[114] Lodder later wrote an editorial that was published in The Huffington Post analyzing the reasoning behind viewers' responses. She is subsequently captured and held hostage for several months. Liat still questions this, and Ziva agrees to a practice exercise to determine if she is fit to defend her father. Save that for the John Woo movie. Shortly after her being rescued from Somalia, she sends an email to her father formally resigning from Mossad and applies to become an official NCIS agent. [36] Ducky later told Gibbs that, "Agent David has been through things you and I can't even imagine" and suggested that she was the only one who could relate to a suspect who had been abused. I would like my grandchildren to be doctors and architects. After the break, Gibbs and David are sitting at a window, and it is fully dark out. Ziva is introduced to the show as an Israeli citizen, an agent of the Kidon unit of the Mossad, a daughter of Mossad Director Eli David, and a friend of NCIS Director Jenny Shepard. [58] Ziva has made references to keeping kosher;[30] however, in her second episode on the show, she is seen eating a slice of pepperoni pizza, which goes against kosher dietary laws. NCIS recap: Knight goes viral amid cartel case | EW.com "[51] She sustained several injuries while filming"I hurt myself a lot. He further reminds her that there had been a time when "things were different". How To Watch The 2023 Tony Award Nominations On TV & Live, Rodgers Boosts New Jets Season Ticket Sales by 400%, TeamSays, Writers Strike to Begin Tomorrow: WGA Calls for Work Stoppage, Hybe Achieves Record First Quarter Financials, Despite BTS Hiatus, Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. At the end of the season sixteen finale, "Daughters", Ziva shows up in Gibbs' basement to inform him that he is in danger. Enemies Foreign - Wikipedia "[85] Following investigation into Ziva's role in the events aboard the Damocles, Director Vance approves an exonerated Ziva's application to join NCIS after initially rejecting it. Mossad Officer Malachi Ben-Gidon: Sarai Givaty . I would like your permission to travel to Europe to find Bodnar. About Us | Copyright Inquiry | Privacy Policy | Contact Us, Marina Sirtis Cast on NCIS as Eli David Successor. Shortly afterwards, series creator Donald Bellisario announced plans to replace Todd with another female lead. [9], Ziva has been called "one of the strongest women on TV". NCIS: Why Each Of The Major Cast Members Left | Cinemablend [57], Eli and Ziva do not communicate until he visits the U.S. on official business in Season 8, seemingly resenting his daughter and the choice she made to become a U.S. citizen. I beg your pardon. When Ziva learns that her boyfriend who had proposed to her was the murderer of a Navy petty officer, Gibbs is the only one to accompany her when she confronts him and he tries to comfort Ziva very much as a father would afterwards. Even with the complexity of what existed between Ziva and Eli, at the end of the day, he was her father and she loved him. "[113], Viewers sent "many e-mails, letters, notes, cards, posters, and so on to CBS headquarters and individuals at CBS" as well as cupcakes and M&Ms in protest. But there's a good ending! He did not directly address this but divulged, "In November sweeps, we dip again into a story that perhaps everyone thought was played out. Ensuring peace dies with them. "[104] C. Coville from Cracked magazine questioned the choice to script her as "an espionage expert who knows nine languages all at age 28", describing excessive multilingualism as a common problem in television dramas. Female The episode is written by Jesse Stern and directed by Dennis Smith. That's a big deal to her. Marina Sirtis Cast on NCIS as Eli David Successor - TV Fanatic [115], Ziva, and Cote de Pablo's depiction of her, has been analyzed and commented upon by a number of critics, opinion columnists, and academics. Trending pages Ziva David Leroy Jethro Gibbs Eleanor Bishop Anthony DiNozzo Junior Timothy McGee James Palmer Breena Palmer Delilah Fielding All items (1) # A B C D E F G H [120] He believed that Ziva, "a one-woman army, full of secrets", fell into this category but concluded that she was still "the most positive recurring Israeli character on American television". She admits that she had been under orders to kill Ari when it became clear that he was out of control, but elucidates that she had never intended to go through with it, believing him to be innocent. About Us | Copyright Inquiry | Privacy Policy | Contact Us. [36] However, this tension is lessened in the conclusion of the episode "Silver War" after Ziva saved Ducky's life. Mossad Director Eli David: Alex Morris . Ziva is at first incredulous, as Eli has not left Israeli soil in over a decade, but he