NCIS: Origins
American television series (2024–present)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NCIS: Origins is an American police procedural television series, and the sixth installment in the NCIS franchise. It is a prequel to the original series and follows a younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs during his early career years as a Probationary NIS Agent while still processing the trauma of the murder of his wife and daughter.
Created by
- Gina Lucita Monreal
- David J. North
Narrated byMark Harmon
| NCIS: Origins | |
|---|---|
Promotional image featuring Austin Stowell | |
| Genre | |
| Created by |
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| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Mark Harmon |
| Composers |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 35 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers | Michele Greco Austin Stowell |
| Editors |
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| Running time | 42–44 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | October 14, 2024 – present |
| Related | |
The series premiered on October 14, 2024, on CBS. In February 2025, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 14, 2025. [1][2][3][4] In January 2026, it was renewed for a third season. [5]
Synopsis
NCIS: Origins follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in 1991, a decade prior to the events of NCIS, and is narrated by the older Gibbs. In the series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton office, where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.[6]
Cast
Main
- Austin Stowell as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a newcomer to the Pendleton branch of the Naval Investigative Service, the precursor to NCIS
- Mark Harmon reprises his role as the older Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a now-retired veteran NCIS agent who narrates the series
- Kyle Schmid as Special Agent Mike Franks, a seasoned agent and leader of the team. Franks was played by Muse Watson in the original series.
- Mariel Molino as Special Agent Cecilia "Lala" Dominguez, a former Marine determined to stand out in the male-dominated workplace
- Tyla Abercrumbie as Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo Hayes, the self-described "Head Secretary in Charge"
- Diany Rodriguez as Special Agent Vera Strickland, a tough, no-nonsense agent. Roma Maffia played the character in the original series.
- Caleb Foote as Special Agent Bernard "Randy" Randolf, the team's golden boy[7]
Recurring
- Tonantzin Carmelo as Tish Kwa'la, Mike Franks' girlfriend and "love of his life" until episode 15[8]
- Patrick Fischler as Special Agent in Charge Cliff Wheeler, head of NIS's Pendleton Office[9]
- Julian Black Antelope as Chief Medical Examiner Témet Téngalkat, an unfazed, experienced ME with the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office who works alongside NIS; he is a member of the Payómkawichum tribe and the uncle of Tish Kwa'la.
- Michael Harney as Richard Kowalski, Evidence Custodian, who used to be Army chaplain/POW during the Korean War.
- Daniel Bellomy as Herman "Herm" Daniels, an NIS agent acting as the Evidence Custodian's assistant[7]
- Bobby Moynihan as Woodrow "Woody" Browne, a forensic analyst
- Ely Henry as Philip Elertson, a chemist who works with Woody
- Matthew Henerson as Carl Loughlin, an NIS agent
- Eric Normington as Roger Murphy, a former NIS agent who had a gambling problem
- Aaron Wilton as Special Agent JJ Henneberry, an NIS agent
- Marisa Baram as Gail Price, an NIS secretary
- Robert Taylor as Jackson Gibbs, Jethro's father. The character was played by Ralph Waite in the original series before his death in 2014.[7]
- Jared Bankens as Jamison "Bugs" Boyd, a criminal profiled by Vera
- Lori Petty as Dr. Lenora Friedman, an assistant medical examiner
- Adam Huber as Luke Fletcher, counselor at the VA, real Sandman
- Jeffrey Boehm as Dalton, an NIS agent
- Michael Shepperd as Smitty, bartender at Daly's tavern
- Eddie Alfano as Todd, a bouncer at Daly's Tavern.
- Kathleen Kenny as Diane Sterling, a Real Estate Agent and Leroy Gibb’s second wife. Melinda McGraw played the character in original series.
- Christopher Backus as Abe Pruitt, leader of the Range.
- Daphne Bloomer as Beth, member of the Range.
- Julien Crane as Stanley Turner, member of the Range.
- Kayla Maisonet as Nadia, a NIS secretary
- Miguel Gomez as Manny, a gang member who starts a relationship with Lala
- Philip Winchester as Mason Franks, Mike Franks' brother[10]
- Gabriel Mann as Doug Westmont, a shady lawyer.
Guest
- DaJuan Johnson as FBI Agent Noah Oakley who works cases with the team and has a romantic past with Cliff Wheeler
- Lucas Dixon as FBI Special Agent Tobias C. Fornell. Joe Spano played the character in the original series.
