How NCIS Fixed One Mistake That Made Fans Quit, 11 Years Later

Even the most popular TV shows sometimes make mistakes that can cost them a lot of fans. Even worse, sometimes the changes happen because of something they can't control, but it's harder and harder to regain viewers' trust after that.

From the COVID-19 restrictions to the WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes, the industry has suffered greatly in recent years. But even before that, TV shows lost a lot of fans because of something they couldn't control: the exits of the cast members. In more than 20 years on the air, NCIS was no exception.

Why Did Ziva Leave NCIS?

When Cote de Pablo left NCIS in 2013, it left many fans in complete and utter shock, not knowing how to keep watching. Though de Pablo's Ziva David was a replacement for another character who was killed off, and wasn't welcomed at first, she became the heart and soul of the show over the seasons, alongside Michael Weatherly's Tony DiNozzo.

Unfortunately, all great things must come to an end. As the actress admitted, it was her own decision to leave the show, as she did not like the direction the writers were taking her character. After Ziva's final goodbye, many viewers decided to leave NCIS as well.

Even today, more than a decade after it happened, first-time viewers find it hard to get over that departure. However, NCIS may be one of the very few fandoms that actually has gotten their happy ending, even when no one else believed in it.

Tony and Ziva NCIS Spinoff

Even though the show is as popular as ever among TV fans, to stay afloat the franchise had to come up with something to keep fans excited and interested in what's next. For a show that relied heavily on the same premise and getting all the spinoffs based on location, the decision to change the tune was risky, but totally worth it.

By adding two more shows, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony and Ziva, the franchise is correcting its biggest mistakes, bringing back the beloved characters and allowing them to have another go at the universe that brought them together.

Right now, there is no set release date for the Tony and Ziva spinoff, but the show will begin filming in Europe this summer. So stay tuned for more news and updates, or catch the story of the pairing from the beginning by streaming NCIS on Paramount Plus.