NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 8 recap — Why does Randolf take a priest into protective custody?

The NCIS universe continues to expand with new entries like NCIS: Origins, focusing on the fan-favorite character Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell). The police procedural dives into Gibb's formative years during the 1990s, exploring how he transformed into a highly disciplined, sharp, and emotionally complex leader.

Set in 1991, NCIS: Origins Season 1 arrived in October 2024 and has completed eight episodes on CBS. While the show sets the foundation of Gibbs’ professional ethos, it also follows cases linked to the investigative world.

In episode 8, which aired on December 2, 2024, the story revolves around the murder of Father John Larkin, a Navy chaplain. While the murder case takes center stage, Special Agent Bernard “Randy” Randolf's confession about a past incident explains how deep-hidden secrets can cause pain and distress.

Continue reading to know what Randy confessed and why he took another priest into custody in NCIS: Origins Episode 8.

NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 8 recap: A priest is murdered

NCIS: Origins focuses on Gibb's early days (Image via @amstowell)

Titled "Sick as Our Secrets," NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 8 follows the startling murder of Father John Larkin at his church. The episode features a confessional booth where Father John is administering a confession and is suddenly attacked. Turns out someone shot him not once but twice, causing immediate death.

Following the brutal killing, the NCIS team gets into action. Through investigation, the team learned that Father John was first shot inside the confessional booth, and when he tried to escape, the culprit shot him twice without clearly seeing his face.

This revelation suggests that Father John might have been killed mistakenly, further complicating the case. As the agents continue the quest to solve the case, they find another priest, Father Bobby.

Initially, Father Bobby's appearance and erratic behavior suggested he might be a suspect. But later, when he opens up about his distress and fear, he's no more a suspect in NCIS: Origins Episode 8.

Also Read: Why did Pauley Perrette leave NCIS? Reasons behind the actor's exit from the show, explored

On the day of the murder, Father Bobby switched confessional duties with Father John, which makes him believe that he was the target. His fear continues to grow as Father thinks that the killer might be someone who confessed to him.

Later in the NCIS: Origins episode 8, Father Bobby's moral dilemma forces NCIS to provide him with protective custody while they try to identify the killer. Though Father Bobby wasn't involved in Father John's murder, his fear of getting targeted led Randy to take him into protective custody.

Special Agent Randy struggles with guilt: His connection to the Gibbs revealed

Randy made a big revelation in episode 8 (Image via Instagram/@amstowell)

As mentioned above, NCIS: Origins Episode 8 didn't just follow the murder case but also highlights Randy's struggle with guilt. But why is he guilty? He has been silently battling PTSD and is trying hard to suppress his emotions. At the same time, he cannot smoke due to his health, which has also strained his coping mechanism.

But this is not the reason why Special Agent Randy's guilt worsened in NCIS: Origins Episode 8. He's assigned the responsibility of protecting Father Bobby, a responsibility he once didn't fulfill. The episode reveals Randy's connection to Leroy Jethro Gibbs's family and Agent Kurt Mitchell.

Randy decides to talk about his guilt with Father Bobby and tells the priest that he feels the burden of Agent Kurt Mitchell's death. The Special Agent explained that he was assigned the duty to protect Shannon and Kelly Gibbs, but due to his family struggle, he requested to be unassigned and the responsibility went to Mitchell.

Randy also confesses that it's hard for him to look at his son as Mitchell also had a child and he feels the guilt of separating a child from his father. Father Bobby can resonate with Randy's confession as he's also facing the same guilt as he thinks Father John died in his place.

Also Read: Why did Jessica Knight leave NCIS? Reasons explored

Father John's killer is revealed in NCIS: Origins Episode 8

As NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 8 nears its end, Father Bobby reveals knowing the killer. However, due to the sacramental seal, he's forbidden to open up about confessions made to him. The investigation then takes a dramatic turn.

Randy is seen guarding Father Bobby at a motel and a fire alarm is triggered. The chaotic situation leads Randy to confront a suspicious individual. At the same time, Gibbs also arrested a man who tried to break into Father Bobby's room.

Unfortunately, both suspects turn out to be petty thieves, and the killer is still free. But not for long as Father Bobby couldn't bear the burden of Father John's death, and decided to reveal the identity of the killer.

The priest revealed that Joshua Adams, the son of the church’s secretary was the killer. He's a young troubled man who's struggling with substance abuse and has committed several violent crimes including the murder of Father John. The NCIS team tracks down Joshua who was found using drugs, and is arrested for his crime.

Other subplots and character arcs featured in NCIS: Season 1 Episode 8

NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 8 also highlights Lala Dominguez's aim to get a promotion. She shares her desire with her sister and later tells Vera that she's serious about getting a promotion in NIS.

Lala also learned that Agent in Charge Cliff Wheeler is receiving recommendations from team leaders, but Frank doesn't seem to recommend Lala's name. While Wheeler considers Lala a good candidate, Frank believes she's better at fieldwork.

Frank told Lala that he didn't recommend her name for a promotion and wanted to asses her work further. This highlights Lala's struggle to move up in the ranks at work.

The NCIS: Origins Season 1 episode also focused on Vera's to conduct her first interview for the NIS profiling program. In Episode 5, she struggled with funding but later secured it. And now, she's all set to interview Bugs, a character viewers saw in Season 1 premiere.