The enduring success of NCIS, with its numerous spinoffs and ongoing 20-season run, has witnessed several cast changes. Among these, the departure and subsequent return of Cote de Pablo had a notable impact on fans.
Cote de Pablo bid farewell to NCIS in 2013, leaving behind a series that had already seen other cast members, such as Sasha Alexander (Kate Todd in seasons 1 and 2), exit. Alexander’s departure paved the way for de Pablo’s entry, a move initially met with resistance from fans who had grown attached to Kate’s character.
However, de Pablo’s portrayal of Ziva David was well-received, and she became a series regular for eight years. Ziva’s character faced challenging storylines, from battling for acceptance at NCIS to dealing with false accusations of murder, working covertly in Morocco, and navigating family issues, including her half-brother Ari Haswari’s actions.
Ziva’s storyline, especially her incarceration in Somalia, became a significant narrative for NCIS. Additionally, the cultural relevance of featuring an Israeli lead character added depth to the show, making her departure a poignant moment and her return a cause for excitement.
Cote de Pablo initially left NCIS due to dissatisfaction with the direction of her character. In a 2016 Q&A, she revealed the original plan for Ziva’s exit, describing it as sending her back to Israel as a miserable, unfortunate woman. Unhappy with this direction, de Pablo decided to leave the show, acknowledging the character’s popularity and the responsibility to the women who had followed the show.
However, in 2019, de Pablo clarified that her departure was not entirely voluntary, stating that she “didn’t leave because [she] wanted to, because [she] was prepared, or because [she] was tired.” The producers approached her for a return, and the groundwork for Ziva’s comeback in Season 17 began, focusing on developing a plausible rationale for her return and warning Gibbs of a threat.
De Pablo’s return to NCIS in Season 17, facilitated by faking Ziva’s death, brought closure to her character’s journey. Despite fans’ hopes for an onscreen reunion with Ziva’s family, the limited episodes provided a satisfying conclusion to Ziva’s arc. De Pablo expressed her return as slipping back into a comfortable slipper, completing the saga with Ziva’s attempt to reconcile with Tony and her daughter Tali after confronting a threat from Sahar, a Ham4s breakaway group member seeking vengeance for Ari’s death.
