When Cote de Pablo joined NCIS originally of Season 3 in 2006 to play Ziva David, it didn’t take lengthy for followers to embrace Ziva’s ‘will they, received’t they’ dynamic with Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo and finally ship them as Tiva. Now, we’re simply weeks away from seeing these two paired again collectively onscreen for the primary time in over a decade due to NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s impending premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. Nonetheless, earlier than de Pablo signed onto the Paramount+ subscription-exclusive spinoff, she had one request for Weatherly about Tony and Ziva’s relationship was going to be dealt with.
Along with being on the NCIS: Tony & Ziva panel at San Diego Comedian-Con, the place subjects like how the spinoff will welcome newcomers and the touching assertion Michael Weatherly made when filming ended, the actors additionally spoke with quite a lot of press retailers in the course of the occasion, embrace ScreenRant. Throughout that interview, Cote de Pablo was requested if she wished Tony and Ziva to get collectively whereas making this new present or if she most well-liked them persevering with to be a “gradual burn” ship. The actress answered:
I just like the gradual burn. And I like the concept that Michael’s referred to those two characters as star-crossed lovers. It’s type of like they all the time wish to and one thing all the time occurs and issues get sophisticated and it might’t work. There was one factor that I instructed Michael. I stated, ‘I’m not concerned with telling the story if, ultimately, there’s not some type of pleased one thing. ‘Trigger I feel they deserve a… However earlier than we get to that, we, once more should earn it. So we’re going to see them undergo quite a lot of stuff.
The final time Tony and Ziva had been seen collectively in NCIS, they shared a kiss earlier than the previous went again to the USA and the latter stayed in Israel. That occurred in Season 11’s second episode, after which within the Season 13 finale, viewers discovered these two had certainly slept collectively too with the introduction of their daughter, Tali. However we by no means truly bought to see Tony and Ziva enter right into a dedicated relationship, and Cote de Pablo hasn’t minded that these characters have by no means been capable of correctly come collectively.
That stated, she did make it clear to Michael Weatherly that she would solely comply with be in NCIS: Tony & Ziva if there was some type of optimistic decision with what’s been happening between these two for all these years. It was indicated within the Tony & Ziva trailer that issues are nonetheless sophisticated between these characters as they co-parent Tali, and it’s not like they’ll be paired again collectively romantically by the point the premiere is over. Nonetheless, for individuals who’ve been transport Tony and Ziva all these years, now you can look ahead to some type of optimistic payoff on this entrance by the point the season (maybe the collection?) is over.
This new journey for the NCIS fan-favorites will start when NCIS: Tony & Ziva premieres its first three episodes on Thursday, September 4. Contemplating how fashionable this procedural franchise is and the way the spinoff’s trailer broke a significant Paramount+ file, it’s protected to say there are lots of people invested in what’s subsequent for Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, and in the event that they’ll get their fortunately ever after.