‘NCIS’ season 11 spoilers: Boss discusses issue with Tony, Cote de Pablo’s Ziva
Is Ziva David still a part of the “NCIS” universe in some way, and is Tony still keeping in contact with her? Without question, we probably get more tweets and email questions about this than anything else that we cover on CarterMatt. Everyone has an opinion on whether or not she should come back, and what we can tell you now is that based on what series boss Gary Glasberg said at TCA today, it’s unlikely it will happen in the near future.
First of all, Glasberg explained (per TVLine) that there have been many who have asked him about if Tony and Cote de Pablo’s character in contact still, and his basic response was that if they were to show anything, it would have to feel “organic” to the story that they were telling:
“A lot of people have approached me about the idea of not shutting the door entirely on [their staying in touch], and I’m not opposed to it … But it has to be done in a way where it feels organic to the storytelling and we’re not just throwing in lines about Ziva here and there. [For example], if Tony’s in a personal relationship or there’s something significant happening for him and he wondered how she would respond, then maybe we can figure out a way to do it. It’s a valid issue to bring up.”
Outside of whether or not Cote wants to come back to the show (which she has remained mum on ever since her initial decision to leave), an issue that Glasberg seems to be inferring here is the concern of bringing Ziva back into the show, whether it be physical or via just a mention or two, and having fans growing attached again towards a character that may or may not come back. It’s always possible that she could return someday, but if you are watching regularly in hopes of seeing a surprise cameo, you are setting yourself up to be disappointed.
Away from the “Tiva” issue, there are some good things coming up for the show. Glasberg suggested that you can expect to see Delilah’s attempt at a recover in the upcoming episodes, which is something that we are personally intrigued to see. So often shows tend to either ignore disability or kill off characters in explosions, and this is a much more interesting avenue.
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Photo: CBS
Kira
February 3, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
It’s just not the same without Ziva – something essential is missing in the new episodes. I’ve watched NCIS from the beginning but I’m barely able to watch the new episodes, because it just feels so … shallow. I can only hope they find a way to bring Cote back. But right now, I’d be happy if they would at least mention her – like many others said before, it feels much more “unnatural” to act like they don’t remember her at all – as Tony said before ‘it’s like she’s dead’. But she isn’t. So mentioning her shouldn’t be as painful after a few months – and it would be extremely natural to talk about her or wonder how she’s doing or trying to have some form of contact with her even if she’s lying low for now.
And when Glasberg says he’s afraid of “having fans growing attached again to a character that may or may not come back” – well, I can only laugh about that. I still like watching the old episodes – I love to, as a matter of fact – and I’ll stay attached to my favourite character regardless of how the series continues. And mentioning her wouldn’t make me miss her more, instead I’d be happy if the importance Ziva’s character held throughout the series would be more appreciated. And not only because of Tony – the other characters, especially Gibbs, had a special relationship to Ziva as well. I don’t forget people that have been in my life for so long – even if I can’t see them regularly anymore, I still think about them once and again. Ad if possible, I try to keep in touch with them.. Why wouldn’t the NCIS team? And why wouldn’t Ziva? We all remember how much she cared for her ‘family’ – it just really doesn’t make much sense that way…
ann
February 1, 2014 @ 1:37 pm
The new actress hired to replace Ziva looks like she is 16 and acts like Abby. She may be a fine actress but she is not right for this part! Please bring Ziva back and please do NOT have Tony moping after the new actress who looks young enough to be his daughter!
Judy
January 26, 2014 @ 7:33 am
I have always been a devoted fan of NCIS since it’s inception but I don”t feel that the “NCIS family” is complete without the character of Ziva, The former ensemble of Ducky, Jimmie, Abby, McGhee, Tony, Vince, Gibbs and Ziva were quirky yet worked well. IThe show definitely, for me, does not have the same excitement or natural feeling as it did. It now feels awkward and is hard for me to stay interested.
Susan
January 21, 2014 @ 7:51 pm
I agree with Sandra. There could easily be a continued connection with Zeva in her relationship with Tony. And yes, what is the problem with mentioning her name. The new girl is cute and pretty but very young. Most of the age group that are fans and loyal watchers of NCIS do not relate to a girl who loves Cheezits!
