouille’s daughter and then blamed Tony himself when the plan nearly got him killed. DiNozzo moves on and largely seems to work well with Shepard afterward, but his fans never forgot what happened.
But, while many despised her right up until Jenny Shepard’s death in NCIS, the prequel series can provide extra context. Jenny likely learned the art of deception from being raised by a high-ranking Pentagon official, and NCIS: Origins takes place while Colonel Jasper Shepard is still alive. Showing their relationship could shed light on how Jenny became her future self.
NCIS: Origins’ Introduction Can’t Happen Until A Few Years Later
She Shouldn’t Appear Until NCIS: Origins Season 8
One problem with redeeming Jenny’s origin story in the prequel series is that she was already pursuing vengeance by the time she worked with Gibbs in 1999. The other problem is that the NCIS: Origins canon is meant to line up with the flagship, and Origins is set in 1991. This seemingly makes Shepard’s appearance in Origins impossible for now.
This is not to say that the prequel hasn’t played fast and loose with some minor details of the canon already. For instance, Lara Macy’s motivations for investigating Gibbs change slightly between NCIS and NCIS: Origins. But she’s still aiming for promotion in both cases. It’s a minor change with little story impact. Jenny’s introduction would require a bit more careful sidestepping.
How NCIS: Origins Can Feature Jenny Earlier Without Breaking Continuity
Not Every Character Introduction Needs To Involve Gibbs
So far, all NCIS: Origins characters from NCIS have had ties to Gibbs. However, Gibbs doesn’t actually need to be there for their first introduction. Jenny could easily make her first appearance in a storyline featuring another character, such as Franks or Wheeler. After all, Washington may have reason to take a vested interest in Wheeler’s mishandling of the Sandman case.
This could lead to Colonel Shepard’s appearance, even if he’s still in California and simply being courted by the Pentagon at the time. And if he hasn’t moved to Washington yet, he can become the bridge through which NCIS: Origins gets its first look at Jenny. However it happens, hopefully she’ll get a little more love the next time around.
