Did Ziva die in NCIS series? Character’s fate explored

For nearly two decades, the NCIS series has established itself as a leading crime procedural drama on American television. It's now back with its 22nd season, which premiered on CBS on October 14, 2024. The show stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service and follows a team of agents, known as the Major Case Response Team.

The MCRT handles high-visibility criminal cases involving the Navy and Marine Corps. Cote de Pablo's Ziva David was a part of the NCIS series from seasons 3-11, first as an agent of Israeli intelligence Mossad, and later as a special agent for NCIS.

In season 13, Ziva was presumed dead following a mortar attack. However, in season 16, it was revealed that she had survived and had been in hiding, to protect Tony DiNozzo and their daughter Tali from a woman named Sahar who wanted to kill her family. She made guest appearances in season 17, with her final appearance in the 11th episode - 'In the Wind'.

---

What was Ziva's fate in the NCIS series?

In season 11, Ziva David decided to leave NCIS and move back to Israel. However, in season 13, Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) received the news of Ziva's death in a mortar attack on her family’s farmhouse.

This tragedy escalated when Tony found out about the daughter he had with Ziva, Tali, whom Ziva had kept hidden from him. It also marked the end of Tony's character arc, as he decided to leave NCIS to raise Tali in Paris, making Ziva's death seem final to both him and fans of the NCIS series.

In a turn of events in season 16, Ziva made a surprise appearance in Gibbs (Mark Harmon)'s basement, to warn him of a new threat to his life. She revealed that she had been in hiding for years to protect her loved ones against a threat from her past.

Her "death" was a cover to misguide a woman named Sahar, a terrorist who wanted to take revenge for Ari's death, Ziva's half-brother whom she had killed in season 3. In season 17, Ziva’s return was further explored, as she briefly teamed up with NCIS to eliminate the threat posed by Sahar on her family.

After Gibbs killed the 'real' Sahar posing as his neighbor 'Sarah' in episode 10 - 'The North Pole' Ziva left the scene once again. She reunited with Tony and Tali, hoping to rebuild the life she had lost and gain Tony's trust after keeping him in the dark for so long. The arc offered long-time fans of the couple both a sense of closure and hope for their future together.

---

What lies ahead for Ziva?

Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo (Image via Getty)

Since Ziva's departure from the NCIS series in season 17 to join Tony and Tali, the audience has been anticipating a comeback of the fan-favorite couple.

The wait ends with the upcoming spin-off of the NCIS series, NCIS: Tony and Ziva. The show is set to be released in 2025, and Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo are back on-screen together for the first time in 10 years.

The official plot synopsis from Paramount reads:

"NCIS: Tony & Ziva picks up after Ziva’s supposed death when Tony left the NCIS team to go raise their daughter. Years later, Ziva was discovered alive, leading her to complete one final mission with NCIS before she was reunited with Tony and their daughter in Paris.

"Since then—and where we find them in NCIS: Tony & Ziva — Tony and Ziva have been raising their daughter, Tali, together. When Tony’s security company is attacked, they must go on the run across Europe, try to figure out who is after them and maybe even learn to trust each other again so they can finally have their unconventional happily ever after."

The show will have de Pablo and Weatherly in main roles and an extensive cast including Isla Gie, Amita Suman, Maximilian Osinski, Nassima Benchicou, Julian Ovenden, Terence Maynard, Lara Rossi and James D’Arcy. Filming started in Budapest in 2024.

---

Catch the latest season of the NCIS series on CBS and Paramount+.