The show has focused on her and her alone and the team is very disjointed right now. She does not fit with the rest of the team. Maybe as an additional character who comes in for difficult tasks with behavioral analysis. NCIS was a family, a team. Why do you think we are all watching all the reruns! It is truly boring. It has lost its zing!!!
gabi
January 22, 2014 @ 1:07 pm
I am actually a young viewer and I thought having a twenty-something year old is ridiculous. She is just going to make everyone else look old and inadequate especially since she is decades younger than everyone and has already been married for years.
I am also sticking to reruns because they are actually entertaining.
Cyfarthfa
January 21, 2014 @ 10:13 am
Ziva has become’ the elephant in the room’. Her loss to us and to ‘the team’ has been huge. For the remaining team not to mention her is ridiculous. They were not some office workers but a team constantly needing each other and putting their lives on the line for each other. You do not forget people like that. We won’t, they shouldn’t.
NCISFan
January 21, 2014 @ 1:08 am
The show has been boring without Ziva. She was the “Nikita of the show”. When Gibbs was chasing down Parsa you were expecting Ziva to come out and back him up. Now there is no one. The action is blah! blah! blah! Emily does adds to the show, I would not take her off, but you need someone with more mystery as well. I would love to see Ziva return, but if she does not want to then you need to start audition actresses for a new NCIS Nikita.
Sandi Brooks
January 20, 2014 @ 7:45 pm
The whole exit story was ridiculous from the beginning. Tony and Ziva were not only partners but best friends, each others confidants, the two people who, for years now, had each other’s back. The sparkle when they looked at each other was undeniable. They shared with each other in a way neither shared with anyone else. They each helped each other grow. They were very special to each other.
Ziva said in the last season 10 episode that NCIS was HER family. She has no other. She became a US citizen – staying in Israel because she had this epiphany about the terrorists that she killed having loved ones who missed them is the most ridicuous thing I ever heard. Having her NOT communicate with the only person who was her rock, her friend, (and more if you accept the magic moments we saw between them), is what makes no sense and is NOT “organic”. It is as if Gary is trying to UNMAKE their rapport, who they were to each other. And that effort would invalidate all of the eight years of seeing them together and make the connection that CAUSED many of us to watch the show diminished. Ziva ONLY really had Tony as someone close to her, as the person she’d share what she’d share with nobody else.
No communication makes no sense. Israel is not the Antarctic.
Additionally, Ziva knew that Tony’s biggest hurts in life, his deepest hurts were related to abandonment. It is not acceptable based on their closeness that she would just do that to him – she’d understand like no one else (remember the talk about his mom?).
It also doesn’t even make sense for her to be all angsty about bad guys being loved and their loved ones hurting because of her. Ari would have killed and injured MANY. He DID kill, and then Ziva gets all bent out of shape because his Ari’s girl friend suffered loss? What about all the many who would have suffered loss if Ari and those like him were NOT stopped? What about Kates death and her teams loss? What if Ari had succeeded and all those victims families?
I cannot see the character we watched last year suddenly cut off contact with her partner, knowing about his past, his losses and his hurts. I cannot bring myself to watch new episodes anymore, to see the diminishment retroactively of the partnership, even with the actress gone. It demeans who they were to each other.
annsan
January 21, 2014 @ 12:25 am
the exit story was the only one that made the most sense for the character of ziva. Very obviously you are a tiva fan – but honestly – had each other’s back? That’s honestly the best joke I heard in a while. Tony obviously had ziva’s back far more often than she EVER had his. She treated him like a doormat, her purse and unnecessary accessory in word and action. And in what way did they ‘grow’ much less ‘help each other’ to do so?
ziva also resigned at the end of S10, despite Tony’s warning that it might not have worked out well for her to do so considering what she’d done in the eps prior.
US citizen or not, Israel made the most sense for ziva. Her FAMILY is there ultimately, even if they are all dead. And realizing that the people she killed also had loved ones is absolutely logical considering throughout the run of the season the character had seemed almost gleeful about her assassin past.
