“NCIS Bombshell: The Shocking Truth About Ziva and Tony’s Reunion After Her Faked Death – Fans Can’t Believe What Really Happened!”
After five seasons apart, Ziva and Tony’s long-anticipated “will-they-won’t-they” relationship finally found resolution in season 17 of NCIS.
The highly anticipated reunion of Ziva and Tony on NCIS almost became a reality in season 17. However, much to the disappointment of fans, there was no on-screen reunion that season, nor in the subsequent seasons. Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), an Israeli operative, joined the NCIS team as a liaison officer after Caitlin Todd’s passing at the end of season 2. However, the romantic relationship between Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva didn’t begin until the eighth episode of that season when they posed as a couple undercover. This ignited their iconic “will-they-won’t-they” romance, affectionately dubbed “Tiva” by fans.
After years of speculation, NCIS season 17 offered hints about their future together, something fans had long been waiting for. However, this almost didn’t happen due to Ziva’s presumed death at the end of Season 13. Ziva was believed to have died in a mortar explosion orchestrated by Sahar Azam in the NCIS season 13 finale. Even though she was later revealed to be alive, Tony remained unaware for an extended period, even after their heartfelt goodbye kiss. NCIS season 17 finally shed light on how the two reunited and what they’ve been up to since de Pablo and Weatherly departed from the long-running series.
Did Ziva and Tony Reunite After Her Faked Death? Tony’s discovery that he and Ziva had a daughter together occurred after Ziva faked her death in NCIS season 13, episode 23, titled “Family First,” and subsequently left the team to take care of their child. This marked Michael Weatherly’s final appearance as Tony in the series. Ziva surprised fans in NCIS season 16 when it was revealed that she had survived the explosion and had staged her own death. She later returned in NCIS season 17, seeking assistance from Agent Gibbs. Finally, in episode 11, titled “In the Wind,” Tony and Ziva had an off-screen reunion.
Tony, who was residing with their daughter in Paris at the time, eventually decided it was safe to reunite with Ziva following the death of Sahar Azam, the woman sent to assassinate her. The reunion was hinted at in a letter where Tony and Ziva were depicted as living in Paris, raising their daughter, Tali, together. Both were finally able to find stability and return to a semblance of normalcy in their lives. The romantic closure that fans had eagerly awaited for 15 seasons had finally occurred, albeit off-screen.
Why Did Ziva Fake Her Death on NCIS? Ziva’s decision to stage her death and depart from NCIS was driven by her determination to keep her family safe. The bomb that exploded at her father’s farmhouse had originally been intended for her. To safeguard her daughter, she chose to feign her death, diverting the attention of her would-be attacker. This revelation came to light during NCIS season 17 when Bishop revisited Ziva’s former office and encountered Odette. Recognizing the fabric from Ziva’s coat, Odette confronted Bishop and shared the truth. Although Adam attempted to dissuade Ziva from leaving after realizing that Sahar was targeting Gibbs next, Ziva opted to fake her death in order to prioritize her family’s safety.
While that explains why the character departed the show after five seasons, it does not account for actress Cote de Pablo’s decision to leave. Reports suggest that De Pablo departed NCIS due to creative differences, feeling that Ziva’s character had been deprived of a compelling storyline. During a Q&A session, de Pablo expressed:
“Regrettably, due to creative and script issues, I made the choice not to return to NCIS. I have such profound affection for this character! I spent eight years working on [Ziva], and when I felt she wasn’t being treated with the respect she deserved, I voiced my concerns. They were planning to send [Ziva] back to Israel and portray her as a miserable and unfortunate woman.”
