‘NCIS’ season 13 spoilers: Will Ziva factor into Tony’s endgame?
We know that if there is one question right now that all fans of “NCIS” want to know, it is this: Will we get to see at least one more appearance from Cote de Pablo as Ziva David before season 13 comes to a close, and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) officially departs? It is pretty easy at this point to determine why there is a demand to see her. She was one of the show’s most-popular characters, and given that no one has ever ruled out the possibility of her return in the future, it feels like there is no better time to have her back.
With that being said, the show’s executive producer Gary Glasberg is remaining coy on whether or not we will actually see her, though he did mention to TVLine that the subject of Ziva is something that will be broached:
“You can’t have Tony leave the show and not get into that in some respect so plan on it being discussed and handled, even if it’s in background.”
We’re starting to fall into the camp who thinks that even if Cote does return, it’s probably something that would not be announced in advance for the surprise factor … which we’re fine with. This is not a show that can pull off this sort of thing on a frequent basis. As for if it will happen, though, right now we’re not so sure. Since Cote is off social media and tends to stay rather off-the-radar, it is often hard to get a read on what she’s up to.
We’ll have more news on “NCIS” and a potential Ziva appearance as time passes; meanwhile, head over here to check out our recent show archive, or sign up at this link to get some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: CBS.)
Dutch
March 10, 2016 @ 3:20 am
It would be nice if Tony and Ziva get together but keep it open for Tony (or Ziva) to cameo sometime in the future, say get wrapped up in a case on a visit to the states.
Sandi Brooks
March 8, 2016 @ 11:25 pm
NCIS heavily promoted Tiva, used it to build viewers, used the duo at tons of appearances together and worked hard to build the Tiva fan base and mystique. Gary said “Well get there eventually” in speaking of tiva. It was held out there as a promise to fans. The Showrunners will prove selves to be unappreciative users I’d they fail to finally, finally deliver. Show used the word “relationship” about them, used word rive on marketing. It was not imaginary, this was shows own promos year after year. To dangle this and never go anywhere would be a horrendous breach of faith.
RockyW
March 8, 2016 @ 10:56 pm
This show runner is a joke! NCIS has become a soap for old people because the younger viewers don’t watch his Barbie agent!
I started watching because of Ziva, my girlfriend because of DiNozzo! Long time fans want to see them leaving together in a funny exciting way!
And after season 13 finale NCIS will be done anyway! Time for Grandpa Gibbs to enjoy retirement!
FLCheesehead
March 8, 2016 @ 11:22 pm
It’s renewed for two more years, so … it’s not dead yet. I’m also a long time fan and I do NOT want to see Tony & Ziva leave together, thanks. I think she should have some sort of role in his exit because that’s just good storytelling. But this is Tony’s exit. Let Tony have that. He shouldn’t have to share it with all the fangirling that would accompany Ziva. He’d be lost, standing there in the background behind the great big ZIVA RETURNS sign. My preference would be Tony waving good-bye from the elevator one last time, no one really quite sure where he’s going. Maybe he’s getting on a plane to Israel to meet up with Ziva. Maybe he’s headed off to tour Europe with his father. Maybe he’s taking on a team of his own. Maybe none of the above. But why does he have to leave with anyone? Why do we have to know? Can’t he just be happy and optimistic and heading out in his DiNozzo-y way towards whatever the future holds? Give me that ending, and I’ll be happy.
liz laughlin
March 9, 2016 @ 6:42 am
Who are we calling “the Barbie agent?”
FLCheesehead
March 9, 2016 @ 10:49 pm
I believe “Barbie agent” refers to Bishop, although the only actual dolls I’ve seen from the NCIS merchandise folks were of Ziva and Abby.
sadtonyfan
March 8, 2016 @ 10:38 pm
I really hope that Tony’s exit doesn’t become about “tiva”. Geeze they turned him into Ziva’s disrespected handbag for years in their never ending effort to diminish his character. Can’t Tony fans ever have a Tony story that is actually about Tony? I know they won’t let him go out a hero because the writers are obviously only allowed to write super Gibbs as a hero these days but I wish they could break the Harmon/Glasberg rule just this once and give us a hero Tony exit. I have almost no hope that this will be allowed to happen.
liz laughlin
March 9, 2016 @ 6:48 am
Michael Weatherly said in an interview with TV Guide that he was “sure ” that Ziva and Tony would meet up again. Cote de Pablo was Michael’s friend and still is. If he wants her on his exit should she be banned because you and some other fans don’t like her? What TPTB do they will do and neither you nor I have much say in it. I don’t think that TPTB want her back but we will see if Michael knew what he was talking about in that interview.
