‘NCIS: Tony and Ziva’ Ending Explained: Cote de Pablo Breaks Down [Spoiler]’s Romantic Surprise (Exclusive)

Season 1 of NCIS: Tony & Ziva finally clarified Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David’s relationship status — but is their rekindled romance going to last?

Warning: Spoilers below from season 1, episode 10 of NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

During the Thursday, October 23, season 1 finale, fans witnessed Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) tell their daughter, Tali (Isla Gie), that they wanted to “start dating again.”

While fans might be skeptical about whether it’ll work out between the former NCIS agents, de Pablo, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly that things are different this time around.

“They’re both actively [and] honestly trying,” the actress said of why viewers should be hopeful that Ziva and Tony won’t break up — again. “They’re not trying [or] avoiding the wounds. They’re trying [their hand at] acknowledging the wounds.”

De Pablo explained, “I think for all relationships, certainly the ones that matter, you need to acknowledge the wound in order to create intimacy.”

NCIS: Tony & Ziva season 1 followed exes Tony and Ziva five years after they reunited in Paris following their respective exits as NCIS agents in Washington, D.C., which fans watched on the flagship NCIS series.

On NCIS, Ziva was presumed dead in 2016, leaving Tony alone to raise their daughter, Tali. During season 17 of the OG show, Ziva was revealed to be alive.

On the spinoff, viewers learned through a series of flashbacks what happened when the family reunited starting in 2020 and the five years that followed — including an engagement, failed wedding and steamy hookups.

At the end of Tony & Ziva, the pair managed to take down corrupt Interpol agent Jonah (Julian Ovenden) with the help of their band of misfit hackers and former spies. In the process, they cleared Tony’s name — he was being framed for stealing from Interpol among other crimes — and saved their daughter, who was kidnapped more than once.

When the family returned to Paris, Tony and Ziva consulted Tali about their new romantic status, with Tony joking that if she had an issue with them dating he would “dump your mom” if she were to “say the word.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, it’s fine,” Tali replied on Thursday’s episode, before pranking her parents by saying she was getting a call from her boyfriend.

After revealing it was actually her nanny/their family friend Sophie (Lara Rossi), Tali warned her parents, “Just remember no one likes heartripping surprises so take it slow and be sure this time.”

Once out of the room, Tony asked Ziva on a date but she told him she had a “homecoming” gift for him to open first. Ziva had a picture of Tony’s late friend Interpol Agent Henry (James D’Arcy) — who he wanted as his best man when they were supposed to get married — and Tali framed it to remember his memory. (Henry was killed earlier in the season after helping Tony and Ziva get a head start on finding Tali.)

“Just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more you go and pull a stunt like that,” Tony said. Ziva cheekily replied, “You hang in there big daddy, there’s more where that came from.”

The season ended with a montage of every kiss, hookup and intimate moment between Tony and Ziva that transpired from 2020 to 2025.

“The real connection between them comes from, obviously, there are these very tender, also very flirtatious moments they have,” de Pablo told Us of the pair’s love story. “Then, of course, the very sort of sexy scenes.”

The actress noted that fans had to see the flashbacks to “understand the payoff in the end” of them trying again as a couple.

While season 2 has not been announced, de Pablo teased that Tony and Ziva’s romance would last if more episodes are greenlit — but it wouldn’t be without a few bumps.

“The past is always coming back and haunting them. And somehow that past is always bringing them back into something that they have to overcome,” de Pablo continued. “They’re always constantly being tested, and they have to rise [and] rely on each other. Trust in each other.”

Through those season 1 themes of “trust and truth” Ziva and Tony “cultivated this family” and learned to “get through it [all] and somehow fall in love with everyone around [them].”

NCIS: Tony & Ziva is currently streaming on Paramount+.