In a rare appearance, Cote de Pablo teases what to expect from Tony and Ziva’s upcoming spinoff in a new NCIS 1000th episode celebratory video. Not long after Michael Weatherly’s Tony Dinozzo comeback in NCIS season 21, it was announced that he and de Pablo would be reprising their characters for a new spinoff. Currently nicknamed NCIS: Europe, the offshoot will see the couple, and their tween daughter Tali, on the run across Europe from an unnamed threat. Ahead of that, however, de Pablo returns to the franchise to celebrate NCIS’ 1000th episode.
Shared by NCIS (via @jessknight_ncis/X), de Pablo honors NCIS season 21 for this incredible milestone, and hypes up her return to the universe via NCIS: Europe. Watch the video below:
More from Cote ❤️ #NCIS #NCIS1000 pic.twitter.com/aH7cEDFa3H
— jessica knight (𠍇西卡奈特) 💕💕 (@jessknight_ncis) April 15, 2024
In the video, de Pablo thanks everyone who is involved in this massive accolade, including the fans who made it happen. Before signing off, however, she says that she is excited to continue Tony and Ziva’s story when she and Weatherly return for their NCIS spinoff,
Why Ziva Didn’t Return For NCIS’ 1000th Episode
NCIS’ 1000th episode is celebrated with the episode aptly titled “A Thousand Yards,” which sees Director Leon Vance getting shot and the whole agency is under attack. As it turns out, the unknown perpetrator is the daughter of the sleeper agent that Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his team stopped in the pilot, “Yankee White.” The whole case hinges on that connection, and since there isn’t any original character in NCIS season 21, Tobias Fornell offers first-hand knowledge of the incident, which happened long before Ziva joined the team. Because of this, there isn’t a compelling reason for her to make an appearance.
Despite not returning, Ziva and the role she played during her time under Gibbs’ team are referenced in NCIS — much like the way the outing honored all the agents that passed through the halls of the iconic Washington DC office. It would have been great to see Ziva, Tony, and any other former personnel back for the groundbreaking episode, but it makes sense that CBS scales back on the cameos and focuses on the story that highlights the importance of the agency’s work. In any case, it shouldn’t be that long before de Pablo’s Ziva fully returns to the NCIS franchise.
Whether Ziva returns to the flagship series before she embarks on her and Tony’s spinoff is currently unknown. It’s worth noting, however, that Weatherly previously teased de Pablo’s secret collaboration with main NCIS cast member, Brian Dietzen, who plays Jimmy Palmer. With a few episodes left before the shortened year ends, CBS still has time to pull off her return.
