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<\/p>\nGibbs\u2019 love interests weren\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Plenty of fans liked her when she first appeared, but Jenny isolated fans by seemingly trying to get McGee ousted and nearly causing Tony\u2019s death. She deceptively manipulated the agency in the name of finding her father\u2019s killer and appeared to feel little remorse. But, with a slight caveat, she can be redeemed as soon as NCIS: Origins season 2.<\/p>\n
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While Diane and Lara Macy\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
But, while many despised her right up until Jenny Shepard\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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One problem with redeeming Jenny\u2019s 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\u2019s appearance in Origins impossible for now.<\/p>\n
This is not to say that the prequel hasn\u2019t played fast and loose with some minor details of the canon already. For instance, Lara Macy\u2019s motivations for investigating Gibbs change slightly between NCIS and NCIS: Origins. But she\u2019s still aiming for promotion in both cases. It\u2019s a minor change with little story impact. Jenny\u2019s introduction would require a bit more careful sidestepping.<\/p>\n
So far, all NCIS: Origins characters from NCIS have had ties to Gibbs. However, Gibbs doesn\u2019t 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\u2019s mishandling of the Sandman case.<\/p>\n
This could lead to Colonel Shepard\u2019s appearance, even if he\u2019s still in California and simply being courted by the Pentagon at the time. And if he hasn\u2019t moved to Washington yet, he can become the bridge through which NCIS: Origins gets its first look at Jenny. However it happens, hopefully she\u2019ll get a little more love the next time around.<\/p>\n