NCIS: Origins' Star Mariel Molino Discusses Lala's Recovery and Complex Relationships After Season 1 Finale Crash

In NCIS: Origins, Special Agent Lala Dominguez, portrayed by Mariel Molino, survived a near-fatal car accident at the end of season 1 but faces significant physical and emotional challenges as she returns to work. Her recovery includes grappling with a traumatic brain injury, questioning her purpose and faith, and fighting to regain her professional standing amid changed dynamics with her male colleagues. Lala's relationship with Leroy Jethro Gibbs remains complicated; although they share a deep connection, Gibbs has started dating someone else as he tries to protect himself from further emotional pain. Lala's moral compass appears altered post-accident, leading her to flirt with dangerous choices, such as considering an alliance with a criminal, though she ultimately resists. The series explores Lala's internal struggles with identity, survival, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in her role as an NIS agent, while hinting at the possibility of her fate taking a dark turn. Both Molino and the show's storyline emphasize the ongoing tension between Lala and Gibbs' unfulfilled romantic feelings and the impact of past traumas on their partnership and personal lives.