Surely, many of you are as excited as I am about NCIS: Origins returning.

The shortened season isn’t anything I’m particularly thrilled about, but I’ll also take any NCIS: Origins that I can get, and that’s particularly the case as the new season promises everything from Gibbs and Lala’s secret romance to a diverging present-day story with the elder Gibbs.

And the new trailer strikes all the right notes, including giving us our first glance at beloved Randy after his abduction!

(CBS/Screenshot)

The new trailer is exciting because it feels like worlds colliding in such an unexpected way. We’re also getting all the things the series has earned, and now we have to see what comes next.

NCIS: Origins Season 3 promises something truly ambitious by essentially pulling present-day Gibbs out of retirement.

That means, for the first time in years, Mark Harmon is reprising the role in a long-form fashion that will include an extensive storyline over multiple episodes, presumably.

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And the trailer teases something that will run parallel with the stories we’re getting in the ’90s. It’s a wonderful way to expand the story, but it also reinforces that NCIS: Origins has essentially always been about Gibbs sitting in that cabin up in Alaska, recalling a very specific time in his life.

But we get a tease of what it’s like when his past is coming back to haunt him, or as he says in the clip, “ghosts of his past found him,” and that entails him actually leaving the sanctity of that cabin, with his dog in tow.

(CBS/Screenshot)

Gibbs talks about a case from 34 years ago that started it all and implies he’s still paying a price for something from that long ago.

Whatever the case may be, we hear present-day Gibbs say, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull back in,” and then one of the most badass snipers onscreen racks his rifle, so we definitely know he means business.

It also looks like Gibbs is headed to San Diego, and he meets up with Woody. So far, Woody, Phil, and Vera are the only three people from the NCIS: Origins portion of Gibbs’ past that we’ve seen in present-day.

If the Woody tease is there for us, what could it mean to see other members of the Origins crew in present-day? Who’s still alive and out there? And what’s so major that it’d call for a reunion?

We hear present-day Gibbs stating, “It turns out that the final chapter is still being written,” as he walks out of the elevator and heads to what appears to be the NCIS office. Is it possible that we’d get another Origins and NCIS crossover, too?! One that actually includes Gibbs?

(CBS/Screenshot)

What’s also exciting is that present-day Gibbs mentions that “Lala’s story isn’t hers alone, it’s ours.”

It’s something worth clinging to, since NCIS: Origins Season 1 opened and frequently reminded us that this part of Gibbs’ life — this untold story we never knew — was the story of “her,” and the “her” in question was Lala.

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But Gibbs, in the present day, is changing his sentiment, feeling that a story he once felt was about Lala was really about them; well, it gives me a spark of hope that maybe we’ll figure out what happened to Lala — if she’s still alive, or something else.

Is she the ghost from the past who comes back for him? Will that ghost have something to do with her? Will this mean their story isn’t quite complete yet?

Even the mere implication that Gibbs, and maybe even his story with Lala, isn’t over yet is the type of content that will have me mulling things over all season, most likely.

(CBS/Screenshot)

And the timing of expanding this story can’t be better since we’re at the point in NCIS: Origins story where Gibbs and Lala are happily together.

That smoking-hot kiss from the NCIS: Origins Season 2 finale meant we finally got the highly anticipated love story we’ve been clamoring for. The culmination of all that sexual tension finally paid off.

And now we’ll see the fun in that as the two sneak around while also trying to work together, and it’s already hilarious.

Mike noticing that Gibbs’ shirt is open and making a good crack is even funnier with the flashback to Lala ripping his shirt open (only to find a T-shirt underneath).

It’s safe to say those two are going hot and heavy, and as a fan of the pairing, I am NOT complaining about that!

We’ve also never seen Gibbs look this happy. The guy is smiling so much it feels damn near unnatural.

(CBS/Screenshot)

There are so many smiles in the trailer, especially from the past crew, and we can at least be thrilled that NCIS: Origins Season 2‘s humor and balance will carry over with ease.

We also get our first glimpse at Randall, and he’s beaten to hell, which has us wondering who took him and what exactly they did to him.

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I mean, he’s alive and back with the crew, so that’s great, but damn, they worked my boy over good!

But we also get a glimpse of Woody looking a bit worn out, and it’s right around the point they bring up something to the effect of them potentially working with a Russian spy.

(CBS/Screenshot)

Do we have a mole situation on our hands? And isn’t it interesting that NCIS is dealing with something similar in the present? Or am I just reaching right now?

Also, as if this isn’t a sweet enough deal with so much coming at us at once, we also have Ducky in the trailer multiple times.

When Ducky appears, everything is better; that’s canon for both NCIS: Origins and NCIS, and it’s such a special treat to know that Adam Campbell will be reprising the role yet again for more time with Dr. Mallard with the Pendleton crew.

Goodness knows what leads him back to the West Coast, but do we care? No, because Ducky is back, and that’s all we ever really need.

(CBS/Screenshot)

I’m still bummed out that we’re not getting a full season order of the series. Ten episodes isn’t enough, but after looking at this trailer, it’s evident that NCIS: Origins is going to make every single minute of these ten episodes count!

And if any show can pull that off, it’s them!

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There’s so much to dissect with this trailer, and if it doesn’t get you hyped, well, I don’t know, maybe you aren’t a diehard NCIS: Origins Fanatic like we are over here!

Please watch it in full, and let’s discuss it in the comments below!

NCIS: Origins returns Tuesday, October 6 at 10/9c on CBS.

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