NCIS: Origins Episode 11 is called “Flight of Icarus,” and it’s about Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid), who goes through a lot of emotions. The story delves into Franks’s past and deals with a tricky case that makes the whole NIS team nervous. With moving flashbacks and intense investigations, this episode skillfully blends personal problems with work duties, showing even more about the mysterious leader who made NCIS what it is today. Here’s a full account of everything that happened.
FRANKS’ BOOTS AND A VISIT TO MEMORY LANE
At the beginning of the episode, we get a close look at Mike Franks’ morning routine. As he carefully gets ready for the day, the sole of his beloved Nile crocodile leather cowboy boots tears apart, making for a moving moment. They were a gift from Franks’s older brother and mother, so they are very important to him. Franks won’t replace them, even though Tish (Mariel Molino) says it might be time to let them go. He comes to work in funny, worn-out white tennis shoes, which is a lighthearted moment in a very serious episode.
Flashbacks show what the boots are really about. For Franks’ birthday, his family saved up money to buy them, even though money was tight at the time. These glimpses into his teen years set the stage for a very personal event in which the present and the past come together.
A DEATH INVESTIGATION BEGINS
The NIS team is asked to look into the death of Captain Cameron Reid, whose body has been found with signs that he killed himself. Franks’ team shows up, with Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mariel Molino as Lala Dominguez, and Caleb Foote as Ben Randolf. Gibbs works hard with the medical examiner to put together the evidence. He takes photos of the crime scene for the first time.
The first results point to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, since the bloody scene and the location of the gun support a suicide theory. Franks is careful with the case, though, because he is worried about how it might affect Gibbs. The former Marine turned agent had suicidal thoughts in the past, but Gibbs tells his mentor that he can handle the case.
THE ARRIVAL OF GENERAL ALEXANDER REID
The group meets at NIS headquarters and learns that Captain Cameron Reid’s father is Lieutenant General Alexander Reid, a three-star war hero who is also known as “Alexander the Great.” General Reid, who is played by Patrick Fischler, makes the investigation more tense.
When General Reid gets there, he refuses to deal with Special Agent in Charge Cliff Wheeler (Patrick Fischler) and wants to deal directly with Franks. Even though there is more and more evidence that his son killed himself, Reid is sure that the death is not what it seems to be. Franks handles the tricky situation with care, keeping the general’s sadness and doubt in check while the team looks for the truth.
RANDY’S ATTEMPT TO SET GIBBS UP
In a short but funny side story, Agent Randolf (Caleb Foote) suggests that Gibbs go on a date with Amanda, who is friends with his wife. Randy thinks Gibbs would enjoy meeting Amanda because she is a nice and funny teacher. At first, Gibbs thought Randy’s invitation was for a buddy dinner, but he is cut off before he can answer. This adds a lighthearted moment to the serious case.
FLASHBACKS TO FRANKS’ MILITARY PAST
Franks has flashbacks to his childhood throughout the episode. Normal things, like a pamphlet for a veteran’s support group, set off these memories. The moment Franks was sent to fight in the Vietnam War is shown in one of the most powerful flashbacks. His protective older brother gets into a fight with the armed service member who brings the draft notice and even suggests that Franks leave the country. Franks says no and chooses to serve his country anyway, even though it’s dangerous.
In a touching turn of events, Franks’ older brother joins the army too because he doesn’t want to leave his younger brother to fight alone. These memories help us learn more about Franks’ personality—his sense of duty and the responsibility he has as a leader.
UNRAVELING THE TRUTH BEHIND CAPTAIN REID’S DEATH
As the investigation goes on, problems with the first theory of suicide start to show up. The team finds new information like forensic evidence and witness statements that suggests there may have been foul play. The team keeps looking because General Reid is sure that his son is innocent.
Franks and Gibbs go back to the crime scene and look at every detail again very carefully. A set of footprints that don’t match Captain Reid’s shoes is found to be very important evidence. This new information changes the course of the investigation and forces the team to question people—who were close to the victim.
The most exciting part of the episode is when the team figures out who the suspect is—Nick Barnes—a fellow officer who was angry at Captain Reid. Barnes admits to killing Reid when presented with the proof, revealing a web of jealousy and betrayal. The end of the case brings a bittersweet sense of closure, as we finally know what really happened with Reid’s death.
When “Flight of Icarus” is over, Franks thinks about the case and his own journey. People watch him fix his beloved boots and are reminded of the emotional weight he carries as a leader—a mentorand a man shaped by his past. The episode’s mix of personal and professional problems shows how strong the NCIS: Origins stories are over time. It gives us a better look into the lives of the team that started the NCIS legacy.
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