Mark Harmon, who created the role of Gibbs on NCIS, is an executive producer on the prequel—as well as a narrator—and was part of the casting process that resulted in Stowell landing the role. But when it comes to offering advice on playing the character, he’s pretty much hands off.

Does a weekly procedural need lore? No. No it doesn’t not. But lore you will be served. The “NCIS” spinoff set in 1991 about young Gibbs functions as one long flashback