NCIS Best Couple Almost Didn’t Happen, and Michael Weatherly Is to Blame

Over the years, NCIS has seen a lot of comings and goings, with some being respected and even celebrated by viewers, and others taking time to settle in. Even the most beloved characters today have struggled to shine through the judgment of fans back in the day, and Ziva David was one of them.

Right now, however, Cote de Pablo, who portrays Ziva, and Michael Weatherly, who portrays Tony DiNozzo, make up one of the most popular dynamics on NCIS. And learning that there was a good chance it would never happen makes fans even happier that it did.

When Did Ziva First Appear on NCIS?

Ziva David joined NCIS at the very beginning of season 3, right after her half-brother brutally murdered another agent, Caitlin Todd, portrayed by Sasha Alexander. Alexander's departure was a huge disappointment to the fanbase, so it was only natural that viewers did not warm up to the new lead right away.

However, winning over fans was not the first hurdle Cote de Pablo had to overcome in order to succeed as Ziva. First, she went in with a Czech accent to fit the general description of the role, which called for a European lead. Second, reading with Michael Weatherly, she was tested by his sense of humor.

The actress opened up about the situation on a new podcast, Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, where she and Weatherly discussed how they ended up on the show and what it took to land their respective roles. Unaware of Tony DiNozzo's personality, De Pablo was startled when Weatherly cupped her face and called her pretty in an improv.

“I immediately perked up, and there was a moment there where it was Rage Against the Machine. It was that moment, and then it got really serious for me. It was after that moment that I saw a complete switch in the room, and they started thinking whatever was going on was really funny,” she said.

The dynamic between Tony and Ziva, ranging from mutual annoyance to undeniable attraction, is what made the couple so popular with viewers. Even though the writers kept the nature of their relationship ambiguous most of the time, the chemistry between the actors made Tiva a number one NCIS ship.

Now, Tiva fans can celebrate the couple's comeback on their screens as NCIS: Tony & Ziva begins filming this summer. Stay tuned for news and behind-the-scenes updates on the show's most anticipated spinoff.

Source: Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch