As fans await the return of a fan-favorite couple inNCIS: Tony & Ziva, one star notes that the duo won’t have the easiest time reconnecting. More intriguingly, the cause isn’t what most long-timeNCISwatchers might expect. More intriguingly, the cause isn’t what most long-timeNCISwatchers might expect. Nonetheless, it could create a world of difficulty for the mainNCIS: Tony & Zivacast, particularly in the spinoff’s earlier episodes.
There have already been several intriguing reveals at theSan Diego Comic-ConNCIS: Tony & Zivapanel, including the release of a newTony & Zivatrailer. Meanwhile,ScreenRantsat down with Michael Weatherly, who explains thatZiva and Tony won’t be on the same footing when they reunite as when they parted ways, particularly because of their daughter Tali:
ScreenRant: Michael, what’s it been like to play Tony as a dad? Because, I mean, that obviously wasn’t something you got to really do in the original.
Michael Weatherly: “No, and I think even more importantly, there were [NCIS] episodes, one episode, in particular, where we showed that Tony is afraid of two things in life. In one episode named ‘Chimera,’ which was around episode 100, wow, yeah. We know that Tony’s afraid of rats. He’s afraid of rats and he’s afraid of children.
And we learned that… because of his own childhood, he just won’t relate to children on the mothership [show] in those episodes, because we know his father, and we see that there was not a great modeling that went on for him.
So when we meet with this child and we see the journey that he’s gone on, it actually affects and speaks directly to his relationship with Ziva because she didn’t watch the four years that she wasn’t there. And so he’s kind of gone on this journey and learned all these things about himself, but she still sees him as the [same] person.
It’s like going back to a college reunion or something, and you still think that that’s your roommate from 1995. So the imbalances of growth that each of the characters is going through are part of the joy of the show because we’re catching up with them as they catch up with each other.”
What Weatherly’s Comments Mean For NCIS: Tony & Ziva
Ziva May Not Understand Tony As Well As She Once Did
Even though the new spinoff revisits the past to fill viewers in on what’s happened to the two stars since their last onscreen appearances,quite a bit of time will still have passed since their last in-universe meeting. As Weatherly observes, that’s going to create a notable distance between them, especially with Ziva knowing little about Tony’s relationship with Tali.
This adds a spicy bit of tension, especially sinceTony and Ziva won’t be together in theNCISspinoff, at least at the start.They can’t simply pick up where they left off and renew the spark between them as if the past few years never happened, giving them a realistic relationship arc in which they have to become reacquainted.
Weatherly’s comments could also prove relevant if anNCIS: Tony & Zivacrossoverever happens, as many fans are stridently hoping it will. Much like Ziva’s reunion with Tony,Jimmy and McGee wouldn’t necessarily be reunited with the same versions of the characters they once knew, even if it’s established that they’ve kept in touch with DiNozzo to some degree.
Our Take On NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Relationship Imbalance
It’s An Important Note For The Franchise To Take To Heart
As much as fans might be excited to see Tony and Ziva renew their romance arc, it’s great news for the show’s quality thatthey aren’t being pushed into a fully-fledged romantic entanglement from the very beginning. They have to legitimately care about working for it, and in a fairly true-to-life manner for any couple that’s been separated a while.
This is also something for futureNCISfranchise spinoffsto bear in mind when revisiting familiar characters. Their timelines are important, andNCIS: Tony & Zivawill reflect how time passed has affected them both as a couple and as individuals. It’s extremely promising that the latest spinoff intends to explore that from such a grounded, realistic, and character-driven perspective.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva
Cast
NCIS: Tony & Ziva follows former NCIS agents Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David as they navigate danger across Europe. When Tony’s security company is attacked, the pair must uncover their pursuers and rekindle their trust to secure a future together. Set to be released in 2025, the series ties together personal and professional intrigue.
