A highly anticipated reunion is as good as canceled now that Paramount+ has opted not to renew its NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, for Season 2. The procedural brought back franchise characters Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David, with Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo reprising their respective roles as two of the franchise’s most beloved NCIS agents of all time.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Ending Effectively Cancels A Reunion With Gibbs
NCIS: Tony & Ziva was canceled in December, two months after the first season wrapped. The development hinders the chances of getting Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs together anytime soon after the NCIS: Tony & Ziva actors teased that original Gibbs actor Mark Harmon could join them for Season 2 for an on-screen reunion at New York Comic Con in October.
At NYCC, the actors said that they didn’t know where NCIS: Tony & Ziva would go. Weatherly and de Pablo, who also produce the spinoff, said Tony and Ziva were in Europe because their lives were there, but the series could change course, and their door was open to Gibbs appearing if they were back in America (via Screen Rant).
As the lead of the CBS Navy procedural for almost 20 years, Harmon’s Gibbs character has a dedicated following. While Harmon is involved and has made cameo appearances in the Gibbs-focused NCIS prequel, NCIS: Origins, he hasn’t returned to the mothership, and he hasn’t reunited with other characters that he worked with, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva could’ve changed that.
Of all the NCIS spinoffs, NCIS: Tony & Ziva was perhaps the best place for Gibbs to return alongside other familiar characters. Often cited by longtime viewers, the golden era of NCIS was when Gibbs was Special Agent-in-Charge at the Navy Yard and Tony, Ziva, and Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) were in the bullpen helping him solve cases.
Tony and Ziva were like family to Gibbs, respectively, after he lost his wife and daughter. They have had his back more than almost any other agent, and he has a personal connection to them that would justify his place in their series. Moreover, NCIS: Tony & Ziva Season 1 lacked connections to the original show from its inception.
Tony And Ziva’s NCIS Spinoff Was Canceled After Just One Season
Tony and Ziva’s story revival was canceled after one installment despite enthusiasm from fans. Notably, the series was a Paramount+ exclusive, meaning it wasn’t a typical CBS TV show, like NCIS and its other spinoffs. With the network hosting the majority of the franchise’s programming in the past, Tony and Ziva’s streaming-only program was abnormal.
While Paramount+ has not given an official reason for the cancellation, the series’ move away from the network could have affected its renewability. Despite the premiere of NCIS: Tony & Ziva breaking into the streaming charts, viewership reported week-to-week declines. It’s possible that its streaming-only format hindered the spinoff’s reach, since the franchise’s foundation rests on its network TV programming.
Still, Paramount+ has also been making strategic changes in its content slate as leadership shifts. The Paramount/Skydance merger has led to executive changes, and the changing of hands could have influenced which content was renewed. That said, fans have reacted to the cancellation, expressing disappointment as Tony and Ziva’s romance once again lands in unresolved territory.
The show’s general audience may have influenced Paramount+’s decision not to move forward with NCIS: Tony & Ziva Season 2. According to Nielsen, about 80 percent of the spinoff’s audience was 50 years or older, which may not have aligned with Paramount+’s targets for streaming growth (via The Wrap). That said, many fans appreciated the revival of their favorite characters.
After the cancellation, Weatherly and de Pablo released a joint statement, saying they felt “incredibly lucky” for the chance to play their characters again and tell the next chapter of Tony and Ziva. They thanked CBS Studios and Paramount+ for helping make their dream a reality, and praised their fans for joining them on their adventure (per TV Line).
Can Tony Ziva Ever Return To The Franchise?
Still, while the curtain has gone down on NCIS: Tony & Ziva, Weatherly and de Pablo’s character pairing remains beloved, and they can return to the franchise on the original NCIS show. While their spinoff was a fun prospect, allowing the franchise to delve into their story, likely, some viewers would rather see the agents return to CBS on NCIS.
The NCIS actors were on the original series for years. Tony was with NCIS from its inception on JAG, and Ziva joined the series in Season 3, remaining until Season 11. After Weatherly also departed the show in Season 13, the original series hasn’t been the same, especially since Harmon exited as Gibbs in Season 19.
Therefore, the flagship series, where so many characters miss them, is the best place for Tony and Ziva’s return, especially now that their own show is no more. Tony and Ziva returning to the flagship to begin with may have been a better choice, since their comeback potentially could have made a more franchise-wide impact in NCIS Season 23.
Ultimately, the factors that gave NCIS: Tony & Ziva degrees of separation from the mothership are potentially the same that have caused its demise. It wasn’t a traditional NCIS show, veering away from its procedural format and network platform. Or maybe Tony and Ziva’s story doesn’t work without NCIS, and the flagship can continue its narrative by bringing them back.
Most fans would welcome Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs back to NCIS, which is perhaps their last hope for a reunion. The actors haven’t been on-screen together since Ziva’s departure in NCIS Season 11, 12 years ago. However, getting the actors together on the original show could realistically be out of reach, giving NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s cancellation more weight.
