[Warning: Major spoilers ahead for NCIS: Tony & Ziva Season 1, Episode 5 “To Be Determined.”]
When NCIS: Tony & Ziva premiered earlier this year, longtime fans of the franchise knew to expect explosive action, undercover tension, and plenty of family drama. But no one could have guessed that Episode 5, titled “To Be Determined,” would ignite a fandom-wide debate over a single throwaway line — and whether it was a sly nod to LL COOL J’s fan-favorite NCIS: Los Angeles character, Sam Hanna.
The moment comes as Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) find themselves in a mess of their own making. What was supposed to be a daring break-in to extract Interpol’s Secretary General Jonah (Julian Ovenden) quickly turns into a trap, landing the pair behind bars. With Jonah revealed as a double-crosser secretly aligned with the mysterious Martine (Nassima Benchicou), Tony and Ziva have to think fast if they want to get out alive.
After managing to slip a coded message to their team — Claudette (Amita Suman), Boris (Maximilian Osinski), and Fruzsi (Anne-Marie Waldeck) — the couple hides from guards in the bowels of the prison. That’s when Tony casually quips about knowing “a Navy SEAL who owes me five bucks,” wondering aloud if he might come to their rescue before quickly shutting down his own idea.
Cue the fandom uproar. Could Tony be talking about none other than Sam Hanna, the Navy SEAL-turned-agent brought to life for 14 seasons by LL COOL J in NCIS: Los Angeles? After all, Weatherly’s DiNozzo did appear in Season 7 of the spinoff, crossing paths with Hanna in a memorable joint operation. For many viewers, the connection was too perfect to ignore.
But according to showrunner John McNamara, the reference wasn’t quite as direct as fans hoped. “Sam Hanna, deep cut! No, it’s not Sam. Or anyone from the NCISverse,” McNamara told TV Insider. Still, even he admitted the coincidence was uncanny. “Since he and Tony know each other, maybe Sam introduced them? I’d never made that connection, honestly — but you win NCIS Trivia Night.”
Whether intentional or not, the line highlights just how interwoven the NCIS universe has become. With more than two decades of television across multiple spinoffs, a simple offhand remark can spark a wave of speculation — and possibly open the door for future crossovers fans are dying to see.
The Easter egg talk, however, didn’t overshadow the emotional weight of the episode. After regaining their freedom, Tony and Ziva turn to Henry (James D’Arcy), Tony’s trusted contact at Interpol. Initially suspected of being in league with Martine, Henry proves his loyalty in the most heartbreaking way possible: sacrificing himself so Tony and Ziva can race to protect their daughter, Tali (Isla Gie). His death delivers a crushing blow, underscoring the stakes of their perilous new life on the run.
With only a handful of episodes left in the season, the question now looms large: Will NCIS: Tony & Ziva secure a second season? And if it does, might that mysterious Navy SEAL — Sam Hanna or not — actually make an appearance?
For now, fans are left replaying that single line of dialogue, dissecting every syllable for hidden meaning. Because in the NCIS universe, sometimes even a five-dollar debt can lead to a blockbuster crossover.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva airs Thursdays on Paramount+.
