Summary
The tragic death of oneNCIScharacter 19 years ago paved the way for the franchise’s newest spinoff. The series will follow one of the most belovedNCIScharacters of all time, but she never would have originated in the franchise had this character not taken a brutal fall first. The show features an ensemble cast of characters, which has been in constant rotation since the show’s earliest days. It all started with the death of thisoriginalNCIScharacterat the end ofNCISseason 2.
TheNCISfranchise has many spinoff shows, but lately, the franchise is steering away from the location-based spinoff trend to bring the focus back to the storylines of characters from the flagshipNCISseries. The expansion series, therefore, have their roots in the thick foundation of the originalNCIS. For instance, CBS has announced a spinoff that will explore the backstory of centralNCIScharacter Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). TheNCIS: Originsstorywill bring the focus back to core MCRT characters. The other upcoming series also has a tie to this long-gone character that’s impossible to ignore.
Tony & Ziva’s NCIS Spinoff Is Possible Thanks To Kate’s Death In Season 2
Ziva David Would Have Never Been Introduced To NCIS If Kate Stayed
Caitlin “Kate” Todd’s shockNCISdeathcarved a path for the newNCIS: Tony & Zivaspinoff to take form.Sasha Alexander’s character was killed at the end ofNCISseason 2, and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) stepped into assist the team as they came up against rogue Mossad agent Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin). Ziva was crucial to the beginning of theNCISseason 3 narrative because Ari was her half-brother. While she originally intended to help him, she experienced a change of heart that would see her ultimately join Gibbs' MCRT.
Ultimately, Ziva becomes Kate’s replacementafter she shoots Ari Haswari to protect Gibbs, effectively avenging Kate’s death and earning Gibbs' trust and a spot on his team. If Kate had never experienced her tragic fate, theNCISfranchise would never have introduced Ziva David, and it’s hard to picturethe sharedNCISuniversewithout her now. de Pablo turned her character into a strong force of Israeli-Jewish representation. Her legacy, which originated at the apex of Kate’s death arc, set up her return inNCIS: Tony & Ziva.
Why Kate Was Killed In NCIS Season 2
Why Ari Haswari killed Kate Todd instead of Gibbs is one of the biggest mysteries inNCIS.InNCISseason 2, episode 23, “Twilight,” it looks like Kate is down after taking the fall for Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), but it’s revealed that a bullet-proof vest protected her. The setup made it all the more shocking whenKate took a bullet to the forehead in the final moment ofNCISseason 2. Ari’s villain arc began when he was introduced inNCISseason 1, episode 16, “Bête Noire,” one of the bestNCISepisodes from the show’s 21 seasons.
However,there was some sense to Kate’s murder. Sasha Alexander citedthe real reason behind Kate’sNCISdeparturein theOff Duty: An NCIS Rewatchpodcast hosted by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. The actor cited a complete lack of work/life balance as the reason she had to leave the police procedural, remembering on the podcast that she was in almost every scene. Alexander went on to co-headline the police dramaRizzoli & Isles.She noted on the podcast that though she was one of two leads, she still had more free time than when onNCIS.
What To Expect From NCIS' Tony & Ziva Spinoff
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Will Pick Up Where The NCIS Agents Left Off
Sasha Alexander’sNCISdeparture paved the way for the greatest romanceof the series to transpire. Over time, Tony and Ziva grew closer during their time on MCRT, and the ultimate will-they-won’t-they love story played out between the special agents. While the answer was ultimately"they will,“all the major milestones for their relationship happened off-screen after the actors had left the show. Viewers can expect the spinoff to address thebiggest problem of Tony and Ziva’sNCISromance, with potential flashbacks to significant moments for the couple, such as when Ziva reunited with Tony and Tali in Europe.
What’s known aboutNCIS: Tony & Ziva’sstoryis that the limited series will pick up a decade after both agents are featured on the show together. The show will focus on their lives together in Europe, raising their daughter Tali David-DiNozzo, introduced at the end ofNCISseason 13, right before Tony departed the main series.Tony & Zivawill follow the parents as they navigate an attack on the security firm for which Tony works. Aside from the agents solving the current problems, the series will address longstanding gaps in Tony and Ziva’s shared storyline.
Tony and Ziva’s last appearance on the show together was in season 11, episode 2, “Past, Present, And Future.”
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
