NCIS took its time finding the next permanent female detective in Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ team, which eventually became Ellie Bishop. Before Emily Wickersham joined the show as a series regular, however, it introduced Maffia’s Vera as Ziva’s temporary but original replacement. 12 years after her initial debut, Maffia returned as Vera in NCIS season 23 as part of its crossover with NCIS: Origins. Beyond that, however, her fate in the present day is unknown.
When asked about her future, Maffia told TVInsider that she’s actually eager to see Vera be part of the flagship on a more regular basis. Citing how “they write her so beautifully,” the actor highlights how NCIS can benefit from having Mike Franks’ last partner as a prominent presence. Read her full comment below:
“I told them, she needs to be back on a regular basis.
I think it’s going to take two minutes to Vera to feel like, ‘Oh, no, I’m back now. What am I doing? Making another cup of tea.’ I think that she’s very motivated. I think she got a little taste. I mean, she’s not what she used to be. She’s not going to be running around chasing [suspects], but her brain and her street smarts, I think, are very advantageous for the team. In that way she has a lot to offer.
I think she very well could be waiting for her phone [to ring] or another knock at the door or an arrest or a warrant or anything they have to offer.
“There’s a level of humor that she brings that I find, the way they write it, very attractive, very real. I’d watch it.”
When Vera was first introduced, she was mere days away from retiring. NCIS season 23 has confirmed that she eventually did, although the cold case from her time with Franks’ NIS brought her back to the field. Interestingly, however, Vera made it clear that while she enjoyed solving the case, she preferred the slower pace of life as a retiree. This makes it trickier to bring her back the way Maffia suggested, although not entirely impossible.
There are few ways to bring Maffia’s Vera, given the current state of MCRT. Firstly, Director Leon Vance can tap her as a consultant, which means that the team reaches out to her if there’s a particularly sensitive case. This keeps the door open for her appearance without the need to set up a whole explanation to justify it. Secondly, she could be the bridge that connects MCRT and Gibbs in Alaska. After all, she hinted that they have been in communication during her latest Navy Yard visit.
