NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is A Relief For The Franchise

NCIS: Tony & Ziva has reached a new high for the NCIS franchise, and that is a great thing. The latest NCIS series follows Tony and Ziva as they face threats in Europe. As the first NCIS spinoff with such a unique premise, NCIS: Tony & Ziva faced a lot of challenges before it began. However, things are looking up.

The Tony & Ziva spinoff has even achieved a 73% Rotten Tomatoes score after its premiere. While the number is not as impressive on its own, the score is the highest that any NCIS spinoff has achieved so far. This number goes to show how likable the pair is, but also that NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s new format is successful.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Score Means Streaming Works For The Franchise

CBS

NCIS has always been a network TV franchise associated with CBS. That is why it was so surprising when NCIS: Tony & Ziva announced that it would be the first NCIS spinoff to air directly on streaming. There were some worries that this would hurt its success as it could minimize the show’s reach. However, that is not the case.

It may still be early, but so far, NCIS: Tony & Ziva has shown that streaming works for the NCIS franchise. As long as there is good writing and likable characters, NCIS spinoffs can succeed regardless of where they are aired. This could even open up the door to more streaming potential with future spinoffs.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Differences Have Already Resulted In A More Popular Show

NCIS: TONY & ZIVA, from left: Michael Weatherly, Max Osinski, Cote de Pablo, ‘No Country is Safe’, (Season 1, ep. 101, aired Sept. 4, 2025). photo: Marcell Piti / ©Paramount+/CBS Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

Just three episodes in, NCIS: Tony & Ziva is proving to be the most popular NCIS spinoff so far. Its closest competition is NCIS: Origins, which has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 72%. However, NCIS: Origins achieved this over the course of a season. NCIS: Tony & Ziva only needed 3 episodes to surpass it, and its score may grow.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s success as a spinoff is not all that surprising when you take into account the show’s differences. Other than airing directly on streaming, NCIS: Tony & Ziva also follows more of a narrative format and acts like a drama instead of a procedural. As a character-driven spinoff, this format works best for what the show is.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva is also the first show in the NCIS franchise to follow a pair rather than a team. While there are side characters in the spinoff, Tony and Ziva are the main focus. As such iconic NCIS characters, it is not surprising that Tony and Ziva’s series has already seen some early access.