As CBS gears up to launch the NCIS prequel NCIS: Origins on the 2024 TV schedule, Paramount+ is preparing to premiere its own NCIS spinoff. Earlier this year, it was announced that Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo would reunite for a series centered around their beloved characters, Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David. The show follows Tony and Ziva on the run across Europe with their tween daughter Tali after an attack on Tony’s security company. While the show is undoubtedly exciting, the title isn’t quite sitting right with me.
In May, the series was revealed to be titled NCIS: Tony & Ziva. This initially makes sense, as it revolves around two staple characters within the NCIS universe. However, there are a couple of issues with this title.
Firstly, many fans, myself included, expected the title to include a location, like most other NCIS shows, aside from Origins. NCIS: Europe seemed like an obvious choice since the story follows Tiva across the continent. But, since Origins isn’t a location either, it gets a pass. Secondly, despite being an NCIS spinoff, Tony & Ziva doesn’t actually include any NCIS agents or elements within the organization, as far as we know. The couple are no longer agents, nor are the characters joining them, according to the NCIS: Tony & Ziva cast announcement. While it’s possible that NCIS characters could make appearances in the new spinoff, using the organization in the title feels somewhat misleading, as it’s not technically a show about NCIS.
Fans aren’t the only ones with reservations about the title. Michael Weatherly himself has expressed doubts, suggesting the series should be called NCIS: Tony, Ziva, and Tali, since it focuses on the former agents and their daughter. There’s still a chance the title could change before the premiere, whenever that may be, but it seems there’s a lot to consider.
Regardless of the title, the prospect of a Tony and Ziva series is thrilling. The two have been fan favorites on the original NCIS for years, and Weatherly has been teasing fans about a potential reunion with Cote de Pablo for quite some time. The announcement of this spinoff was incredibly exciting, even though I have reservations about the title.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva will be exclusively available on Paramount+ and will focus on a story outside of NCIS (at least, that’s the assumption). It will be interesting to see how it differs from the rest of the franchise, which airs on CBS.