- Claire Berger as Lara Macy. Lala's friend; military police investigator. Louise Lombard played the character in the original series' future Special Agent in Charge at the Office of Special Projects in Los Angeles.
- Adam Campbell as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, a liaison from D.C. headquarters and an old acquaintance of Gibbs. David McCallum played the character in the original series before his death in 2023. Campbell reprises the role after portraying the young Ducky in four episodes of the original series.[11]
- Kelly Albanese as Julie Larsen, Lala’s Sister
- Thomas Crawford as Dr. Walter Magnus, Medical Examiner with NIS Headquarters at the Navy Yard in D.C. and NIS Chief Medical Examiner before Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard. Bob Newhart played the character in an episode of the original series.
- Shea Buckner as Dwayne Pride, a Sheriff's deputy turned NIS probie assigned to the NIS office in Panama who has a turbulent history with Gibbs. Pride was the protagonist of NCIS: New Orleans where he was played by Scott Bakula.
Episodes
Season 1 (2024–25)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Enter Sandman" | Niels Arden Oplev | Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North | October 14, 2024 | 5.03[14] | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
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In October 1991, a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton Office, where he forges his place on a gritty ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks. His first case involves the investigation of a sniper called Sandman. | |||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Bend, Don't Break" | John Terlesky | Jon Worley | October 21, 2024 | 4.06[15] | |||||||
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A murder near Camp Pendleton leads Gibbs and the team to a suburban mall in San Diego, where Gibbs takes matters into his own hands. Jackson Gibbs pays Franks an unexpected visit. | |||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "All's Not Lost" | Hanelle M. Culpepper | Michael J. Ballin & Thomas Aguilar | October 28, 2024 | 3.77[16] | |||||||
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Still grieving the loss of his wife and daughter, Gibbs helps the team work a case involving a missing girl. The moment that irrevocably changed Gibbs' life is revealed. | |||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Last Rites" | Lionel Coleman | Margarita Matthews | November 4, 2024 | 3.52[17] | |||||||
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With the countdown on to an execution, Franks races to extricate the location of a missing body from a death row inmate and honor a promise he made to the victim's sister before time runs out. | |||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Incognito" | Pete Chatmon | Shalisha Francis-Feusner | November 11, 2024 | 3.90[18] | |||||||
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Gibbs goes undercover for the first time with Lala as NIS works the case of a dead Navy seaman who may have been sharing top-secret intel that poses a threat to national security. Also, Lala struggles with her place on the team and an unexpected development in her personal life. | |||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | "One Flew Over" | Jessica Lowrey | Rafael Samano & Margarita Matthews & Gina Lucita Monreal | November 25, 2024 | 3.50[19] | |||||||
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NIS investigates the murder of a dementia-afflicted Jane Doe. Also, flashbacks reveal the first time Gibbs met Franks. | |||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Sick as Our Secrets" | Ed Ornelas | Stephen Day & Daniel J. Egbert | December 2, 2024 | 3.79[20] | |||||||
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Gibbs and the team investigate the case of a Navy priest who was killed in the confessional booth and may have been targeted by mistake. Meanwhile, Randy shows Gibbs the ropes of working a protective detail while struggling with a personal situation. | |||||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Vivo o Muerto" | Loren Yaconelli | Gina Lucita Monreal & Michael J. Ballin & Thomas Aguilar & Rafael Samano | December 9, 2024 | 3.40[21] | |||||||
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The case of a missing woman who disappeared after a night of clubbing with a Navy seaman takes the team to Mexico, where they learn of a possible connection to Gibbs' past. | |||||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Blue Bayou" | John Terlesky | David J. North & Gina Lucita Monreal & Brendan Fehily | December 16, 2024 | 3.48[22] | |||||||
|
As Leroy Jethro Gibbs prepares for his first Christmas without his wife and daughter, flashbacks reveal the unlikely journey that led to his first day on the job as a special agent at NIS' Camp Pendleton office working with Mike Franks and Lala. | |||||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Flight of Icarus" | Ruben Garcia | Jennifer Corbett & Gina Lucita Monreal | January 27, 2025 | 4.10[23] | |||||||
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The team investigates the death of a famed Marine commander's son, while a pivotal part of Franks' past involving his family is revealed. | |||||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Touchstones" | Anya Adams | Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North & Brendan Fehily | February 3, 2025 | 3.91[24] | |||||||
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When the evidence room is broken into and significant cash goes missing, the team looks into a connection to a recent case. Also, Lala opens up to Gibbs, and Kowalski struggles to move forward with the stress of the break-in and his memories from the Korean War. | |||||||||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Monsoon" | Hanelle M. Culpepper | Gina Lucita Monreal | February 10, 2025 | 3.70[25] | |||||||
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The team investigates the brutal murder of a veteran who fell on hard times after serving in Vietnam, leading Franks to reflect on his own struggles following the war while Gibbs considers a new path forward. | |||||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | "To Have and to Hold" | Diana Valentine | Shalisha Francis-Feusner | March 24, 2025 | 3.77[26] | |||||||
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The team works the case of an investment advisor found dead shortly after her release from prison while Mary Jo is left reeling by an unexpected development in her personal life. | |||||||||||||
| 15 | 15 | "From the Ashes" | Hanelle M. Culpepper | Margarita Matthews | March 31, 2025 | 3.54[27] | |||||||
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The team investigates the brutal murder of a military sergeant found burned in her car, a case Franks suspects could have a connection to the assault of his estranged girlfriend, Tish. | |||||||||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Bugs" | Jessica Lowrey | Jennifer Corbett & Michael J. Ballin & Thomas Aguilar | April 14, 2025 | 3.57[28] | |||||||
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The events of this episode takes place on February 7, 1992. Vera receives an unexpected call from Bugs, who claims he's ready to answer more questions from prison after being identified as the sniper known as "Sandman". When she arrives, Bugs has suddenly changed his mind, prompting the team to reconsider the case and race against the clock to try and stop another tragedy. | |||||||||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Darlin', Don't Refrain" | Pamela Romanowsky | Story by : Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North & Brendan Fehily Teleplay by : David J. North & Brendan Fehily | April 21, 2025 | 3.89[29] | |||||||
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After the shocking developments in the Sandman case, the team works with the FBI to investigate further. While Wheeler struggles to hold onto his job, his family reaches a crisis point. | |||||||||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Cecilia" | Niels Arden Oplev | Gina Lucita Monreal | April 28, 2025 | 3.87[30] | |||||||
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When the murder of Pedro Hernandez is unearthed, Gibbs faces a reckoning but when he needs his team most, the loyalty of one is brought into question. | |||||||||||||
Season 2 (2025–26)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [31] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [31] | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "The Funky Bunch" | Niels Arden Oplev | Gina Lucita Monreal | October 14, 2025 | 3.66[32] | |
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Gibbs and Franks investigate the disappearance of a young Marine connected to a mysterious compound with a charismatic leader, and Lala's fate is revealed. | |||||||
| 20 | 2 | "Who by Fire" | Jessica Lowrey | Matthew T. Brown | October 21, 2025 | 3.83[33] | |
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When the body of a college swimmer washes up on the beach, the team must determine if it was an accident or murder while Gibbs prepares for his first interrogation. | |||||||
| 21 | 3 | "The Edge" | Patrick Cady | Story by : Margarita Matthews & Gina Lucita Monreal Teleplay by : Margarita Matthews | October 28, 2025 | 3.79[34] | |
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When Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, a liaison from DC Headquarters and an old acquaintance of Gibbs, arrives to evaluate whether Pendleton needs an in-house medical examiner, not everyone trusts that’s the real reason behind his visit. | |||||||
| 22 | 4 | "No Man Left Behind" | James Whitmore Jr. | Story by : Gina Lucita Monreal & Gia Gordon Teleplay by : Gia Gordon | November 4, 2025 | 3.85[35] | |
