NCIS: Origins Season 2 will honor the late David McCallum as it introduces the younger version of Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. In the season premiere arc, Adam Campbell returns to reprise the role of the young Ducky, continuing the tribute to the character’s storied history on NCIS.
The episode, titled The Edge, sends Ducky to Camp Pendleton to shadow the Origins team on a case, where he crosses paths with Gibbs (Austin Stowell) after years apart. A standout moment in the episode will be the inclusion of McCallum’s iconic song The Edge, creating a full-circle connection to the legacy of the original series.
“We wanted to do this episode to honor the memory of our dear friend David McCallum,” say showrunners and executive producers Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North. “He was a beloved member of the NCIS family for so many years and we’re incredibly lucky to have the talented Adam Campbell back to bring the younger version of this iconic character to life once again. We even got to feature David’s music in the episode. We’re all very excited and can’t wait for the fans to see it!”
Season 2 of NCIS: Origins premieres Tuesday, October 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. It will air as the first all-NCIS night, with NCIS at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and NCIS: Sydney at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. All three series will stream next-day on Paramount+.
Summary and context: The new episode reinforces the long-running NCIS universe by threading in the legacy of Ducky Mallard through a fresh portrayal of his younger self, while paying tribute to David McCallum’s memory through music and storytelling. The premiere timing and cross-show scheduling highlight a coordinated return for fans eager to see how the origins saga expands the beloved NCIS mythos.
Positive note: The tribute underscores a respectful bridge between the original series and its prequel, offering longtime fans and new viewers a hopeful look at how characters’ histories shape the present of the NCIS world.