As far as all of your questions about Ari and the others, here’s one for you. What if ziva had carried out those others from Eli to kill Ari when she got them instead of trying to find a way to spare her half brother? oh gee…just maybe Kate would still be alive! but then, can’t have that since it wouldn’t work with ziva’s plan to gain Gibbs’s trust.
Regarding her failure to communicate, blame that on cdp’s inability to be available for an extended period to actually film the farewell. GG has gone on record in interviews that he wanted her for a voice over in 11×01 and she wouldn’t/couldn’t commit.
As far as ‘who they were to each other’, the very definition of that is highly subjective. What GG needed to do was the impossible task of pleasing his audience in general – not just those who saw a romance/special bond between the two characters.
Now you do realize that you contradict yourself when you say that ziva really only had Tony as someone close to her. Especially since you’ve quoted the line that the TEAM is her family. Dealing only with the team, we’ve very obviously got Gibbs as daddy 2.0. Heaven only knows she pulled the daddy card often enough to get him to agree to what she wanted/thought. oh but WAIT – we can’t just name the team because there Schmeil – remember him? and wait there’s Adam as well – you know him, right? ziva shared some sack time with him the last time she was in Israel.
Communication as a whole with ziva now that she’s in Israel just really doesn’t make sense. Yet ziva’s actions – cutting off communication, staying in Israel and cracking up over the loved ones scenario – ultimately makes perfect sense given the character we knew for many seasons. ziva is gone; cote quit. To continue to attach the character to MW’s Tony just makes NO sense for the health & well being of both the actor and the character. As far as ‘who they were to each’ that’s how YOU & your fellow shippers saw them only. It’s obviously not how GG, the show, or even MW saw them.
babs
January 19, 2014 @ 10:15 pm
Wont be watching anymore ncis with out ziva why couldnt she snd tony get married the program is ruined thanks.
annsan
January 19, 2014 @ 10:45 pm
because the program would have been ruined if they ever put those 2 together
babs
January 20, 2014 @ 11:23 pm
Its ruined now
annsan
January 20, 2014 @ 11:36 pm
no…it’s back to being NCIS again now that cdp walked away. For far too many seasons it was practically the ‘ziva show’. Now we get to see something OTHER than insult humor to open every ep and ziva and Gibbs solving the case near the end of every ep. Plus they’ve remembered that McGee is a field agent finally and they all look so much happier of late
babs
January 21, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
I personaly think with out ziva you will lose loads of viewers and the show .also abby and mcgee get them some passion togeather .
Rick
January 19, 2014 @ 10:03 pm
I would like Siva back to save the show. Bishop is horrible and the acting is very poor.
Linda
January 19, 2014 @ 4:17 pm
The show is not the same without Ziva, whose character brought an edge and tension to the group of investigators (you never knew what she was going to do.) I used to look forward to watching each week; now I just DVR it, and if I get around to watching, fine, if I don’t, that is also fine. The new actress (I cannot even recall her character’s name) is no replacement, and it is very odd that after working together for so many years, Ziva’s name is not even mentioned by the characters in any shows. (Don’t they wonder what she is up to??) Also disappointing are the plot lines we have seen many times before. Once again, there are explosions, and once again, NCIS is hunting a terrorist. (Hello, is this not the job of Homeland Security, FBI, CIA, etc.?) It seems the writers are running out of ideas and it would not surprise me to find out that (in the near future) it starts to slip in the ratings.
georgia
January 17, 2014 @ 2:56 pm
I think they don`t care about us they just do a quickly job.Gary is awful this year.From his interviews we can say that he hates Ziva and Tiva and he doesn`t want the fans to be happy and not only for the ziva fans.He doesn`t want to ba happy and the Mcabby fans.I think that this year`s writting team is sucks.I want to see good stories like season 2 or 8.In season 3 they set out in a good way Kate.they didn`t forget her immediately.
MR
January 16, 2014 @ 5:05 pm
In my opinion, they don’t care about fans. They made mistakes after mistakes since july. A lot of fans felt betrayed and are unhappy. It’s not a good thing for the show. How continue to support and appreciate a show who disrespect you?