appears the following day. Mossad is in dire need of a new director to replace the now assuredly deceased Eli David, as played by, NCIS Finds a New Head of Mossad in Next Generation Actress Marina Sirtis, Kirk's Other Star Trek Ship Is More Important Than You Think, Starfleet Academy Is A Major Update Of An Old Star Trek Idea, Picard Season 3 Borrows Abrams Star Trek Captain Trick (& It Works), New NCIS Season 20 May 8, 2023 Episode 20 Spoilers Revealed, CBS 2022-23 TV Season Ratings (updated 5/1/2023), Sunday TV Ratings: American Idol, The Blacklist, Bob's Burgers, The Equalizer, 100 Days to Indy, William Shatner Explains Kirk's Dying Last Words In Star Trek, Patrick Stewart Didn't Like Picard's Ending Until He Saw It On TV, Strange New Worlds Trailer Completely Ignores Season 1s Cliffhangers, Box Office: Super Mario Bros. Triumphs Again in Fourth Weekend, Are You There God? Debuts to Dispiriting $6.8 Million, Mila Kunis Says Shes Not in Marvels Fantastic Four Reboot But She Knows Who Is, Mission: Impossible 7 Finally Wraps Filming 3 Years After It Started (Photo), U.S. [38] They later apologize after Tony goads them into it, and both women punch him in the arm when he jokingly suggests that they should "tongue-kiss" one another. Following the onscreen death of the character's father in season 10, Gabi Coccio recurrently portrayed a young Ziva in flashbacks. "[64] Cote de Pablo has said, "I love all of the fighting, using knives and guns and all of that. Eli reveals details about an operation 22 years old. [95] Though their interactions are depicted as affectionate and Eli is shown teaching a 13-year-old Ziva (Gabi Coccio) the Shabbat blessing in one scene, tensions result from his frequent absence due to his work and an affair with a female Mossad operative leads to the disintegration of his marriage to Ziva's mother.[95]. ", "Top 10 Romantically Challenged TV Couples", "Cote de Pablo leaving "NCIS" after 8 seasons", "Passionate Letter from an 'NCIS' Fan: #BringBackCote", "Exclusive: Cote de Pablo Talks About Her Decision to Leave, "Why We Care About Fictional Characters And Why Cote de Pablo's Departure Hurts", "NCIS: America's Favorite Show and What It Tells Us", "What NCIS Tells Us About Obama and Netanyahu", NCIS An analysis of the macro- and microstrategies applied to translate language dependent humour, Bring Back Cotewebsite created to protest the decision to write out the character of Ziva, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ziva_David&oldid=1143641289, This page was last edited on 9 March 2023, at 00:40. [9] Givaty's casting was reported in the Israeli news, and ADD agent Yaron Lichtenstein commented, "We are proud of Sarai for joining the agency's series of international success stories. When anyone loses someone, you think about what they meant to you and what part of them you continue to carry. 6 episodes, 2008-2013 Rudolf Martin . Eli attempts to prevent her from leaving Mossad by having her former team leader Malachi Ben-Gidon accuse her of killing a marine who had been among those who died on the Damocles. Ziva's relationship with McGee develops to resemble one of a brother and sister. Ziva: It's not about a choice it's about survival. [59] However, they maintained the same basic style, keeping her regularly dressed in cargo pants and boots. [23] She reprised the role later that season in "Berlin", this time appearing in several flashbacks. According to NCIS writer Christopher Waild, as a result of the murders of her father and Vance's wife in the same attack, "the tragedy of Ziva and Eli now also extends into the Vance family. Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. In "Shalom", the fourth season premiere, she is framed by Iranian agents for the murder of two FBI officers and a suspect in their custody who was wanted for crimes against Israel. Outside of fiction, the cultural impact of Ziva became a subject of discussion among various critics, with academics and rabbis weighing in on the matter. Though DiNozzo was not informed of this, Ziva gave birth to a daughter named Tali. Go. [26] For example: In "Silver War", she said she felt like a "donkey's butt" when she meant "horse's ass". Ziva is sometimes considered a "haunted" figure;[55] she is a skilled assassin and is able to take life without hesitation or remorse when the situation requires,[56] something that has not changed with her new affiliation with NCIS. Realizing that Ziva is alive, Bishop runs to her private office only to find a note from Ziva asking her not to reveal her secret for the safety of her family. Mossad Director Eli David : Ziva, you are not dead. [89] Vance calls her motives into question in the episode "Aliyah" and charges her with acting on orders. "[11] Ziva's portrayer, Cote de Pablo, is not Israeli, nor is she