‘NCIS: New Orleans’: Will Gibbs Check in on Pride This Season?
If you’re watching NCIS: New Orleans Season 6, you already know about Dwayne Pride’s (Scott Bakula) laundry list of issues. As the man in charge of the NOLA satellite team, it’s Pride’s job to lead his team and set the examples for which they’ll follow. After all he’s been through over the last couple of seasons, is there a chance Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs — from the mothership NCIS — will pop in to check on his friend?
[Spoiler alert: NCIS: New Orleans Season 6 discussion ahead]
Season 6 of ‘NCIS: New Orleans’ is testing Dwayne Pride in a big way
Can’t Dwayne Pride catch a break? NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 killed off Pride’s father, Cassius, Pride was kidnapped and drugged with LSDs, and still managed to get back to his team in one piece. Barely.
Back then, Pride had hallucinations of The Angel of Death (Amy Rutberg) as his emotional state declined. Now that he’s hallucinating about a man in a red suit — after shooting and killing cult leader, Eddie Barrett (Eddie Cahill) — many think Pride is on the brink of another breakdown.
2018 was the last that Gibbs (Harmon) appeared on NCIS: New Orleans via webcam. Pride had been shot and was supposedly on the mend. Special Agent Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black) revealed Pride wasn’t doing too well in his recovery.
After a brief update on previously kidnapped Leon Vance, Gibbs reassured LaSalle that Pride would pull through and urged LaSalle to use that fear and anger to catch the suspect. At the time, it was Amelia Parsons — a hitwoman hired by Associate Attorney General Eric Barlow to kill Pride.
Fans of the NCIS spinoff loved seeing Gibbs crossover into Pride’s world. Though the beginning of the kinship has never been showed or explored, many want more Gibbs and Pride together.
‘NCIS: New Orleans’ began with a backdoor pilot via ‘NCIS’
That season 5 cameo isn’t the first time Gibbs checked in on his buddy, Pride. In previous years, Harmon popped in on the 2017 episode “Pandora’s Box: Part II. In total, the Gibbs and Pride crossover happened four times in total since the NCIS backdoor pilot of the NOLA spin-off in 2014.
Bakula’s portrayal of Dwayne Pride went over so well, Harmon, who executive produces NCIS: New Orleans, developed the spin-off with fellow NCIS alum, [the late] Gary Glasberg.
Harmon was also a part of the backdoor pilot for the Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J spin-off, NCIS: Los Angeles, but hasn’t had a cameo since.
Will Gibbs check in on his friend, Pride?
Season 6 of NCIS: New Orleans may have just [icked back up after its long fall hiatus, but there’s all the more reason Gibbs should check-in. With Pride’s emotional and mental state falling apart, his insomnia and hallucinations — not to mention unresolved PTSD from his kidnapping and drugging — Pride needs an outsider to set him straight.
So far, few have noticed the toll all of this has taken on Pride, and he likes it that way. If LaSalle were still around, he’d likely call “King” out. Unfortunately, LaSalle’s death is another thing weighing on the NOLA leader.
It’s unclear if Harmon’s Gibbs has plans to re-visit Bakula’s Pride via webcam or in-person at this time, but fans hope so.
I’m almost giddy to have Mark Harmon and Scott Bakula teaming up. #NCIS” this fan said. “Mark Harmon AND Scott Bakula? Boy #NCIS you sure know how to grab a girl’s attention,” another tweeted. “Mark Harmon and Scott Bakula in the same episode? Hubba hubba. #NCIS,” this excited fan previously said.
The point is, more Gibbs and Pride, more often, and ratings will likely skyrocket for the franchise. Until then, enjoy them on separate nights. While NCIS remains in its prime spot, the NOLA spin-off moved to a new day.
NCIS: New Orleans airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on CBS.