FLCheesehead
March 9, 2016 @ 10:57 pm
I do think people need to remember that just because Ziva returns doesn’t mean she’ll be the same Ziva who left. If she comes back, it will be after three years of soul-searching and realigning her priorities and being with old friends back home and doing whatever it was she’s been doing for three years. I hardly think she spent three years standing crying on the tarmac, hoping someone would give her a call. It’s not like she’s going to pop into the squad room and they’re going to pick up where they left off. She could come back married and pregnant. Or the head of Mossad. Or a kindergarten teacher. Or a psychopath. Who knows? The return of Ziva does not automatically mean the return of Tiva.
liz laughlin
March 10, 2016 @ 5:36 am
From the way they left off, Ziva would be somewhere trying to make up for the the killing she was involved in. Maybe working on a Kibbutz taking care of the children in the day care. She wouldn’t need a high paying job because her father would have left her well off. Ziva would never be a psychopath. Like most people, you don’t understand the character. She was a woman who spent most of her life trying to win her father’s love. She sent Tony away not the other way around. She felt guilty over killing her half brother Ari Haswari and a lots of enemies of Israel. Tony told her that she needed to let go of it. that killing people sometimes is part of the job. The head of Mossad? No. that would be going back to what she was trying to escape from. A child, perhaps Tony’s? Possibly. We will see what we will see. Personally, I think that there is a lot of bad feelings between CdP and TPTB–guys with big egos and big salaries to match. I will be shocked to see them bring her back. The only thing to indicate otherwise is Michael Weatherly’s comment about being sure that Tony and Ziva will meet up again. Oh and the crying on the tarmac isn’t a sign of weakness or mental instability. I had to have a cat put to sleep 2 years ago and two of my guy friends said that they cried like a little girl when their dog or cat died. It takes a real man to admit that.
FLCheesehead
March 11, 2016 @ 12:28 am
I do understand the character. When I said “psychopath” I was giving an extreme example for the people who look for that kind of thing, and to show that yes … I’ve thought of all the extremes as well as the common tropes (head of Mossad). Personally, I’m tired of all the people who talk about Ziva as being “broken and alone” and “left crying on the tarmac” or as having had a breakdown. IMO, when Ziva sent Tony away, she was the sanest she’d ever been. She understood that this — her life — was something she had to figure out and fix before she could invite another person in. She wasn’t falling apart. She was as together as I’d ever seen her. She knew the task ahead of her. She sent him away because she knew that her loyal-to-a-fault partner, friend and champion would do everything he could to fix it for her. And that’s not what she needed. She needed to fix it herself in order to become whole.
I read all this chatter about how “Tony needs his ninja back” or “Ziva needs to come back and kick some butt!” THOSE are the people who don’t understand the character. If the character is written properly, she’s not going to BE a ninja any more. She’s not GOING to kick butt. That was the whole point of her staying.
Of course … I’m also one of those people who doesn’t think Tony needs to leave WITH someone in order to be happy. He can happily walk into his future without knowing where he’s going to end up or with who. When we first met Tony, he was waving to us from the window of an airplane. I’d be perfectly happy if the last view we got of him was him waving to us from the window of an airplane. An airplane that could be going anywhere — we don’t know. But he’s happy and smiling and ready for the next adventure. And the rest of the story is up to each viewer to figure out.
liz laughlin
March 11, 2016 @ 4:08 am
Okay! That is more like it. I would still like to see the new Ziva that you just described be united with Tony. The guy is pushing 50 and he has never really found the woman he needs. Ziva understood him. He was also trying to win his father’s love and respect just like her. Both of them had fathers who did not know how to be a father. I would like to see Ziva return with his child and help him become the father that he never had. Tony, also understood Ziva. Gibbs told him in Past, Present, Future that if Ziva didn’t want to be found then he would never be able to find her. That was the second time that Ziva told Tony that she thought that no one would be able to find her and yet Tony did. The first time was Truth or Consequences, when she was held captive by Saleem. I don’t think TPTB want to let them be together but it would sure tie things up nicely. If they did it, I might be able to forgive the idiocy of the last two and a half years.
FLCheesehead
March 18, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
I would be incredibly angry if the storyline had Ziva return with Tony’s child. It would be completely out of character for her to have had a child and hidden him/her from their father for three years. As you said, both Tony and Ziva had fathers who did not know how to be fathers. But then you’re advocating a scenario where Ziva would have made it impossible for Tony to have even had that chance. Sure, he’d get to be one NOW. But he would have missed the most important bonding years of a child’s life. He’d feel guilty for that for the rest of his life, and it wouldn’t even be his fault.
It would be Ziva controlling Tony’s life, not sharing it. He wouldn’t have had a choice in anything — the child’s name, religion, nothing. All of those decisions would have been made by Ziva. He’d never have a chance to rock the newborn to sleep or to hear the first word or see the first steps. All because Ziva had decided that was the way SHE wanted it. That isn’t exactly the way to build trust or a happy relationship. I don’t even LIKE Ziva all that much, and I don’t think she’s capable of doing something that selfish to a man she supposedly loves.
agentscully514
March 8, 2016 @ 9:16 pm
I for one hour she she’s make an appearance. And I agree that they would try to keep it under wraps..
liz laughlin
March 9, 2016 @ 6:55 am
I agree, they will not tell us one way or the other. I play a little poker sometimes. TPTB will not show their hand until they have to. Whether she shows up or not they are going to make the most out of it. Just the possibility that she might show up should bring in some fans.