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The team investigates the robbery of a Navy bank while Lala, still struggling after her accident, makes a decision about her future and also Franks’ estranged older brother, Mason, blows into town, desperate for help after hitting rock bottom. | |||||||
| 23 | 5 | "Funny How Time Slips Away" | Niels Arden Oplev | Story by : Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North Teleplay by : David J. North & Brendan Fehily | November 11, 2025 | 5.58[36] | |
|
When a naval officer mysteriously dies, the team travel to the small dust-blown town of Serenity, Calif., where they encounter secret-harboring residents, an uncooperative sheriff and an investigation that will reverberate for decades. Note : This episode begins a crossover event that concludes on NCIS season 23 episode 5. | |||||||
| 24 | 6 | "Happy Birthday" | Lionel Coleman | Story by : Gina Lucita Monreal & Ryan Lee & Rafael Samano Teleplay by : Ryan Lee & Rafael Samano | November 18, 2025 | 3.96[37] | |
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When an anonymous tip leads to the discovery of a young Marine's body at a chilling crime scene, Randy believes it could be connected to a previous case where a coin was left in the victim's throat while Franks tries to track down priceless packages meant for his brother, Mason. | |||||||
| 25 | 7 | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" | Jann Turner | Story by : Corinne Marrinan & Jonny Gomez Teleplay by : Corinne Marrinan & Jonny Gomez & Gina Lucita Monreal | December 2, 2025 | 4.45[38] | |
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The team investigates the murder of a Marine who had recently been handpicked for a classified mission as Wheeler's personal life is upended, Lala is thrown by unexpected news from Vera, and Gibbs and Diane double-date with Randy and his wife. | |||||||
| 26 | 8 | "End of the Road" | Loren Yaconelli | Gina Lucita Monreal | December 9, 2025 | 4.06[39] | |
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When Lala's favorite CI is shot, the team joins forces with Oceanside PD to determine who was behind the attack while Franks visits his brother Mason at the compound and Gibbs's relationship with Diane is tested when she gets a job in Los Angeles. | |||||||
| 27 | 9 | "Fools Rush In" | Diana Valentine | Margarita Matthews | March 3, 2026 | 3.32[40] | |
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As the team discovers Gibbs's drunken Vegas elopement with Diane, the newlyweds contemplate their future while the team investigates a fatal movie theater bombing with a connection to the Pruitt compound where Franks's brother Mason is staying. | |||||||
| 28 | 10 | "Lean on Me" | Patrick Cady | Gina Lucita Monreal | March 10, 2026 | 3.24[41] | |
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When a marine captain shows up at Camp Pendleton exhibiting symptoms of a fatal virus, NIS goes on lockdown and Gibbs is forced to take charge. As panic spreads, the team races to determine whether it really is a deadly outbreak or something else entirely. | |||||||
| 29 | 11 | "Feelin' Alright?" | Hanelle M. Culpepper | Ron McGee | March 17, 2026 | 3.33[42] | |
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When a lieutenant's water-logged body is discovered with a potential connection to an international smuggling ring, NIS Panama agents are called in to assist, and Gibbs comes face-to-face with an old nemesis: Special Agent Dwayne Pride. Once the two are assigned to a dangerous undercover mission together, Gibbs must find a way to move on from their past. | |||||||
| 30 | 12 | "The Gambler" | Lionel Coleman | Story by : André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton Teleplay by : André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton and Gina Lucita Monreal | March 24, 2026 | 3.37[43] | |
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When the NIS Regional Director tries to transfer Mary Jo, she reconnects with an old friend from Atlantic City to help investigate the roadside deaths of two Marines. | |||||||
| 31 | 13 | "Homeward Bound" | Jessica Lowrey | Margarita Matthews | March 31, 2026 | 3.32[44] | |
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When Dr. Tango is arrested for stealing human remains from a national park, Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard returns to assist the team in proving his innocence. | |||||||
| 32 | 14 | "The Beautiful Ballad of Gary Callahan" | Diana Valentine | David J. North & Daniel J. Egbert | April 7, 2026 | 3.37[45] | |
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When the team's trusted K-9 agent, Gary Callahan, is critically wounded at a crime scene, NIS races to track down the culprit while a surprising pre-Pendleton chapter in Franks' life is revealed. | |||||||
| 33 | 15 | "Johnny B. Goode" | Anthony Hemingway | Gina Lucita Monreal | April 14, 2026 | 3.21[46] | |
