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In a show that has been on as long as NCIS has, many characters have come and gone since its premiere in 2003. One of the most popular additions, Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David, came to the show in season three and quickly became a favorite among fans. After leaving the show several years ago, however, Ziva is back. As a result, fans are clamoring to have some of their biggest questions answered. 

Who is Ziva David?

Cote de Pablo as Ziva David on NCIS
Cote de Pablo as Ziva David on NCIS | Bill Inoshita/CBS via Getty Images

Ziva David was not an original character when the show premiered in 2003, but after her grand debut in 2005, she became a vital part of the popular show for several years. An Israeli-born agent, Ziva joined NCIS as a liaison not long after her initial introduction. For eight years, she helped the NCIS in some of its biggest cases and became a fan favorite in the process. 

Growing up in wartime Israel, Ziva’s sister was killed in a Hamas bombing when she was still a child. With a Mossad director father, however, David eventually got into special operations. From assassinations to elaborate terrorist plots, David was a force to be reckoned with. However, on the other side of the coin was the moral conundrum that her work put her through. 

Ziva had experienced more than even the most seasoned veterans had seen, from terrorist attacks to the murder of her dearest friends. This helped drive her to become a force of good, however. For several years, she worked side by side with the other NCIS members to help solve crimes while also grappling with her personal life. Her relationship with Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo became a staple of the entire series, and by the time she left, the pair had a daughter.

Her origins and atypical upbringing helped give Ziva an edge that the others couldn’t relate to. The character cheated death, solved international incidents and managed to become a part of the NCIS team. In 2013, however, de Pablo announced that she would be departing the show and was subsequently killed off. However, seven years onward with the show still on the air, the beloved character made a surprise return at the end of season 16.

The return of Ziva 

Cote de Pablo Ziva David NCIS
Cote de Pablo as Ziva David | Erik Voake/CBS via Getty Images

Ziva’s brief returns excited fans who were rooting for her to return. While it was brief, fans welcomed the return of Ziva as though she were an old friend. The return was reportedly kept under wraps, even to de Pablo herself, but after a two-episode arc in season 17, fans were happy to see her there with the rest of the old gang. 

Ziva was revealed to have faked her death to save her family. However, now that she is back in action, she wanted to tie up some loose ends and bring down those who threatened her and her loved ones. When everything was wrapped up, however, fans were left wanting more. They wanted to know what became of her and Tony, who left the show in 2015. 

So many questions remained, but luckily for the fans, they might be answered in season 18. 

What is her role now?

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‘NCIS’ Season 18: Cote de Pablo Reportedly Isn’t Returning, But Here’s Why Fans Might See More of Ziva David

Not much is known about Ziva’s return to the show for season 18. However, with fans excited to get some more of their favorite character, several questions remain on their minds.

  1. Did she ever actually meet her daughter after the threat to her life was removed?
  2. How deep was her relationship with Tony? It’s clear they conceived a child but were they secretly in a relationship throughout the seasons?
  3. Have Tony and Ziva met offscreen? What is their dynamic?
  4. How are they raising their daughter?
  5. Has Tony moved on? Or was he singled and did he and Ziva get back into a relationship?
  6. What did they do after NCIS, and how will that affect them going forward?
  7. What does this mean for this future? Will they have to live life on the run, or will they be able to settle down and raise their daughter forever.

With 18 seasons, NCIS is always going to have loose ends. Some of those may never be tied up, either. However, with such a significant reunion in store for the popular series, fans might finally get the closure they were looking for with one of their favorite characters. 

Whatever the case, they can look forward to seeing the full-time return of Ziva when the series returns in the latter part of 2020. 

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