Where Did Ziva Really Go During Her ‘NCIS’ Exit?????
The NCIS franchise is set to continue with an exciting new spinoff next year, NCIS: Tony and Ziva. Years after Ziva David’s (Cote de Pablo) supposed death and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) leaving the NCIS team, the new series will follow the couple living in Paris as they raise their daughter, Tali (Isla Gie). However, their peaceful life is interrupted when they are forced to go on the run from mysterious assailants, all while struggling to secure their happy ending. This spinoff brings fresh attention to some lingering questions: What exactly happened to Ziva on NCIS? How did she fake her death? Why did she leave her family and closest friends to believe she was dead? Let’s dive into the events that led to Ziva’s disappearance and her reasons for going off the grid.
Ziva David’s Death Was Staged by Trent Kort in NCIS Season 13
In the Season 13 finale of NCIS, titled “Family First,” Ziva David is believed to have been killed in a mortar attack on her family home, orchestrated by the rogue ex-CIA agent Trent Kort (David Fayan Fisher). During this emotional episode, Tony learns that he and Ziva share a daughter, Tali, a revelation that shocks him. Ziva had left NCIS earlier, and Tony had no idea she was pregnant or had given birth to their child. Mossad Director Orli Elbaz (Marina Sirtis), a close friend of Ziva’s, explains that Ziva had kept Tali a secret because she didn’t want to disrupt Tony’s life.
In a touching moment, Tony meets his daughter and realizes that Ziva had told Tali about him, as Tali recognizes a photo of her parents together and calls Tony “Aba,” Hebrew for father.
The episode concludes with the NCIS team, including a grief-stricken Tony, tracking down Kort and taking him out in retaliation for Ziva’s apparent death. Devastated by the loss, Tony turns in his gun and badge, marking the end of his 13-year tenure on the team. He decides to dedicate himself to raising Tali, seemingly closing the chapter on his romance with Ziva — until Season 16, when new revelations come to light.
Wait, Ziva Is Still Alive?
The NCIS Season 16 finale, “Daughters,” brought back Ziva David in one of the biggest twists in the show’s history. In a jaw-dropping moment, Cote de Pablo’s Ziva appears in front of Gibbs, alive and well, to warn him of imminent danger. Season 17 then explains it all—Ziva faked her death to protect her family from a dangerous operative named Zahar, out for revenge because of her brother Ari’s death.
After an intense multi-episode arc where Ziva works with Gibbs to eliminate the threat, she finally gets the closure she needs. In her last canonical appearance, she helps rescue Zahar’s son, Phineas, before heading off to reunite with Tony and Tali in Paris.
The upcoming spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, picks up where the story left off, with Tony and Ziva living in Paris and raising their daughter. But things get complicated fast when Tony’s security company is attacked, forcing the couple to go on the run. The show will explore Tony’s lingering doubts about Ziva and whether they can rebuild their trust.
If you’ve been rooting for TIVA, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for! 🎉 #NCIS #TIVA #TonyAndZiva #NCISSpinoff
Considering how things left off with Tony and Ziva in the NCIS series, it’s great to see the cast members returning as their iconic, fan-favorite characters. especially since their relationship was unfinished and unresolved. The series never even depicted Tony and Ziva getting back together, and it never truly exploited the romance between the couple, dubbed “Tiva” by NCIS fans. It’s exciting that Weatherly and De Pablo will finally headline a brand-new series where Tony and Ziva’s relationship takes center stage.
