NCIS: Tony & Ziva is almost here, and with the return of our favorite will-they/won’t they, or perhaps they might be better described as they will they ever, please, will they ever, partnership from the original NCIS, it’s time to take a look at what we truly want from this series. Because yes, it’s been a while, but we don’t just want Tony, Ziva (and Tali) back on our screens; we want some resolution. We want some romance. And we want a lot of what we never got to see with these two characters.
So, without further ado, here’s what we want to see on Paramount’s NCIS: Tony & Ziva:
Romance, Romance, Romance
We first met Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David decades ago. We’ve been through a lot with them. And now, we want to see the romance we never got to see with them. We’re done with setup. We’re done with backstory. And sure, we appreciate that the show seems to be taking us back to the beginning and not jumping ahead to them being an established couple. We would have hated to miss them getting together after waiting too long. But we also don’t want to wait ten episodes. This isn’t a will they/won’t they. There shouldn’t be any doubts here. This should be about when they get together, and the answer should be soon.
So what we want to see is Tony and Ziva getting romantic! We want proof of the love we know they share. We want to know what’s been going on for the past few years and why they’re not together yet, but we also want the show to dig deeper into what it is they love about each other. Even if, in some ways, we already know.
Tali
We’ve gotten precious little of Tali, and really, nothing of Tali at this age. And we haven’t gotten to see Tali with both of her parents. Who is she? What parts of both Tony and Ziva did she inherit? These are all things fans of both Tony and Ziva want to know. And almost as importantly, what role will she play in getting her parents back together? Does she even want that? Inquiring minds want to know!
Nods to Tony and Ziva’s NCIS History
It all started in NCIS, and though we don’t need a crossover (how would that even work at this point? Too complicated!), we would love the show to acknowledge the shared continuity. A Mcgee mention. A Gibbs nod. These people have shared history, and it would almost be too weird if they didn’t make a reference to it, or, if, when in trouble, they didn’t at least consider reaching out to their friends.
Of course, they won’t, or shouldn’t. For many reasons that don’t even have to do with the fact that NCIS is a network show and NCIS: Tony & Ziva is a streaming show. At some point in the future, if NCIS: Tony & Ziva continues, that can be a conversation. For now, it seems inadvisable. But just a wink to the shared past is something the show can manage and something fans will very much appreciate.
Interesting Secondary Characters
We’re, of course, here for Tony and Ziva. But the world is larger than the two of them, and the show cannot be sustained with just them. Or the two of them and Tali. For the show to work, not just for one season, but for seasons to come, it needs other characters to work.
It needs Amita Suman’s Claudette and Maximilian Osinski’s Boris. It needs Anne-Marie Waldeck’s Fruzsi and Lara Rossi’s Sophie. If those characters are interesting, if they feel real and believable, it will make the show better. We need to like them. No, we need to care about them outside of what Tony and Ziva are doing. If the show manages that, then this has the makings of more than a mini-series.
An Ending That Leaves the Door Open for More
If we’re here, it’s because Tony and Ziva had an ending that left us wanting more back on NCIS. Or because they didn’t really have an ending. Season 1 of NCIS: Tony & Ziva doesn’t need to give us a cliffhanger, but it can give us an ending that gives these characters closure, and yet one that makes us want to follow them on many more adventures. That’s the ideal scenario. A happy (or at least a satisfying ending) that leaves us wanting more.
And that’s easy, too. There’s so much of them we have yet to see. Even if we do get a romantic resolution (please), there are so many firsts we haven’t gotten to see. In fact, there are too many for one season. So, just from that, we’ve got a couple more seasons. And the spy part? That’s easy too. It’s Tony and Ziva, after all!
Are you excited for NCIS: Tony & Ziva? Share with us in the comments below!
NCIS: Tony & Ziva premieres September 4th on Paramount.
Feels like a list that has the potential to get every wish granted!
Yes to all!! I can’t wait!
I am curious to see therapy session for PTSD of ziva, the human side of her, and if tony will join in the time machine. I want a third dinozzo, a boy, a little brother for tali. I love espionage stories.
I have no interest in the new characters. i just need Tiva and their daughter. It’s much like Daryl and Carol. The new people just get in the way. I need to make a list of things I need from this show. Thanks for the idea 🙂
I mean, I get what you’re saying but I don’t think the show gets many seasons if the new people don’t work well in the context of the world. They don’t need to become the main focus, but they need to be interesting enough to add to the narrative and form relationships with Tony, Ziva and Tali because every scene can’t be just a combination of the three of them.