NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 11 recap: Who killed Cameron Reid?

NCIS: Origins has been able to garner a dedicated fan following in a short period, thanks to its emotionally-rich narrative. The show returned after a mid-season break on January 27, 2025, with the release of its 11th episode.

The series delves into the origin story of NCIS’ Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs and chronicles his early days in the Naval Investigative Service. In episode 11, Flight of Icarus, Gibbs and his team have a difficult case to crack as they investigate the death of Captain Cameron Reid, a Marine commander's son.

Meanwhile, the episode also focuses on Mike Franks and brings out some fascinating details about his past. In the end, the team can determine who killed Cameron Reid. Here is the complete NCIS: Origins season 1 episode 11 recap.

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Who killed Cameron Reid in NCIS: Origins season 1 episode 11?

In NCIS: Origins season 1 episode 11, Cameron Reid is found dead of a gunshot wound. At first, it looks like the captain took his own life. However, the team does not find any DNA on the weapon used for the shot.

Cameron’s father, Lieutenant General Alexander Reid, a respected war hero, refuses to believe his son would kill himself. He is convinced that someone has murdered his son and pushes NCIS to find the truth.

As the team investigates, they learn that Reid is struggling with mental health issues. He had been ordered to deploy to Somalia. His closed ones reveal he was scared to go back to war. In the days before his death, he picked up a fight with a friend and started avoiding people.

Eventually, the team discovers that Reid had been looking for a gun on the night he died. He felt like he did not deserve the promotions his father helped him get and was afraid of being sent to war again.

In the end, it becomes clear that Reid had indeed taken his own life, and was not murdered. When Franks tells General Reid the truth, he refuses to believe it. However, he is eventually forced to face the reality of what his son went through in his life.

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NCIS: Origins season 1 episode 11 recap: Who gave Cameron Reid the gun?

The investigation leads the team to Nick Barnes, a close friend of Reid. Nick initially does not want to talk to the agents, but NCIS confronts him, and he reveals Reid pressured him to give him a gun. Reid kept saying he really needed the weapon and even paid for it.

After an argument, Nick gave in and handed the gun over to Reid. He did not realize how much Reid was struggling at the time. Hence, Reid was not attacked, and he made the horrific choice to end his life.

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NCIS: Origins season 1 episode 11 recap: What do Mike Franks’ flashbacks mean?

Mike Franks’ boots are a major highlight of the episode. Throughout the episode, the Special Agent keeps thinking about his old boots, which have gotten a rip in them. Instead of throwing them away, he struggles with the idea of fixing or replacing them.

The boots remind him of his past, especially his time in the Vietnam War. Flashbacks show that Franks was drafted into Vietnam. His older brother tried to stop him from going and even told him to run away to avoid the draft.

However, Franks refused as he was not the kind of guy who would run away from difficulties. In the end, his brother enlisted too, as he did not want Franks to go alone. Franks’ past is in contrast to Reid’s story.

Both men were pressured with military duty, but they handled it differently. While Franks chose to face it and grew stronger over the years, Reid felt like he had no way out. Franks fixes his boots at the end of the episode, which shows he respects his past but also believes in moving forward.

NCIS: Origins airs new episodes on CBS on Mondays.