NCIS Shocks Fans By Bringing Back Ziva’s Original Replacement After 12 Years

After 12 years, NCIS is bringing back Ziva David’s original, albeit short-lived, replacement in season 23. CBS’ premier procedural seems eager to revive its glory days as the franchise it exists in thrives with 3 spinoffs releasing new episodes this year: NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, and NCIS: Sydney. Meanwhile, the flagship is pulling all the stops after NCIS season 22’s ratings drop.

Ever since Tracker knocked down NCIS from being the most-watched show on network TV, NCIS has been trying to regain momentum. Between cases that leaned far too silly and some character stagnation, the show needed a clearer direction coming into the 2025-2026 TV cycle. All four episodes from NCIS season 23 has been interesting thus far, and it’ll continue that streak with its upcoming one — its very first crossover with NCIS: Origins.

NCIS Season 23 Is Bringing Back Roma Maffia As Vera Franks

As previously confirmed, Mark Harmon will physically return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS: Origins‘ leg of the special. There’s no word if the actor will also appear in the flagship, but it will bring back Roma Maffia as Old Vera Strickland. While she’s best known as Mike Franks’ last partner, she was essentially MCRT’s temporary replacement of Ziva.

Maffia was introduced in NCIS season 11, episode 3, “Under the Radar” — the very first episode after Cote de Pablo officially exited the show. The team was still reeling from Ziva’s absence when Vera arrived and joined them for her final month in active service. While the majority of her stint didn’t play on screen, it allowed the team time to hold on introducing Ellie Bishop, who was introduced in NCIS season 11, episode 9.

Now, fleshing out Vera’s role is now under NCIS: Origins’ purview, although admittedly, it would help if it would increase her screentime. The character’s return in the flagship, however, can not only bridge the gap between the two shows, but it could also reveal new information about what the future lies for some of the members of Franks’ team.

Will Cote De Pablo Ever Return To Main NCIS Despite Paramount+’s Tony & Ziva?

Image via Paramount+

As for de Pablo, she just wrapped up NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+ with Michael Weatherly. The spinoff finally pays off the romance between the pair, as they build their new life in Paris with their kid, Tali. NCIS: Tony & Ziva ended with a happy send-off for the characters, and if it doesn’t get a follow-up show, it leaves them in a much better situation than NCIS ever did. That said, there’s still hope that she eventually finds her way back to MCRT, this time with Tony.

Both de Pablo and Weatherly have come back to NCIS, albeit separately. Considering their continued ties to their former agency, not to mention that their wedding has yet to happen, the door remains open for Ziva to have a Washington DC homecoming. When that happens in NCIS is uncertain, but when/if it does, hopefully Harmon’s Gibbs is also there.