All of us have that one individual. You’re keen on them. You hate them. You need to pull them shut. You need to run away from them as quick as you may. That’s the connection between Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo), who’re, to the enjoyment of “Tiva” followers all over the place, lastly reuniting onscreen in a brand new journey the actors have promised brings loads of motion — and extra romantic warmth than we’ve ever seen earlier than.
We’ve been captivated by the will-they-or-won’t-they couple because the two forceful personalities first collided within the third season of NCIS 20 years in the past. Ziva, a severe, badass Mossad agent, had simply arrived within the States to clear her half brother’s title. She walked into the bullpen and overheard Tony inadvertently blurt out a racy line from a sexual fantasy he was having at his desk. Ziva was condescendingly amused. He tried to disclaim what he’d stated, however she wasn’t falling for his try at boyish attraction. He lastly confessed however argued, “I’m not the one man who does it.” She slowly regarded him up and down and purred, “Oh, girls do it too.” Serve, volley.
That match of equals — she clever past her years; he with a Peter Pan advanced — obtained everyone’s hearts racing. (It didn’t harm that each had been absolute knockouts!) It at all times appeared like coupling up was simply across the bed room nook. Quickly after Tony and Ziva’s first tense encounter, they needed to go on an undercover mission and pose as a married couple. As a part of the op, they ended up…underneath the covers. The chemistry was there. They’d get collectively for actual quickly sufficient, proper? Possibly a Season 5 finale marriage ceremony? A child in Season 6?
Nope. For eight seasons, we watched the dance between them, rooted in that preliminary repartee and sexual rigidity. In the event you sit with Weatherly and de Pablo for a bit, which we did whereas placing collectively this difficulty, you see why the banter their characters traded on NCIS was so plausible. (We must always observe each actors are fortunately married to others in actual life and depend one another pretty much as good pals.) They’ve the same dynamic. He’s in-your-face humorous, charming and jokey. She’s extra considerate and introspective however doesn’t hesitate to name out his most audacious statements and knock him again to earth.
Some followers grumbled on the collection for protecting the couple aside, however one motive we put up with it was we might relate. Certain, Tony and Ziva had been brokers dealing with baddies that may ship most of us scrambling to cover underneath a blanket on the couch. In addition they round-kicked and punched stated baddies in a means that may have us hobbling to that very same couch with ice packs and aspirin. However we obtained them. They had been dwelling a bigger model of that vulnerability everybody feels when confronted with opening their hearts to a possible nice love.
However for them, the concern of rejection was compounded by a concern of loss. They labored in a job the place nobody was secure. They’d each skilled tragedy. Tony’s accomplice had been killed shortly earlier than Ziva confirmed up. Her previous was riddled with injury. Repeatedly, in case after case, they had been reminded of life’s fragility. At one level, Tony even believed Ziva was useless. No marvel they had been afraid.
Even so, the characters’ relationship deepened, as did that of the actors. In Season 10, when Ziva left to bury her father, Tony whispered to her, “Aht lo leh-vahd,” which is Hebrew for “You aren’t alone.” In the course of the shoot for this new collection, Weatherly’s father handed away. The actor was miles from house and household, and it was de Pablo who came to visit that night time and gave him a hug.
There have been embraces between Tony and Ziva, nevertheless it was not till Season 11 that they lastly shared an onscreen kiss (it was implied different issues had gone on too), however that lip-lock was to say goodbye. This collection is a wonderful new chapter. The divided couple should deal with saving their daughter — who has one of the best of their smarts, resilience and sass — from hurt. Possibly these gutsy brokers will lastly be courageous sufficient to totally love one another.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva, Collection Premiere, Thursday, September 4 (three episodes), Paramount+
For a deep-dive into all issues Tony, Ziva, and NCIS, from unique interviews to retrospectives and must-see images, decide up a replica of TV Information Journal’s NCIS: Tony & Ziva particular difficulty, accessible for buy on-line at TIVA.tvgm2025.com and on newsstands August 22.