Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love” are forward!
Though not a member of the principle forged, Patrick Fischler’s Cliff Wheeler remains to be an necessary cog within the machine generally known as NCIS: Origins. Along with being the Particular Agent in Cost of the NIS Pendleton workplace within the early Nineties, we’ve additionally gotten some peeks into his private life, most notably by his secret relationship with FBI agent Noah Oakley. Wheeler’s closeted sexuality performed into the most recent Origins episode to air on the 2025 TV schedule, and whereas it resulted in some unlucky shakeups in his life, I used to be glad to see at the very least one good factor come from it.
What Occurred To Wheeler In This Week’s NCIS: Origins
After it was strongly indicated in NCIS: Origins Season 1’s penultimate episode that Cliff Wheeler was secretly homosexual and had been romantically concerned with Noah Oakley at one level, this was outright confirmed final month in “No Man Left Behind.” Though these two had lengthy been damaged up, “Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love” opened with exhibiting that they’d resumed their relationship, motivated partly by Wheeler feeling lonely. Effectively, Wheeler’s spouse found the affair had resumed, and regardless of her having as soon as mentioned that divorce was for folks with extra disposable revenue, she determined to finish their 17-year marriage.
Understandably, Wheeler stored this to himself at first. Nonetheless, whereas struggling along with his impending divorce, a number of folks at work got here to him with requests on the identical time, all whereas he was attempting to get a while to himself within the rec room. Overwhelmed with stress, Wheeler misplaced his cool and shouted how he and his spouse have been separating for all inside earshot on the NIS workplace to listen to.
Now that might be sufficient for Cliff Wheeler to grapple with, however this week’s case additionally noticed him coming into contact with Colonel Casey Montgomery, a sign intelligence officer who was working with the homicide sufferer, Lance Corporal Natasha Horvat. As a way to show he had nothing to do with Horvat’s homicide, Montgomery was compelled to disclose that after he’d dropped her off, he traveled to a motel in Temecula to remain the night time with one other man. That proved Montgomery’s innocence, however in 1992, being homosexual within the navy was thought-about a possible safety threat due to vulnerability to blackmail, which means he might be discharged.
Wheeler was initially going to report Montgomery, even if he might simply find yourself in that very same predicament. Fortuitously, because of Mary Jo Hayes’ well timed intervention (extra on that in a bit), Wheeler finally modified his thoughts and knowledgeable Montgomery that he’d keep quiet about his sexuality. However so far as his personal closeted life goes, “Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love” wrapped up with the NIS head recommending Noah Oakley for a job in Washington D.C. that Vera Strickland was going to use for. That means, he’s attempting to get his boyfriend to maneuver throughout the nation, which I believe is an effort on his half to smother his homosexuality.
How Some Good Got here Out Of This For Wheeler
So yeah, Cliff Wheeler’s life is sort of tumultuous proper now, and I don’t see that getting higher anytime quickly as we enter this latter stretch of NCIS: Origins Season 2. The one silver lining that got here from all that is by the tip of “Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love,” he’s grown nearer to Mary Jo. She realized about his and Oakley’s relationship throughout “No Man Left Behind” when the lads each informed her the identical story, in separate encounters, a couple of date they’d had that gone improper. Mary Jo kindly stored this data to herself, however upon studying what Wheeler was going to do to Montgomery, she confronted him along with her information in an effort to steer him to not break this man’s life.
At first, Wheeler rudely dismissed Mary Jo, however after he modified his thoughts, he met up along with her on the bar the place the NIS brokers hang around, and so they cleared the air. Extra importantly, Wheeler now has a confidant in Mary Jo, as she made it clear to him that she’d hold his sexuality to herself. So now he has a pleasant face he can flip to for help, be really open with and never fear about any judgement. I stay up for seeing how Wheeler and Mary Jo’s relationship evolves from right here, and I additionally surprise if anybody else will study him being homosexual earlier than Season 2 is over.
The NCIS: Origins midseason finale will play on CBS subsequent Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. After that, the present will resume airing at a yet-to-be-announced date on the 2026 TV schedule, so you should use the vacation hiatus to revisit older episodes together with your Paramount+ subscription.
