NCIS Origins S2 Finale Rebrands NIS, Ends with Kidnapping

The second season finale of NCIS Origins, titled "Hollywood Ending," delivered romance, a pivotal rebranding, and a shocking cliffhanger when agent Bernard "Randy" Randolf was kidnapped after the Camp Pendleton office was saved from closure.

Aired Tuesday on CBS, the episode centered on the Naval Investigative Service team's investigation into the murders of two teenage brothers who trespassed in a warehouse and were shot. Agents uncovered that crime boss Abe Pruitt had taken control of the site to smuggle weapons hidden in wine barrels. With assistance from the FBI, including agent Joey Swanson, the team learned Pruitt held hostages, among them Mike Franks' brother Mason. A joint operation resulted in Pruitt's arrest, though Gibbs sustained a bullet wound to his vest.

Amid the case, the office faced shutdown due to agency restructuring and scrutiny from a prior scandal. Lala Dominguez considered leaving for a sheriff position near her ex, Manny, in witness protection. The team proposed adding a "C" to NIS, rebranding it as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to emphasize crime-solving and avert transfers. Newly appointed Director Tom Morrow approved the change, securing...