One of the most shocking outcomes of season 3 episode 4 of NCIS: Origins was the reveal that Mariel Molino’s Agent Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez was actually dead in the present day. However, fans are sure that this has to be a fakeout, even though for all intents and purposes, her demise would be one of the main reasons Gibbs has never talked about her. So is Lala actually dead?
In the episode, Gibbs was in his Washington, D.C., basement when former Agent Ellie Bishop came down, having been called upon to come to his aid. While they were waiting on a trace to determine the location of one of the shooters, Ellie saw a photo of Lala and Gibbs, which had been taken during the case Gibbs’s old team was working on in 1993.
After asking about her and wondering if she could be the second target the shooters are after, Gibbs revealed Lala died a long time ago in a plane crash. But is this actually the case? It seemed like such a surprising reveal, especially after so much build up over the past two seasons of what happened to her.
Gibbs seemed so matter of fact about Lala’s loss, but at the same time after over 40 years, he may have made peace with her loss at this point in his life. But he still clearly cares about her memory and telling her story, no matter how long or short it ended up being.
There are some theories about what could be playing out. For starters, it could be true she did pass away in a plane crash. If Gibbs really thought she was the one, only to lose her in such a tragic way like he also lost Shannon, it makes sense he would want to push that pain away. To lose two women who meant so much to him in such horrific ways, and knowing Gibbs has always been tight-lipped about the past, it wouldn’t be surprising that he didn’t want to talk about her.
Another theory is that Lala is not actually dead and Gibbs just thinks she is. It could also be true that her death was staged and she needed to go into witness protection. This has been a theme in Lala’s life, with her ex-boyfriend Manny going into witness protection himself, and Lala almost joined him where he was before staying behind for Gibbs. In fact, when she went to see Flaco to get information on the case they were on, Flaco inquired about Manny’s whereabouts. Is it possible Lala had to disappear like he did, and Gibbs really was made to believe she died?
We know in the timeline for Gibbs that he will eventually move on and leave California, so losing Lala is likely a big reason he goes to an assignment that will eventually take him to Washington, D.C. But it doesn’t feel like his and Lala’s story is truly over, especially if Gibbs is telling the audience, and now Ellie, about her now.
Regardless of how Lala’s story ends, she has become such an important part of the NCIS universe, and fans are very curious to find out of her loss is real or if an eventual reunion will actually come into play one day.
NCIS: Origins airs Tuesdays on CBS at 10/9c.
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