Since Cote de Pablo’s departure as Ziva David in Season 11, NCIS has felt the absence of a strong, experienced female presence. Roma Maffia, who plays Mike Franks’ former partner Vera Strickland, is now teasing a potential return — and she wants it to be more frequent.
In a recent interview, Maffia shared that Vera has a lot to offer the team: “She’s very motivated…her brain and street smarts are very advantageous for the team. There’s also a level of humor that she brings that’s attractive and real.” Although Vera is officially retired, her expertise makes her a natural fit for consulting on sensitive cases or acting as a bridge between the main team and NCIS: Origins.
Season 23 saw Vera back temporarily for a cold case tied to Franks’ NIS work, and Maffia believes the character could step into the spotlight more consistently. With Gibbs retired and Franks gone, Vera is one of the few links to the prequel series, making her return an exciting opportunity for both storytelling and connecting the NCIS universe.
Fans may soon see Vera balancing retirement with fieldwork, proving she still has plenty to contribute to the MCRT team.