Mary Ellen Wofford
January 16, 2014 @ 1:27 pm
I rarely post anything on articles about NCIS anymore because I no longer watch the show but something Mr. Glasberg said in this article really gave me pause.
“Glasberg suggested that you can expect to see Delilah’s attempt at a
recover in the upcoming episodes, which is something that we are
personally intrigued to see. So often shows tend to either ignore
disability or kill off characters in explosions, and this is a much more
interesting avenue.” If the way the aftermath of Ziva’s 3-months spent in a terrorist camp as a captive is any indication, there will be maybe 3 extremely brief mentions of Delilah’s injury/recovery trials. Just saying…
annsan
January 19, 2014 @ 10:44 pm
Blame Shane Brennan that that mess….not GG
Tonyfan Ncis
January 16, 2014 @ 1:33 am
Thaf is a ridiculous explanation about why they are not mentioning ziva. People who spent 16 hours a day with each other in an intense, dangerous job would hardly have to search to mention something that involved the other person, especially only a few months later. They worked cases, spent hours in cars on stake outs together, ate together, traveled together, and in some cases shared personal events together. So I don’t buy the reasoning that it is too painful for tony to have her name mentioned. Has he had his memory erased? If not, then he is still thinking about her, especially if, as gg has said, he named his fish after her!!!
agentscully514
January 16, 2014 @ 1:42 am
Agreed! in 2012 I lost a work colleague who was a good friend, who died from a very rare form of cancer. we had worked on the same team for 5 years, traveled together, etc. Well now that he is gone we talk about him CONSTANTLY. he was a huge part of our lives and a good friend. I cannot imagine not talking about him. and we were truly just friends – his wife is a great friend of mine as well!
Tonyfan Ncis
January 16, 2014 @ 1:46 am
It makes no sense. It’s not human or natural. Whether you were romantically involved or not, doesn’t make a difference.
annsan
January 16, 2014 @ 12:48 am
The sheer idea that there should be continuous contact between Tony & ziva is ludicrous – she quit her job and moved on with her life. So has he. There was no great romance; they were coworkers. Beyond that – there isn’t a work environment around where people sit around and discuss how they feel about ex-coworkers leaving or continue to bring them up just in general everyday work conversation.
Hoping GG sticks to the idea of communication with ziva is unnecessary for the team.
Dee
January 19, 2014 @ 6:42 pm
There was no great romance??? What was the whole ‘Tiva’ movement about? Have you ever worked in a office? A co-workers departure, especially one who you worth worth closely on a daily basis is all anyone talks about for awhile at least. There has hardly been any mentioned of Ziva which speaks more to GG hope that people are willing to overlook how badly he has screwed up a once great show than it does anything else.
annsan
January 19, 2014 @ 10:43 pm
ahhh here comes another one of tantrum nation….
no Dee, there was no great romance. Outside of the few scripts where the writers were so horrid (GM, RS, NMM) that they could write nothing interesting but huge, overt ship anvils, the interaction between Tony and ziva was that of coworkers. They didn’t date; didn’t ‘hang out’ regularly, didn’t sleep together. Heck she had a hissy fit when the guys had a ‘boys’ night out’ without her…..
Beyond that – really not sure what office situation you work in, but the ones I’ve been in – people MOVE ON. They don’t live in the past thinking about former coworkers on a daily basis. But then maybe whatever office situation you’re referring to is more a soap opera setup than something professional
Sandra
January 16, 2014 @ 12:12 am
Personally I think there have been numerous occasions where Ziva naturally would and should have been mentioned, and it was uncomfortable and strange. The fact that this is your top question shows that it bothers many of the fans as well. Too bad, I think they have been trying to move on much to fast for many fans, including me. I appreciate Gary’s response, and will continue to hope Ziva comes back in the future.
Tonyfan Ncis
January 16, 2014 @ 1:27 am
I agree with you Sandra! To me it highlights the seeming avoidance of talking about her rather than being “organic “
annsan
January 19, 2014 @ 10:38 pm
where are these ‘numerous occassions’?