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Lala's determination to get Manny out of gang life lands the team in the middle of a turf war. | |||||||
| 34 | 16 | "Who's Gonna Drive You Home?" | Loren Yaconelli | Ron McGee | April 21, 2026 | 3.65[47] | |
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While Gibbs and Lala grow closer on a case, Gibbs' long-distance relationship with Diane is further tested by the arrival of an unexpected guest: Gibbs' father, Jackson. | |||||||
| 35 | 17 | "Rule 13" | Jessica Lowrey | Gina Lucita Monreal & Jai Jamison & Ryan Lee | April 28, 2026 | 3.56[48] | |
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Wheeler takes command when a car bomb goes off outside NIS headquarters. Also, the truth about Franks' distaste for lawyers is revealed. | |||||||
| 36 | 18 | "Hollywood Ending"[49] | Niels Arden Oplev | Gina Lucita Monreal | May 5, 2026 | TBD | |
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With the Camp Pendleton office in danger of being shut down, the team confronts an uncertain future. | |||||||
Production
NCIS: Origins was announced in January 2024, with franchise mainstays Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North acting as showrunners. The series is executive produced by Mark Harmon and his son Sean Harmon, who had played a younger Gibbs in flashback sequences on the original show.[50]
Austin Stowell was cast as Gibbs in March.[6] Before Stowell was cast, Stephen Amell auditioned for the role.[51] Mariel Molino, Kyle Schmid, Tyla Abercrombie and Diany Rodriguez completed the main cast in March.[52][53][54]
Lori Petty and Bobby Moynihan joined the cast in July.[55]
On November 7, 2024, CBS granted the series a full season order with an additional 5 episodes bringing the total episode count to 18 episodes.[56]
The show is filmed on a 1990s era recreated set of Camp Pendleton, built at Fort MacArthur, a former Army installation in San Pedro.[57]
Release
Reception
Pre-release
The announcement of NCIS: Origins resulted in the cancellation of NCIS: Hawaiʻi, leading to several angered fans boycotting Origins.[61]
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 88% based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 5.60/10.[62]
Ratings
Season 1
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Enter Sandman, Part 1" | October 14, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 5.03 | 0.2 | 2.24 | 0.5 | 7.27 | [14] |
| 2 | "Enter Sandman, Part 2" | October 14, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 5.03 | 0.2 | 2.24 | 0.5 | 7.27 | [14] |
| 3 | "Bend, Don't Break" | October 21, 2024 | 0.4/4 | 4.06 | 0.1 | 2.24 | 0.5 | 6.30 | [15] |
| 4 | "All's Not Lost" | October 28, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 3.77 | 0.1 | 2.20 | 0.4 | 5.97 | [16] |
| 5 | "Last Rites" | November 4, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 3.52 | 0.1 | 2.33 | 0.5 | 5.84 | [17] |
| 6 | "Incognito" | November 11, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 3.90 | 0.2 | 2.33 | 0.4 | 6.23 | [18] |
| 7 | "One Flew Over" | November 25, 2024 | 0.2/3 | 3.50 | 0.1 | 2.20 | 0.3 | 5.70 | [19] |
| 8 | "Sick as Our Secrets" | December 2, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 3.79 | 0.2 | 2.40 | 0.4 | 6.19 | [20] |
| 9 | "Vivo o Muerto" | December 9, 2024 | 0.2/2 | 3.40 | 0.2 | 2.28 | 0.4 | 5.68 | [21] |
| 10 | "Blue Bayou" | December 16, 2024 | 0.3/3 | 3.48 | 0.2 | 2.17 | 0.4 | 5.65 | [22] |
| 11 | "Flight of Icarus" | January 27, 2025 | 0.3/5 | 4.10 | 0.2 | 2.27 | 0.5 | 6.38 | [23] |
| 12 | "Touchstones" | February 3, 2025 | 0.3/5 | 3.91 | 0.1 | 2.28 | 0.4 | 6.19 | [24] |
| 13 | "Monsoon" | February 10, 2025 | 0.3/5 | 3.70 | 0.1 | 2.13 | 0.4 | 5.83 | [25] |
| 14 | "To Have and To Hold" | March 24, 2025 | 0.3/4 | 3.77 | 0.1 | 2.22 | 0.4 | 5.99 | [26] |
| 15 | "From the Ashes" | March 31, 2025 | 0.2/3 | 3.54 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [27] |
| 16 | "Bugs" | April 14, 2025 | 0.2/4 | 3.57 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [28] |
| 17 | "Darlin', Don't Refrain" | April 21, 2025 | 0.3/4 | 3.89 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [29] |
| 18 | "Cecilia" | April 28, 2025 | 0.3/4 | 3.87 | 0.1 | 2.03 | 0.4 | 5.90 | [30] |
Season 2
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Funky Bunch" | October 14, 2025 | 0.2/3 | 3.66 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [32] |
| 2 | "Who by Fire" | October 21, 2025 | 0.2/3 | 3.83 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [33] |
| 3 | "The Edge" | October 28, 2025 | 0.2/2 | 3.79 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [34] |
| 4 | "No Man Left Behind" | November 4, 2025 | 0.3/3 | 3.85 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [35] |
| 5 | "Funny How Time Slips Away" | November 11, 2025 | 0.4/5 | 5.58 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [36] |
| 6 | "Happy Birthday" | November 18, 2025 | 0.2/3 | 3.96 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | [37] |
