It’s the reunion NCIS fans have waited over a decade for—but when NCIS: Tony & Ziva premieres this September, the moment won’t just be about rekindled love or international espionage. It will also carry a quiet, deeply personal tribute to the man who built the foundation of the franchise: Mark Harmon, the face behind Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, whose chemistry as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David defined a golden era of the flagship NCIS series, confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 that the new Paramount+ spin-off contains a subtle, unscripted nod to Harmon’s legacy—one that only devoted fans, and the cast themselves, might recognize.
🕊️ An Homage Hidden in a Gesture
As fans eagerly await the debut of NCIS: Tony & Ziva on September 4, one of the most surprising and touching revelations came during an on-stage reunion with co-star Brian Dietzen. After previewing the series’ intense opening sequence, Weatherly and de Pablo exchanged a small but familiar motion—arms bent, fists slightly raised, a silent knock in the air.
When Dietzen inquired about it, the two actors immediately answered:
“Mark Harmon.”
The gesture, it turns out, is more than just muscle memory. “This is his sign language thing from an episode,” Weatherly explained, referencing a quiet moment of communication from a long-ago scene where Gibbs used body language to talk to Tony and Ziva while aboard a bus. “He felt no one was watching him,” added de Pablo, “and we never forgot it.”
From that day forward, it became their shorthand—a code of loyalty, a reminder of who led their team both on-screen and off. “We could be anywhere in the world,” said de Pablo, “and I’ll just go like this”—mimicking the motion again—“and we know.”
🎬 A Spin-Off Anchored in Legacy
While Tony & Ziva marks the sixth spin-off in the NCIS franchise, it’s one of the most intimate and character-driven installments yet. The series picks up years after Tony and Ziva’s departures, and follows them as they attempt to raise their daughter Tali DiNozzo (played by rising star Isla Gie) while navigating a web of secrets, threats, and unresolved emotions.
Set across Europe, the show promises thrilling espionage, family drama, and a look at an unconventional love story that has kept fans emotionally invested since the mid-2000s.
More than just another procedural, Tony & Ziva is shaping up to be a mature, emotionally rich evolution of the NCIS universe. And its subtle tributes to the past—like the Gibbs gesture—are part of what gives it soul.
🔞 A Bold New Rating, A Bolder Ziva
In a surprising move, Paramount+ has rated Tony & Ziva TV-MA—a clear departure from the PG-13 tone of previous NCIS entries. While fans initially speculated this might signal steamy content between the iconic couple, reports suggest the maturity rating is largely due to stronger language, particularly from Ziva.
According to TVLine, “You may not realize how much you needed to hear a ticked-off Ziva swear.” And indeed, with the emotional stakes higher than ever, fans can expect a grittier, more honest portrayal of Ziva David than they’ve ever seen before.
The showrunners promise that this rating won’t mean gratuitous content—but rather an unfiltered, grown-up look at two agents who’ve survived loss, trauma, and years of separation. Tony & Ziva is not about restarting where they left off—it’s about facing everything they couldn’t say back then.
💬 Why Mark Harmon Still Matters
Though Mark Harmon officially left NCIS in 2021 after 18 seasons as the iconic Gibbs, his fingerprints remain on every part of the franchise. As an executive producer on the new prequel series NCIS: Origins, and a behind-the-scenes influence on upcoming projects, Harmon has quietly ensured the show’s spirit lives on—even when he’s not on screen.
And for Weatherly and de Pablo, honoring him isn’t just a gesture—it’s personal.
“He taught us how to lead,” Weatherly shared in an earlier interview.
“Not just in scenes, but in how you treat the crew, how you protect the story, how you show up for your cast.”
Whether it’s a silent knock or an unspoken understanding, Harmon’s legacy is embedded in every frame of Tony & Ziva. As de Pablo put it: “It’s our way of saying—this is still his house.”
📅 Mark Your Calendar
The NCIS family continues to grow, but Tony & Ziva is different. It’s about homecomings, heartbreak, and honoring the mentor who made it all possible.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva premieres Wednesday, September 4 exclusively on Paramount+.
Expect action. Expect emotion. And if you catch two agents exchanging a subtle, wordless gesture—know it’s for Gibbs.
