"NCIS” season 16 finale confirmed Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) could hear and see dead people as she saw his former wife, Diane (Melinda McGraw), who was worried for her daughter with FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano). NCIS Agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) also finally made her much-awaited appearance in the final episode to warn Gibbs and would also reportedly make her way to “NCIS” season 17.
But as the former Israeli Mossad was already proclaimed dead years ago, she was last seen in season 3, could it be possible that Ziva is a dead person that Gibbs could see?
Ziva’s return to 'NCIS'
Ziva arrived in Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs' (Mark Harmon) basement and told him his life is in danger.
"This surprising moment is just the beginning,” showrunners Frank Cardea and Steven Binder said in a statement after the season 13 finale aired, per Digital Spy. “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."
Cardea and Binder never mentioned anything if Ziva is alive. They only said de Pablo would guest star in the new season. There are also speculations that she is only back to give Gibbs a warning.
However, the show’s producers have built up Ziva’s appearance as a real one. So, it could mean she is really alive.
Earlier in season 16, NCIS team discovered Ziva had a secret hideaway when she was still an agent. Agent Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham) even contended Ziva is still alive after she saw a note asking her to keep Ziva’s existence a secret.
From here, the speculations about Ziva’s return started. But could de Pablo’s appearance be for good or she would only be seen as a guest star in “NCIS” season 17?
Ziva’s stay in 'NCIS' season 17
CarterMatt reported de Pablo only signed for a guest role in “NCIS” season 17. However, the 39-year-old star has yet to confirm anything about it, so far.
Although there is no confirmation that fans will continue to see Ziva in the new season, fans hope she can stay longer in the series.
There may be a new opening in the NCIS that Ziva can fill.
The team has yet to replace Clayton Reeves (Duane Henry) after his death, so Ziva can take his position.
Although Clayton was not often seen in the series, he still played a valuable role for the team.
So if ever Ziva stays in the new season, she can take Clayton’s role and turn up whenever she is needed and be somewhere else if she has to fulfill other missions.
CBS has yet to reveal when “NCIS” season 17 will be out, but there are speculations it may be for release in September. If it happens, fans may once again see the rest of the investigating team either in the third or fourth week of the said month.
