17 Years Later, NCIS Can Finally Redeem One Character’s Tragic Death
For a show that has been on the air for over two decades, “NCIS” has seen its fair share of heart-wrenching moments. From the tragic death of Caitlin “Kate” Todd to the emotional departure of Agent Gibbs, the series has never shied away from high-stakes drama. Yet, 17 years after a pivotal event that reshaped the show’s trajectory, there remains one character whose story begs for a new perspective: Ari Haswari. The half-brother of fan-favorite Ziva David, Ari was the complex, charming, and utterly lethal antagonist whose death at the hands of his own sister served as a shocking conclusion to one of the show’s earliest story arcs.
Now, with the new prequel series “NCIS: Origins“ on the horizon, the franchise has a unique and powerful opportunity to revisit the past and provide the narrative context necessary to finally redeem Ari’s tragic death. This isn’t about erasing his crimes or making him a hero, but about fleshing out the man he was before he became the villain, adding a layer of nuance that would retroactively make his fate all the more devastating.
The Tragedy of Ari Haswari
To understand the potential for redemption, one must first look back at Ari’s story as it was presented in the early seasons of “NCIS.” First introduced as a Mossad agent and double agent, Ari was a master manipulator who quickly established a chilling rapport with both Gibbs and Kate. His most unforgivable act came in the season two finale, “Twilight,” when he assassinated Kate Todd with a sniper shot to the head—a moment that remains one of the most shocking in television history.
For a season, Ari was the ultimate nemesis, a ghost in the machine who taunted Gibbs and the team at every turn. His arc concluded in the powerful two-part Season 3 premiere, “Kill Ari,” where his own half-sister, Ziva David, a Mossad officer sent to clean up the mess, ultimately killed him with a single shot to the forehead, saving Gibbs’s life. It was a brutal and definitive end for a character who, despite his villainy, had a captivating charisma and a history with the protagonists that hinted at a deeper, more complicated life.
The tragedy of Ari lies not just in his death but in the ambiguity of his character. He was a product of a world of spies and double-crosses. Was he truly evil, or was he a deeply damaged individual, a pawn in a larger geopolitical game? The show’s rapid pace in the early years didn’t allow for a full exploration of his background. We saw his brutality, but we never fully understood the path that led him there. This is where “NCIS: Origins“ can step in.
The Redemption in NCIS: Origins
Set in 1994, “NCIS: Origins“ will focus on a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he begins his career as a special agent. This time period is a narrative gold mine for Ari’s backstory. In 1994, Ari would have been in his late teens or early twenties, likely just beginning his career in Mossad or perhaps still a civilian being scouted by intelligence agencies. . The new series can show us who he was before he became a killer. Was he idealistic? Was he betrayed? Was he coerced?
The show could introduce a young Ari, perhaps as an asset or a subject of an NCIS investigation that crosses paths with a young Gibbs. This would not only provide a powerful link to the original series but would also allow for a nuanced exploration of his character. We could witness the moments that corrupted him, the choices that pushed him to a point of no return. We could see the circumstances that made him a double agent, showing that his actions weren’t a result of innate evil, but of a complex web of manipulation and circumstance.
This kind of storytelling doesn’t exonerate his crimes; it makes them more tragic. It transforms his death from a simple case of “good defeats evil” to a heartbreaking act of justice carried out by a sister who didn’t fully understand the full story of the brother she had to kill. It adds an entirely new dimension to Ziva’s character arc, retroactively making her decision to join Gibbs and NCIS even more profound.
The Power of Narrative Redemption
Redemption in television isn’t about erasing a character’s sins. It’s about completing their story. By providing context to Ari’s actions, “NCIS: Origins“ can make his death mean something more. It would honor his character’s complexity, a trait that the original series hinted at but never fully realized. It would also create a powerful emotional connection for long-time fans, who can now look back at the iconic “Kill Ari” episode with new eyes, understanding the layers of tragedy that were hidden beneath the surface.
Furthermore, this narrative choice is a brilliant strategic move for a new series. It leverages the history of the “NCIS” universe to create buzz and reward loyal viewers. It turns a prequel from a simple retelling of a beginning into a vital piece of the franchise’s lore, proving that even a story that is 20 years old can still be enriched and deepened.
In an era of television that demands complex and morally gray characters, revisiting Ari Haswari is a perfect opportunity. He was a tragic figure who was ultimately a victim of a world he couldn’t escape. His redemption in “NCIS: Origins“ wouldn’t make him a hero. It would simply give his character the one thing he was denied in his life and death on “NCIS”: a complete and tragic story. After 17 years, it’s about time.
