That is why I’ve mentioned in several posts that they need to finish the TIVA storyline whether Cote comes back or not. It is more than a sex thing. This is a really deep revelation between two very complex people that have very big issues to resolve. All the characters on NCIS have some sort of thing in their background. That is good because it makes them more real. Done right this could be a very powerful story of personal healing. The debate is that it be done in a way that it doesn’t become a dominant storyline throughout the season but remains a background story threaded through some episodes like they did before. The characters could be spending time together before, after or in between cases in short scenes. If Cote isn’t coming back they will have to work it out by having Tony with another woman and demonstrate in his actions/words with that woman how he has matured and what he learned from his relationship with Ziva.

It seems more in character for Tony to move gradually into giving his heart again, by giving it to a pet first. I would not believe Tony truly giving his heart away so soon to a different woman. It took Tony 8 Years To really come Clean With Ziva, after all.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I’ve wondered if Harmon’s contract demands that he have some kind of flattery and “awesome Gibbs” moment in every episode or if Glasburg just requires the writers to keep it coming in order to keep his job!

I heard about the long filming days too. I have heard that it still is a long day for them. Rocky Carroll said in an article that it takes roughly 8 12 hour days to film one episode and I’m assuming that is if everything is going okay. I’m now wondering if that played any role in Sasha, Lauren and Cote all leaving. Sasha and Lauren have kids so I could see that the long hours would really cut into family time. Cote, I don’t know, as I don’t think she has any kids at this point but I’m wondering if she was on burnout because her screen time really increased the last 2-3 years she was on the show.

I too, hope that we get to see Tony in stronger lead role situations. I hate to bring up Ziva again as we’ve talked circles around this but it is as if the writers don’t know what to do with Tony now that Cote/Ziva has gone. It will be interesting to see what role the cat has in the show. Since Tony has two goldfish, I hope the cat doesn’t help himself to a sushi snack. LOL!

I agree about cats being complex. One of my friends has three cats. When I visit one hides, one ignores me and the third I swear is bipolar – he will either greet me or hiss at me depending on the day. I’m not the biggest cat person but do find them amusing. LOL!

TPTB see the show as the Gibbs show. Remember back at the end of season 4, Harmon got Bellisario fired from his own show..It wasn’t just that he lost his job as show runner, he was not allowed to have any input to the creative process. This was supposedly because of Bellisario’s chaotic management style. He made last minute script changes and they were shooting 16 hour days. Harmon told TPTB that either Bellisario was to be fired or he was leaving.

We know that TPTB picked Harmon and kicked Bellisario to the curb. Yes, Harmon is the show.. Bellisario later made a video on You tube where he said that season 4 was the most difficult that he ever had. He had lost two cast members in the middle of the season. One was the little person that Abby was dating.played by Michael Gilden. Gilden committed suicide and it required a lot of rewriting. The relationship between the two characters was supposed to continue throughout the season.

The other was Susannah Thompson, the actress that played Army Colonel Hollis Mann, a romantic interest for Gibbs. She had another acting gig and Bellisario gave her the time off so that she could take it. That required more rewriting and shuffling until she could return to the show.

Whatever story you want to believe, either Bellisario was incompetent or he was trying to cope with a very difficult situation, The result was he lost control of his own show and totally cut out of the creative process. Today he definitely has neurological problems, perhaps he did already during season 4. In his You tube video he seemed to be okay but I don’t know if he was. But my point is that Bellisario lost out big time to Harmon. Where NCIS is concerned, Harmon is the man and that is not likely to change unless he decides to retire. When that happens probably it will be the end of the show.

Tony used to get a lot more, in the early seasons when the show was so much cleverer and the characters, subtly multi dimensional. Now it’s the super Gibbs show and no one else can bring anything much to the table. Don’t be so sure that everyone will get a one and done. They have to give Gibbs all the flattery, danger, action, and drama in every episode these days. I doubt they can spare a hero moment for Tony because Gibbs has to have them all. They don’t seem to mind flattering McGee as much but Tony can only have flirtations, failed romances, cuff the and frog march whoever super Gibbs caught, and be humiliated. Anything remotely exciting has to feature super Gibbs. Geeze I thought when Ziva left Tony might get his skills and a little of his former significance back but GIbbs seems to have gobbled up all the screen time that used to be used for shoving wonder/tragic Ziva into the spotlight. Every single spoiler has to talk about Gibbs now.

If he sees a cat as more important than his immaculate apartment, that could be a step in the right direction I like cats and it is a special guy who likes cats. Cats form relationships on their terms not yours. I had two cats up until 3 mos ago. He, the deceased, used to greet me when I pulled into the driveway or at the front door when he was inside. The remaining cat never greets, I must come to where she is. Much different from dogs. Cats are more like complex people,

We know it is the Gibbs show. If Tony or any other character gets a episode that is centered on them, it will be one a season. Ducky has had his for this season.
We should expect one each for Abby, Tony, McGee, Bishop.and maybe Palmer So, the score will be 18 -19 for Gibbs, 5 or 6 for the also starring. It would be interesting to see if it has always been that way.