Mark Harmon’s Final NCIS Scene Was Built Around a Surprising 10-Minute Choice

Photo Credit: Bill Inoshita | CBS via Getty Images

NCIS writer David North revealed a surprising detail about how Mark Harmon’s final scene as Gibbs came together. The Origins showrunner explained on the Partners & Probies podcast why the moment almost changed multiple times before making it to screen exactly as first written.

NCIS writer explains the story behind Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ final scene

NCIS writer David North revealed on the Partners & Probies podcast that Mark Harmon’s final scene as Gibbs took just 10 minutes to write.

North co-wrote the Season 19 episode “Great Wide Open” with Brendan Fehily. Ultimately, the episode ended with Gibbs choosing to stay in Alaska after years of leading NCIS. North described his writing process with Fehily during the podcast appearance.

“We did Mark’s final scene in the river in Alaska, I’m telling you, no exaggeration, probably 10 minutes,” North said. He further added that Fehily kept suggesting changes afterward. However, North shut those suggestions down quickly.

“He kept saying, ‘Well, what about this line or that?’ And I said, ‘Just leave that. It’s going to be tweaked so many times,'” North recalled. At the time, he expected studio notes would alter the dialogue significantly before filming.

Yet, that expectation never materialized. Instead, the production shot the scene exactly as the pair originally wrote it. North expressed disbelief at that outcome after wrapping in Alaska. “We shot that word for word how we wrote it in 10 minutes,” North said. He then turned to Fehily on set and marveled at the result. “I can’t believe that was just what I vomited out in 10 minutes,” he told his co-writer.

Meanwhile, North also acknowledged the weight of the moment. He called writing the episode a “crazy thing” given Harmon’s nearly two-decade run as Gibbs. The character originally debuted in a JAG two-parter before NCIS premiered in 2003.

Currently, North serves as co-creator and showrunner of NCIS: Origins alongside Gina Monreal. Harmon narrates every episode of the prequel as Gibbs and executive produces. He also appeared on camera in the Origins pilot and in the Season 2 episode “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Additionally, Harmon will appear in all of NCIS: Origins Season 3 for a present-day storyline.

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