Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed by Austin Stowell, makes it to the altar just in time in the episode “End of the Road.” This pivotal moment unfolds with the help of co-showrunner David J. North, who steps into the role of the preacher officiating Gibbs’ wedding to Diane Sterling, played by Kathleen Kenny. In a playful exchange with TVLine, North quipped, “Did you notice that it was me who married them? I don’t want to oversell my acting chops, but have you ever heard of Daniel Day-Lewis?” He humorously added that he was called “reverend” on the set due to his dedication to the part.

Fans of “NCIS” have been eager to witness how Gibbs’ romance with Diane unfolds in the “Origins” series, knowing that their marriage eventually ends in divorce, as revealed in Diane’s later appearances on “NCIS.” Despite this, the bond between Gibbs and Diane remains evident, enduring through the years.

Their spur-of-the-moment, joyful wedding in Las Vegas during “End of the Road” comes as a surprise, even to those familiar with their story. David J. North acknowledges this unexpected twist, while also hinting at Gibbs’ unresolved emotions for another potential love interest, Lala Dominguez, played by Mariel Molino. “Gibbs is a man who’s faced much adversity. He has feelings for his colleague Lala, whether he admits it or not,” North observed. This adds another layer of complexity to Gibbs and Diane’s relationship.

A significant motivation for Gibbs to wed Diane—marking his second marriage after the heartbreaking loss of his first wife, Shannon Fielding (Darby Stanchfield)—is Lala’s candid advice to him about embracing commitment. Gibbs nearly ends his relationship with Diane until Lala’s words resonate with him. When Lala discovers their nuptials, North reveals that her reaction will be impactful for viewers.

It’s worth noting that one of the reasons Gibbs marries Diane — his second trip to the altar following the tragic murder of his first wife, Shannon Fielding (Darby Stanchfield) — is because Lala tells him frankly that he needs to stop running away from commitment. He’s on the verge of leaving the relationship before she speaks up. But when Lala learns about the wedding, David J. North says that viewers can expect her to have a strong reaction.

“It’s hard because they work together and it’s professional,” North told TVLine. “But obviously, she has deep feelings and a reaction to it, and we’ll feel that for sure.” Added co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal, “It definitely has an effect in both his personal and professional life, and we’ll see that in the following episode.” Monreal notes that the rest of the team will have equally extreme reactions to the news as well, and that Gibbs definitely loves Diane, albeit in a different way than he loves Lala.

Fans shouldn’t expect to see Gibbs and Diane get divorced right away; they break up sometime in 1995, after they move together to Washington D.C., and it’s 1992 in the “Origins” section of the “NCIS” timeline right now. That means there’s plenty of time for tension to percolate between Gibbs and Lala — and Gibbs and Diane — over the next few seasons.