In the world of “NCIS,” the bonds among the team members run deep. Special agents working together to solve cases often become like a family. And at the head of this close-knit group is Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), the team leader who has found a surrogate family among his colleagues. But who is Gibbs’ favorite among them?
A discussion on the “NCIS” subreddit pondered whether Ellie Bishop is Gibbs’ favorite team member, but many fans disagreed. Instead, a significant number believe that Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) holds that special place in Gibbs’ heart. She earned his trust by saving his life, and her fierce loyalty made her the daughter figure Gibbs never wanted to be without.
Some fans also argued that Gibbs saw a female version of himself in Ziva, which strengthened their unique bond. Kate Todd (Sasha Alexander) was seen as the daughter he wished he knew better, while Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham) was seen as the woman Gibbs wished his own daughter could have become.
Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) received mentions as well, but it seems Ziva holds the top spot in the eyes of many fans as Gibbs’ favorite team member.