The new NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Origins, is breaking the NCIS curse.
The franchise is television’s biggest, but its LGBT reputation is almost nonexistent.
This is why the revelation that Cliff Wheeler (Patrick Fischler) was in a romantic relationship with Noah Oakley (DaJuan Johnson) has viewers excited to explore their 1990s romance.
For a show known for leaving no stone unturned when building its characters, viewers deserve to see the infamous date Cliff and Noah went on and how it affected their futures.
Co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North revealed in an interview with TV Insider that the show plans to explore this relationship further.
“We don’t want to give too much away with that, but yes, there’s much more to come with Wheeler and Oakley,” North said.
Being gay in the 90s was not easy, and being gay while working in the military was even harder — ask Boots‘ Cameron Cope.
Monreal says that upcoming episodes will explore how they navigated their relationship at a time when that could undo their lives and careers in law enforcement. She explains:
“It’s just so interesting to see that relationship exists in the ’90s and how Wheeler has to navigate that. And so I feel like we really get to explore a different side of Wheeler in that relationship as opposed to his work persona.
“So it really helps us create some depth with that character, which we love and we love that relationship. It’s such an interesting and nuanced relationship. We’re excited to explore it further.”
‘NCIS: Origins’ Explores Love
Photo: CBS (Screenshot)It’s unclear when the show will revisit Wheeler and Oakley, but details from an upcoming episode hint that it’s soon.
In Episode 7, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” love is right front and center as Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and Diane (Kathleen Kenny) go on a double date with funny guy Rando (Caleb Foote) and his wife.
“The team investigates the murder of a Marine who had recently been handpicked for a classified mission. Also, Wheeler’s personal life is upended, Lala (Mariel Molino) is thrown by unexpected news from Vera (Diany Rodriguez), and Gibbs and Diane double-date with Randy and his wife,” the logline for the December 2 episode reveals.
No one knows how Wheeler’s personal life is upended, but could this be why he finally reveals to his son the actual reason for divorcing his wife?
There a lot of unanswered questions that the show ought to explore including how long Wheeler and Oakley dated, why they broke up and when they got back together.
Did they get back together? That tender moment they share in Cliff’s office hints at deep feelings long in the making.
NCIS: Origins Season 2, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.
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