Jewish. Karif Yasin: Stan Ivar . McGee, Abby, and Ducky all support Ziva as she prepares to become an American citizen in the seventh season, with McGee even quizzing her for the citizenship exam. The two later reconcile. The network released the following statement: "We respect Cote's decision, thank her for being an important part of the 'NCIS' team, and for eight terrific years playing Ziva David. [11] The role made de Pablo the second most popular actress on U.S. primetime television in 2013, according to Q Score,[12] and a 2013 study by E-Poll Market Research listed her among the top 10 most appealing celebrities in America. "[122] The character has also been compared to the heroines of early kibbutz dramas,[56] as well as prominent Israeli politicians in the way she interacts with her American colleagues. When Ziva was a child her father told her that one "can never truly know a person or their secrets". Special Agent Timothy McGee: I have hung a net. Ziva first appeared in the season 3 premiere episode, "Kill Ari (Part 1)", and became a regular cast member from the episode "Silver War". She recalls him taking his children into the forest for "fun" blindfolded and making them find their own way back. FBI Agent Lisa Rand (above) NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 2 Episode 5 "Little Angels". In season 7, she becomes a probationary NCIS agent pending U.S. citizenship, becoming a United States citizen in the season finale after successfully passing her exams. [60][63] De Pablo opposed the idea at first and did not want to sing on the show, believing it would be out of character for Ziva. Eventually, it is revealed that Eli was killed by his protg, Ilan Bodnar (Oded Fehr), who Ziva had known since they were children. "[102], Her frequent misunderstanding of American idioms and slang has been described as "endearing"[40] and is generally considered an appealing aspect of the show. Though she often finds it difficult to follow his orders due to the autonomy she had as a Mossad control officer, Ziva looks up to Gibbs as a leader and often restrains herself from resorting to her assassin background in situations where he would not approve. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! Since her early childhood, Eli trained her in combat tactics and espionage (according to Ziva, one of her earliest memories of childhood was her father leading her and her sister into a forest, blindfolded, then leaving them there to find their way out again). Foreign Intelligence Mossad Director Sasha Alexander 's character Kate Todd was killed in the second NCIS season finale following Alexander's decision to permanently leave the show. Ziva is reunited with McGee and Ducky along with meeting new team members Bishop (who had protected her secret) and Torres. Following the death of Ziva's father Eli David (Michael Nouri), the Israeli intelligence agency has named his. Mossad Deputy Director Ilan Bodnar ( Oded Fehr ), described by Ziva as Eli's protg, arrives at NCIS demanding answers and exasperated that Kazmi has not yet been charged. After being captured by terrorists in Somalia while on assignment for Mossad and presumed dead, she was eventually saved by Gibbs, Tony, and McGee, who brought her back to America. "[78] Vance, aware that he cannot do so on his own for his children's sake, looks the other way while Ziva pursues revenge against the killer and continues to support her despite drawing ire from other agencies.[79]. [25], Born in Be'er Sheva, Israel on November 12, 1982,[2] Ziva is one of three children fathered by the fictional Mossad Director Eli David, the other two being Ari,[4][20] an older half brother, and Tali, a younger sister who was killed in a Hamas suicide bombing at the age of 16. I'm fine. Ziva speaks ten languages: English, Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, French, Pashto, German, Italian, and Russian. [8] Jewish commentators gave the character favorable reviews, with Jewcy's Abe Fried-Tanzer stating, "Linguistic difficulties aside, Ziva is the show's most stable and dependable character, as steadfast as Harmon's Gibbs. He felt that Ziva's ascendancy marked a change in Jewish culture. I think probably the only person Ziva truly, truly trusts is Gibbs. Meet the Next Generation of Mossad director. [124], While the character was generally praised, storylines surrounding her relationship with her father, Eli David, drew controversy. [101] The tournament consisted of 64 nominated female characters from police procedural shows and several single-elimination rounds, garnering nearly one million votes by the end. Named for Ziva's deceased sister, Talia David-Dinozzo is the daughter of Ziva and Tony. "Voice Of Ziva David - NCIS: The Video Game | Behind The Voice Actors", "On NCIS, the 'New Jew' Is Much Like