For over two decades, NCIS has given audiences plenty of unforgettable moments—some thrilling, some joyful, and others devastating. Few, however, hit as hard as the death of Special Agent Caitlin “Kate” Todd in the Season 2 finale, “Twilight.” Shot in the head by sniper Ari Haswari, Kate’s death was the kind of shocking twist that cemented NCIS as a high-stakes drama unafraid to break its fans’ hearts.
But in the aftermath of Kate’s death, Ari himself became one of the most compelling villains in franchise history—a Mossad double agent, terrorist, and, ultimately, the half-brother of future fan-favorite Ziva David. His arc ended in Season 3’s “Kill Ari,” when Ziva killed him to save Gibbs, making her one of the most unforgettable characters the series ever introduced.
Seventeen years later, Ari’s story still feels incomplete. And now, with the upcoming prequel NCIS: Origins, the franchise has an unprecedented chance to revisit his past—and finally give meaning and redemption to one of the show’s darkest chapters.
Ari Haswari: Villain, Brother, Tragedy
From the moment Ari was introduced, he was different from other NCIS antagonists. He wasn’t just a villain-of-the-week—he was complex, magnetic, and oddly sympathetic. He toyed with Gibbs, challenged the team, and carried himself with a dangerous charisma that made his every appearance electric.
Yet, the show never fully explored what drove him. Was he a cold-blooded killer by nature, or was he a man trapped in a web of politics, family expectations, and betrayals he could not escape? His assassination of Kate Todd was unforgivable, but even then, hints of inner conflict flickered through his interactions—especially once Ziva entered the picture.
When Ziva killed him in “Kill Ari,” the scene was brutal, iconic, and necessary. But it was also strangely hollow. Fans never got to see the full man behind the sniper scope. Ari died as a villain, but the story always suggested he might have been something more.
The Redemption Potential of NCIS: Origins
Set in 1994, NCIS: Origins will follow a younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he begins his career with NCIS. This time period is fertile ground for revisiting Ari’s backstory. In 1994, Ari would have been in his late teens or early twenties—the perfect age to explore his early years before becoming Mossad’s most notorious agent.
What if audiences saw Ari as an idealist, a young man with promise and perhaps even integrity, before being swallowed by the brutal world of intelligence work? What if he was recruited, manipulated, or betrayed in ways that made his eventual downfall inevitable?
By threading a younger Ari into Gibbs’s origin story, the prequel could connect the dots: the early seeds of his radicalization, the betrayals that hardened him, and the complicated family ties that ultimately sealed his fate. In doing so, NCIS wouldn’t absolve Ari of his crimes—but it would transform his death from a simple act of “good triumphing over evil” into a layered tragedy.
Why Redemption Matters
Television redemption isn’t about rewriting history—it’s about recontextualizing it. By giving Ari more depth, NCIS: Origins could reshape how fans view his role in the franchise. His murder of Kate would remain horrific. His showdown with Gibbs would remain iconic. And his death at Ziva’s hands would remain one of the most pivotal scenes in the series.
But with context, those moments could feel even richer. Ziva’s decision to kill her brother would become not just an act of loyalty to Gibbs, but the heartbreaking conclusion to a story of family, betrayal, and impossible choices.
In short, redemption wouldn’t make Ari a hero—it would make him human. And that humanity would make his death, and Ziva’s burden, even more powerful.
Closing the Circle
Seventeen years after “Kill Ari,” fans still talk about Ari Haswari. That alone says something. In a universe with hundreds of cases and dozens of villains, Ari stands out because his story was cut short—not just by Ziva’s bullet, but by the show’s breakneck pace in its early seasons.
Now, NCIS: Origins has the rare opportunity to close that circle. By finally showing who Ari was before he became the man we met in Season 2, the franchise could give his arc the depth it always deserved.
For longtime fans, it would add weight to one of the most infamous deaths in NCIS history. For new viewers, it would prove that even in a story told 20 years ago, there are still layers of tragedy and meaning left to uncover.
And maybe—just maybe—Ari Haswari’s death can finally be seen not just as the end of a villain, but as the fall of a tragic figure who never truly got his chance.
