Exclusive: Explosive NCIS Revelation - Did Ziva and Tony Secretly Reunite After Her Terrifying Disappearance?

The long-awaited reunion between Ziva and Tony on NCIS was almost a reality in season 17. However, to the disappointment of fans, there was no sign of their relationship on the show that season or in the subsequent seasons. Ziva David, an Israeli operative, joined the NCIS team as a liaison officer following the death of Caitlin Todd at the end of season 2. It wasn't until the eighth episode of the season when Ziva and Tony went undercover as a couple that their relationship truly began. This ignited their on-again, off-again dynamic, affectionately referred to as "Tiva" by fans.

After years of speculation, season 17 of NCIS hinted at a future for Ziva and Tony, something fans had been eagerly anticipating. However, this almost didn't happen as Ziva was believed to have died in a mortar explosion orchestrated by Sahar Azam in the season 13 finale. Although it was later revealed that she was alive, Tony remained unaware for a significant period of time, even after their farewell kiss. In season 17, NCIS offered a glimpse into how the two reconnected and what they have been up to since the departure of de Pablo and Weatherly from the long-running series.

Did Ziva & Tony Reunite After She Faked Her Death?

After Ziva's supposed death, Tony discovered that they had a daughter and made the decision to leave the team in order to care for her. This marked the last appearance of Michael Weatherly's character, Tony, in the series. However, in a surprising twist, Ziva was revealed to have survived the explosion and had faked her own death. She returned in a later season to seek assistance from Agent Gibbs. Finally, in an episode titled "Ephemera," Tony and Ziva were able to reunite off-screen. Following the death of Sahar Azam, the individual who had been sent to kill Ziva, Tony felt that it was now safe to come together with Ziva. The reunion was alluded to in a letter, indicating that Tony and Ziva were residing in Paris and were raising their daughter, Tali, together. They were finally able to find stability and a sense of normalcy in their lives. Although fans had longed to witness their romance for 15 seasons, the actual reunion between Ziva and Tony was not shown on the show.

Why Ziva Faked Her Death In NCIS

"Ziva faked her death and left NCIS to ensure the safety of her family. The bomb that was meant for her exploded at her father's farmhouse, prompting her to stage her own death in order to throw off her attacker and protect her daughter. This revelation was made in NCIS season 17 when Bishop discovered Odette in Ziva's old office. Bishop confronted Odette after recognizing the fabric from Ziva's coat, leading to Odette revealing the truth. Although Adam tried to convince Ziva to stay once they realized that Sahar was targeting Gibbs, Ziva prioritized her family and proceeded with faking her death.

While this may explain Ziva's departure from the show for five seasons, it does not align with the reasons behind actress Cote de Pablo's decision to leave the series. According to reports, de Pablo believed that Ziva's character had been deprived of a compelling storyline, leading to her departure from NCIS due to creative differences. In a Q&A session, de Pablo expressed the following thoughts:"

"Unfortunately, due to political factors and inadequate scripts, I made the decision not to return to NCIS. I have a deep affection for this character! I dedicated eight years of my life developing Ziva, and when I sensed that the character was not being given the respect she deserved [...] The plan was to send Ziva back to Israel and portray her as an unfortunate, miserable woman."

Though it occurred off-camera, the ending of Ziva and Tony's storyline in NCIS was the happy one that countless fans had longed for. However, given that NCIS is still on air and thriving, there is a possibility that these two characters could reunite on screen, allowing fans to catch a glimpse of the happy family they had envisioned for years. This long-awaited reunion seems to be on the horizon. While de Pablo's departure from the show was due to her dissatisfaction with the planned storyline for Ziva, Michael Weatherly left for a different reason – his desire to explore new opportunities.

After Weatherly starred in his own leading role in the series Bull, he may now have some room in his schedule to make a possible return to the show that made him famous. A fan expressed their desire to see Tony and Ziva reunite on NCIS, prompting the actor to respond on Twitter, hinting at the possibility. He wrote, "Stay tuned... for this might be an interesting year for such 'moments'!" This response has given hope to fans who have been longing for a reunion between Ziva and Tony, and it might finally become a reality for the beloved duo.