the Old", Israeli Spy Characters Infiltrate Popular American Television Shows, "Actress Betty White named America's most appealing celebrity", Fans react with anger at Sasha Alexander's NCIS death, Cote de Pablo and Allen Hidalgo Join Cast of Upcoming Mambo Kings, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, "NCIS 1012 Shiva, First Look Pictures and More", "NCIS Episode 10.21 Berlin Press Release", "NCIS Review: Sweet Cheeks and Crumpled Fenders", "Slowly but Surely, NCIS Rises to Top of Ratings", "NCIS Mossad Officer Ziva David is a Hit Thanks to Actress Cote De Pablo", "Before They Were Famous: The stars of 'NCIS', "Last Man Standing Season Episode Guide on", "Jewish Characters on TV: The Best of 2009", "NCIS Boss on Double-Death Twist: What's Next for Ziva and Vance? You are living your life, making your choices. Abby, in turn, expresses concern when Ziva and Tony go missing in "Boxed In". That's our secret. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on November 16, 2010. Despite this, she agreed to after executive producer Shane Brennan described the scene. [41] Ziva knew him from her daily run, during which they always passed by each other running in opposite directions. He and Abby both urge Ziva to repair her friendship with Tony in the aftermath of their fallout in the sixth season finale. Together, they hope to initiate the beginning of a peace agreement between Israel and Iran. For example, Ziva has been known to pick up falafel for lunch when she has to drive the van somewhere,[4] and she appears to like music by Israeli hip-hop/funk band Hadag Nahash. She takes things to the extreme. During his time in Washington, he is also secretly meeting with a Palestinian born Iranian (with an unclear connection to the Iranian government) whom he knows from childhood. [43] Political columnist Mark Vogl examined the cultural and political impact of a positive Israeli figure as well as her role in dispelling stereotypes about Jewish women: Ziva David, a principle [sic] character in NCIS, has really altered my view of the Jewish people and Israel's plight. [90] However, Ziva later makes clear to Gibbs that she did in fact shoot her brother in order to save him, saying, "I pulled the trigger to save your life. Shiva (NCIS) - Wikipedia He remembers that Ziva saved his life and that she had killed her brother to do it while Ziva breaks down and cries into his arms. After a failed attempt to kill Ziva, he escapes and disappears. Though the Catholic-born Chilean actress' pronunciation of the name of her character's home country leaves something to be desired, she does capture a certain Israeli toughness and no-nonsense attitude. If you choose to let me be part of your life, I would welcome that with open arms. And the cast loves her. NCIS: What Do Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly Think of Tiva? [24] During the show's summer hiatus, she confirmed via Twitter that she would appear again in the eleventh season. [53] She is not easily intimidated or rattled. Who Has a Kid? When Ziva first appeared, she would flinch whenever Abby would hug her; however, by Season 6, Ziva overcomes her discomfort, and now accepts and returns the hugs. Cars registered in Berlin have numberplates beginning with B. Ziva's contact mocks Tony for acting like a "typical tourist" by drinking a "stein" of lager. An insight that we often wish for in real life. [48] It focuses on the immediate aftermath of the killings and establishes Ziva's desire to seek revenge. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. in: Israelis in NCIS, Recurring Characters in NCIS, Mossad Officers in NCIS, Mossad Directors in NCIS Orli Elbaz View source Orli Elbaz Gender: Female Status: Alive. Abusive Parents: He uses his own children as tools in his schemes. Vance hosts a conference of high-level members of the NCIS; he invites Eli, who accepts. [2] The main cast includes Mark Harmon as team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Michael Weatherly as Senior Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo, Cote de Pablo as Mossad Liaison Officer turned NCIS Agent Ziva David, Pauley Perrette as Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto, Sean Murray as Special Agent Timothy McGee, David McCallum as Autopsy Technician Donald "Ducky" Mallard, Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance, and Brian Dietzen as Medical Assistant Jimmy Palmer. Mossad is in dire need of a new director to replace the now assuredly deceased Eli David, as played by Michael Nouri. [49], Ziva becomes fixated on revenge as the season continues and ultimately kills Bodnar, albeit in self-defense. Threats arise, and the gang respond. [Ziva]'s like a little prodigy when it comes to languages and that's what makes the character fun to play. Despite having lost friends and family to radical Islamic terrorist groups like Hamas, she does not resent Muslims in general. [72] "Everything I had judgments on has turned around and bitten me in the butt," she explained.