When Cote de Pablo left NCIS in 2013, fans were stunned. Her return six years later only proved how deeply Ziva David had stayed with audiences.

From the beginning, Ziva’s journey stood out. She arrived as an outsider fighting for acceptance, then endured betrayal, loss, and some of the show’s most intense storylines — including her captivity in Somalia. As one of the few Israeli lead characters on network TV, Ziva carried cultural weight as well as emotional depth.

But behind the scenes, Cote de Pablo wasn’t happy with where her character was headed. She later revealed that planned storylines would have left Ziva “miserable,” and she chose to walk away rather than damage the character’s legacy. Her exit marked the end of an era for NCIS.

In Season 17, producers convinced her to return — and fans rejoiced. De Pablo said stepping back into Ziva felt natural, like slipping into a comfortable shoe. Her storyline, centered on a final confrontation and a warning to Gibbs, gave long-awaited closure.

Though fans hoped for a full reunion with Tony and daughter Tali, Ziva’s return still delivered something just as important: a meaningful goodbye. And for many viewers, that was enough ❤️