‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’ Review: A Risky, Groundbreaking Return Fueled by Irresistible Chemistry
Over time, NCIS has spawned quite a few spin-offs (with the present itself being one, branching off from ’90s army sequence JAG), and lately, it has been intentional in the way in which it delivers these exhibits. The most well-liked ones, NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawai’i, retained the identical cop procedural construction and NCIS really feel with a brand new forged in a brand new location. However NCIS: Origins gave us a totally totally different tone, specializing in character-centric tales and heavy themes fairly than circumstances. Now, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, arguably essentially the most highly-anticipated spin-off of the lot, simply fully breaks the mildew, choosing an enormous style shift to re-introduce two beloved characters.
The one actual connection to the franchise is within the title and thru the presence of Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo). The leap from a cop procedural to a criminal offense drama would not appear large, however dropping the episodic format and including components that really feel extra akin to a spy present than NCIS is groundbreaking for such a long-running, steady franchise. Going off the 4 out of ten episodes offered for evaluate, this pivot is the proper method to inform Tony and Ziva’s story, which is haunted by all of the issues left unsaid throughout their sudden exits. It might be a shock to the system, however it’s promising.
What Is ‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’ About?
Tony & Ziva picks up the place the franchise left off 5 years in the past, when Ziva flies to Paris and is reunited with Tony and their daughter Tali (Isla Gie) for the primary time. Besides, we see this reunion captured by Tony’s digicam; within the current day, Ziva is sporting a glittering wedding ceremony gown and strolling in direction of an altar to marry… one other man? Cue yet one more time leap, taking us to 9 days earlier and when Tony and Ziva are merely two co-parenting civilians (nonetheless not relationship), who, respectively, personal their very own safety firm and train language courses. Whereas their lives are picture-perfect on the floor, their pasts nonetheless cannot fairly let go of them.
Tony’s safety firm hits a roadblock as one among his purchasers, Interpol, has a large safety breach that results in a multi-million-dollar theft which is ultimately pinned on him. When Tali’s life can also be threatened, Ziva is dragged into the turmoil whereas coping with her personal PTSD from being a Mossad and NCIS agent. As fugitives, the 2 go working throughout Europe, assembly a plethora of eccentric characters and attempting to comb by a probably large Interpol conspiracy.
‘Tony & Ziva’ Make an Unprecedented, But Spectacular Style Shift For ‘NCIS’
First off, let’s pose the query of style. In the event you’re strictly viewing Tony & Ziva as an NCIS spin-off, it’s going to in all probability trigger some dissatisfaction. Barring the same vein of goofy humor that Tony delivers, the present is pretty tonally faraway from the franchise, hauling in for the lengthy recreation fairly than episodic gratification. Whereas it’s technically a criminal offense drama, it shares many qualities with a spy present, the place the 2 fugitive leads have to stay elusive and there’s a give attention to technologically superior equipment (ahem, murderous self-driving vehicles). However as a spy/crime drama, the plot itself goes in a reasonably normal course. Now, treating the sequence prefer it exists on the intersection of NCIS and a criminal offense/spy drama (which it does) offers you a reasonably spectacular present.
Shifting genres could also be unprecedented within the NCIS franchise and thus a dangerous transfer, however it was the style the sequence wanted to offer justice to Tony and Ziva. The present handles the long-form storytelling nicely, ensuring every beat fleshes out their dynamic now and the five-year hole. Typically the jumps between the three timelines could be complicated, however as soon as the 2 “current ones” line up, it is just about a non-issue. With a gradual tempo and a purposeful course, the cohesive storytelling of those 4 episodes actually bodes nicely for the way the story will pan out, even when the plot factors throughout the precise conspiracy are a bit predictable.
Tony & Ziva embraces the European locale; the structure and earthy palette match superbly with the gravitas within the ambiance. Sequence creator John McNamara, alongside the 2 co-stars, weren’t afraid to leap into the grittiness of the titular characters’ relationships and identities from the get-go, losing no time grounding the sequence in themes heavier than what we anticipate from NCIS. Nevertheless it by no means essentially veers into melodrama, mixing in sufficient motion and humor to realize a steadiness. However let’s leap into the actual cause we’re watching this present: Tiva.
Weatherly and Pablo Are Fittingly on the Coronary heart of This ‘NCIS’ Spinoff
Weatherly and Pablo don’t skip a beat when reprising their outdated roles. Their chemistry continues to be scrumptious, banter nonetheless elicits chuckles and love nonetheless underlies their innocuous bond. Followers could have crossed their fingers that they might leap straight into a pair that is been glad collectively for 5 years, however what Tony & Ziva does is arguably higher. By limiting their relationship to co-parents and igniting an inferno of palpable chemistry between them, we get to re-live the will-they-won’t-they flirty undertones we have been lacking for years earlier than their relationship adjustments once more. It is an efficient method to re-introduce the romance whereas retaining us craving.
The supporting forged, together with Amita Suman, Maximillian Osinkski and Anne-Marie Waldek, give fairly sturdy performances inside their restricted roles, the place some characters act extra like foils than others. They’re surprisingly emotionally textured, contributing to the stakes and general really feel of potential hazard in a present the place the 2 most important characters naturally really feel like they’ve plot armor. Subsequent to them, Weatherly’s Tony is simply as charming and absurd as we left him within the flagship present, however has a streak of maturity that Weatherly balances nicely. He nonetheless looks like Tony however with the onus of almost a decade of parenthood and a white-collar job.
However arms down, it’s Pablo’s Ziva who’s the star of the present. Admittedly, I at all times had bother connecting with Ziva within the flagship present: liked her confidence and expertise, however grew uninterested in the repetitive storylines full of trauma and that particular strand of over-sexualization feminine characters tended to get pigeonholed in throughout the 2000s. The spin-off tackles her trauma in a deeply refreshing manner, and Pablo handles the shift extremely, permitting the feelings to pan out with a somber but reflexive contact. However, like Weatherly, she retains a semblance of really endearing flirtiness and badassery from her unique character that makes her arc essentially the most dynamic and compelling.
There’s self-awareness blended into Tony & Ziva. The characters and relationships present one thing new whereas addressing the previous, together with potential complaints folks could have had. It is littered within the script too, with Tony aptly describing this as one thing between a “spy thriller and office comedy.” As talked about, NCIS has change into extra intentional with the franchise, and the start of this spin-off bodes nicely for the remainder of the season — hopefully, for Tiva followers too.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva premieres September 4 on Paramount+.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva
‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’ pulls no stops with the couple’s return to the franchise, and you may both hate it or like it.
- Launch Date
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September 4, 2025
- Community
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Paramount+
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Michael Weatherly
Tony DiNozzo
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- The present captures the couple’s unique on-and-off romance whereas increasing on it.
- Pablo’s Ziva is mostly a standout as her character is fleshed out and renewed in a manner the flagship present didn’t do.
- The spinoff’s ambiance strikes a steadiness of deep emotional currents and a light-hearted model of self-aware humor.
- The present’s style shift might alienate long-time ‘NCIS’ followers.