[72]. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This shows that, to Ziva, Gibbs is her father. Using writings by Blakey Vermeule, she explained, "Fiction allows us a rare insight into the minds and hearts of its characters, its people. Her early storylines center on her integration and attempts to be accepted by the other characters. One ( [98] Other figures on the list included de Pablo's co-star, Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto), British singer Adele, and Olympian Gabby Douglas. The assignment is complicated by Ziva and Eli's estrangement, though she asserts that she can operate as normal, a claim that Gibbs backs. "[83], Season 3's "Hiatus" shows how much Ziva is affected when Gibbs is critically injured in an explosion and awakes with memory loss. I'm not trying to play her as if I hope people like my character. In the aftermath of her father's death in Season 10, she is shown praying in a synagogue, visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and planting an olive tree. Shortly thereafter, they learn that she had only used an electronic device to steal credit card details from the actual terrorist. I had a big fight sequence, I had to shoot a lotthere was a lot of gunfireand there was one huge explosion in which a whole kitchen blows up and I'm in the middle of it! [89][104][118] Anthony Frosh of Galus Australis suggested that her unrelentingly patriotic attitude did not reflect that of a typical Israeli,[56] while Honig wrote that that trait helped Israeli viewers to identify with her more. [5] That fall, De Pablo appeared in two episodes as a series regular to wrap up her character's storyline. Mossad Director Eli David : Ziva, nothing is impossible, only difficult. "NCIS" Enemies Foreign (TV Episode 2010) - IMDb Costume designers wanted to show her acclimation to life in the United States and in doing so made her wardrobe less militarily influenced. Lauren Holly as NCIS Director Jenny Shepard; Cote de Pablo as Mossad Agent Ziva David; Pancho Demmings as Gerald Jackson; . Jesse Stern remarked on the recurring appearance of Mossad agents within the series: I love our Israelis. So obviously that's going to be a big thing for Ziva because she finally gets to confront her father for sending her away on, basically, what I would call a suicide mission. [38] According to Jenny, Ziva saved her life in Cairo two years prior to Ziva's first appearance in the series. Following an explosion, and the subsequent death of Secretary Clayton Jarvis, the remaining members of Gibbs' team are informed that Ziva's life is in danger. Ziva David: I do not know who Annette is or why you are so proud of killing her. The plot practically goes onto untrodden territory while simultaneously putting focus on *multiple* long-running plot arcs that go as far as two and a half years back. Ziva also bears the brunt of Gibbs' anger after Caitlin Todd was murdered. The subsequent episode "In The Wind" has Ziva trying to help Gibbs find Phineas, after he runs away from Gibbs' house following Gibbs' revelation about his mother's death. Like Gibbs, he has limited patience for the scientific method and technical terms. [59], Over the course of the show, Ziva has been involved in numerous action and combat scenes. Gibbs and the gang put the pieces together. "[124], Shane Brennan, the show's producer at the time, elaborated on Ziva's role in action scenes and explained, "We try to deliver that, but we try to be credible about it. [20] After Ari's death, she asks to be assigned as a liaison for Mossad at NCIS, where she subsequently joins Special Agent Gibbs' team in the episode "Silver War", permanently replacing the deceased Agent Todd.[40]. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. Her position was control officer. [42], As the sixth season progressed, storylines shifted to Ziva's "sense of homelessness"[39] and dual loyalty,[43] climaxing at the end of the season as Tony fatally shoots her boyfriend, Michael Rivkin, and her apartment is bombed. To reveal more would constitute a spoiler. Who Is a Hellcat? "[64] Lilly J. Goren, a professor of politics and global studies at Carroll University, and Justin S. Vaughn, an assistant professor of political science at Boise State University, expressed similar views in their co-authored book, Women in the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics. It was watched live by 19.43 million viewers.