NCIS fans were shocked and saddened when it was announced that Cote de Pablo, who played agent Ziva David on the show, would depart during season 11.
The actress was on the show for 8 long years. After her departure in 2013, fans nearly lost hope that they would ever see her character again.
But now, a few years later, the show’s creators pulled off a nice surprise in the season 16 finale.
Many fans couldn’t believe their eyes watching the final episode of season 16. In the episode, Ziva made a surprise appearance, warning Gibbs (Mark Harmon) that he’s in danger.
The scene left people overwhelmed, and many of them took to social media to express their strong emotions over their beloved character’s return.
But will we see Cote in the next season? Season 17 will premiere in autumn 2019, and viewers are hopeful that Cote’s character will be a regular presence.
However, NCIS showrunners Frank Cardea and Steven Binder issued a vague statement, which reads:
This surprise moment is just the beginning.
We are thrilled to share that Cote de Pablo will guest star in the NCIS season 17 premiere this fall, as Ziva's warning to Gibbs unfolds.
The statement specifically says that Cote will guest-star on the show, meaning her return is not necessarily permanent. But is there something they’re not telling us? This is what they said in an interview with TV Line:
We don’t want to say ‘the sky’s the limit.’
But given that she’s been gone for years, there’s a lot that could have happened that could be fodder for us, even if she's not necessarily present.
We’re talking about all of it, all of the time. And we’ll see what sticks.
Well, we’ll see in a few months!