NCIS lost a big part of what made it so great when Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva’s (Cote de Pablo) departed, several years apart.
Tiva was the lifeblood of the CBS hit for so many years, but I couldn’t help but feel unsettled by how they were hastily brought back together off-screen.
Ziva and Tony finally got their happily-ever-after in NCIS Season 17, which brought Ziva’s comeback to a rushed conclusion.
Tony had actually walked away from the team almost four years earlier, so now that we know NCIS: Tony & Ziva is in the final stages of production, it feels like we’re in an alternate universe.
Many NCIS fans have dreamed of it for years, and now that it’s finally happening, I’m starting to get the feeling that it will be a big disaster.
NCIS has dwindled in popularity in recent years, meaning that executives at Paramount may think that bringing the beloved ‘ship back to the forefront could give the franchise a new lease on life.
Truthfully, I’m struggling to be excited because my hopes for Tiva fizzled out a few years ago.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Feels Like a Cash Grab
Had this been better planned, the series should have launched soon after Ziva’s arc wrapped up in NCIS Season 17.
Understandably, Michael Weatherly had Bull, but it would have made more sense to film NCIS: Tony & Ziva between seasons because there’s every reason to believe that even the diehard fans will have moved on from NCIS.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva isn’t the type of story that demands many episodes.
The reality is that the more episodes there are, the more opportunities there are for the show to go off the rails.
My other big issue with the series, as a whole, is that the characters were allegedly in a happy place after NCIS Season 17.
We already know that a new threat is thrown into the narrative, which can quite literally lead to their demise.
The good news is that executives know that bringing them back cannot result in either of their deaths.
Could you imagine the uproar?
That said, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword because it cheapens the stakes.
The best comparison is the various spinoffs of The Walking Dead that introduce supporting players to kill off because the main stars are off the table.
That’s not to say I want NCIS: Tony & Ziva to kill either of the beloved characters off.
Producers Need to Find a Fresh Take for the Spinoff
If anything, I want good TV that doesn’t feel driven by TV’s current worry of alienating audiences.
Tony and Ziva are two of NCIS’s finest characters and deserve a series befitting their legacy.
Anything less will be a slap in the face to fans who have held off so long for this type of story.
NCIS: Origins hasn’t been a spectacular ratings performer, but the storyline has been a refreshing change of pace.
Hopefully, NCIS: Tony & Ziva is more like the prequel than some of the other offerings in the franchise.
Over to you, NCIS Fanatic! What’s your take on the spinoff?
Do you think it’s going to be a disaster? Do you think too much time has passed to make this show successful?
Hit the comments below.
Watch NCIS: Tony & Ziva Online
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