[1]. [101] Mary Edwards from the Reasons to be Beautiful Magazine published a list of "5 Great Female TV Characters of 2011" and wrote, "If any woman could have ended up a cold, emotionless killing machine, [Ziva]'d be a top candidate. While interviewing the girl's father and woman's boyfriend, he points them to a backyard building that Ziva had rented for years as a private office to write private journals as she coped with her job and life in America, though it hasn't been touched since her apparent death. He was my brother, and you were nothing. After he persuades her to tell her version of the story and she is cleared, Gibbs whispers something to her and kisses her on the forehead,[85] causing her to break down in tears of relief. As an immigrant, she faces prejudice and racism, but she handles it with poise. List of Appearances However, I do believe Ziva has been an excellent representative of the Jewish people. Mossad Director Eli David Alex Morris Former NCIS Special Agent Kurt Nelson Maura Soden Former NCIS Special Agent Melora Koss Director Dennis Smith Writers Donald P. Bellisario Don McGill Jesse Stern All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro Storyline Edit Did you know Edit Trivia Follow him on Google+ or email him here. Joe. [27] During her time at Mossad, Ziva was part of a special operations unit known as Kidon, which is part of the Metsada (which is now code named Komemiute). A snazzy superhero nickname and 15 minutes of fame, sure, but also an undercover cartel investigation, a reluctant 11-year-old, and zero croissants. In a network television landscape where it is difficult to find many unashamedly Jewish characters (let alone an Israeli) we have a soft spot for Ziva David. [87], In the following episode, after it is revealed that Eli's protg Ilan Bodnar was behind his killing, he is buried in Israel and Ziva delivers his eulogy. But she is also extremely smart, a strong contributor to the team, and lethal with weapons and martial arts. [91], Ziva and her father, Mossad Director Eli David, often have a somewhat strained relationship, especially following the death of her half-brother Ari. We are lucky to have her.. Ziva. She was assigned to NCIS as a liaison officer in an arrangement between Eli and Jenny, a position she held for four years until she returned to Mossad in the season 6 finale, "Aliyah". Abby, who thinks Ziva is an excellent cook, begins to soften towards her, as the latter works to earn her friendship, first by helping Abby put a bomb back together for information and later by remembering her birthday. [4] These events led to her resigning from Mossad, applying to become an NCIS agent, and being sworn in as a U.S. However, she declined to explain the reason behind it. Israeli actress Sarai Givaty was cast for a new role as Liat Tuvia, the officer who replaced Ziva on the Kidon unit. Shortly before her captivity, she said that she "would sooner die than take this necklace off". RELATED | NCIS Renewed as Mark Harmon Inks New Deal But What About Cote de Pablo? Michael Nouri: Mossad Director Eli David - IMDb [82] Additionally, Ziva and Gibbs share several characteristics: they both rarely show emotion, speak several languages, and are extremely skilled at what they do. List of Appearances Since her seven-season, four-movie run as TNGs Deanna Troi, Sirtis has guested on non-Trek series such as Girlfriends, Make It or Break It and a 2011 episode of Greys Anatomy, in addition to doing loads of voice work (most recently as Young Justices Queen Bee). The search to replace Eli David as Mossad Director was tricky for us, but we ended up with a true find in Marina Sirtis, showrunner Gary Glasberg says of the casting. Anthony D. "Tony" DiNozzo, Jr. ( Michael Weatherly) is a former NCIS Senior Field Special Agent and former homicide detective for the Baltimore, Philadelphia and Peoria Police Departments. They really seemed to get that immediately, and that doesn't always happen. ], See production, box office & company info, Former NCIS Special Agent Riley McCallister. She later proves her worth in the same episode by using her training to save herself and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard from Dr. Burns, a rogue member of the Smithsonian Anthropology Lab. "Will Ziva & DiNozzo Form a Romance on 'NCIS'? DiNozzo describes his relationship with Ziva as "a connection". Director Terrence O'Hara Writers Donald P. Bellisario Don McGill Scott Williams Stars Mark Harmon Michael Weatherly Cote de Pablo See production, box office & company info Newspapers such as The Jerusalem Post cited her as the only full-time Israeli character on an American mainstream network television show,[8] and Harvard preceptor Eitan Kensky identified her as the "most prominent televisual Israeli" in the United States. Ziva's relationships with her colleagues steadily improve, and she invites Gibbs, Abby, McGee, and Palmer over to her apartment for dinner in the third season.