NCIS: Tony & Zivawill follow theNCISfranchise’s trend of having fewer episodes, and I am worried about what that means for the show. TheNCISspinoffwill followNCISalumni, Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo and Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David, as they work together in Europe to protect their family from threats in Europe.NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s story and premisewill be unlike any otherNCISspinoff, but its format will be similar in more ways than one.
TheNCIS: Tony & Zivatrailerhas revealed a detailed look at Tony and Ziva’s new life abroad. However, intrigue remains about how the characters will interact on a long-term basis given their years of history. Despite the significant interest inNCIS: Tony & Ziva, I am still worried about the show’s first season and how that might affect the characters.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Season 1 Will Only Feature 10 Episodes
The Shorter Season Could Be A Result Of NCIS: Tony & Ziva Airing on Paramount+
While major details aboutNCIS: Tony & Zivahave mostly been kept under wraps so far,Paramount+ revealedNCIS: Tony & Ziva’s season 1 release dateto be September 4th, 2025. However, with their announcement came an equally interesting update;NCIS: Tony & Zivawill only have 10 episodesin its first season. The short episode list is especially surprising given Tony and Ziva’s fame as characters in theNCISuniverse.
Paramount+ will air the first three episodes ofNCIS: Tony & Zivaon June 16, 2025.
Unfortunately,Paramount+’s decision to only allow 10 episodes forNCIS: Tony & Zivaseason 1 follows the common streaming standard for shorter seasons. As the firstNCISshow to air directly on streaming, the show is bound to have some differences as it moves from CBS to Paramount+. As a result, whileNCIS: Tony & Ziva’s shorter first season may be surprising, it does have an understanding explanation.
NCIS Spinoffs Have Seen Shorter Seasons In Recent Years
Shorter Seasons Are A Disappointing Trend
WhileNCIS: Tony & Ziva’s move to the streaming platform, Paramount+, could be used to justify its shorter season length, having shorter seasons is also a worrying trend for theNCISfranchise in general.As a network television show,NCIShas almost always had at least 20 episodes, with a notable exception being season 21, which only received 10 due to various writers' strikes. However, its spinoffs have not always included the same number of episodes.
NCIS: Hawai’iseason 3 had a shorter season of only 10 episodes, andNCIS: Sydneyseason 1 and 2 both had 8 and 10 episodes, respectively. WhileNCIS: Hawai’i’s final season was also impacted by the writers' strikes, the same cannot be said aboutNCIS: Sydney, which has continued to experience shorter season lengths. Shorter seasons have been a more common occurrence in recent years, which makes me worried thatNCIS: Tony & Zivais falling into the same category.
NCIS: Tony & Zivamay be receiving a shorter season length for its first season because it is a new show on a fairly new streaming platform. However, if it is renewed, it may continue to receive shorter seasons too. That is what worries me. Tony and Ziva are such iconicNCIScharactersthat they deserve 20-episode seasons too.
A Shorter Season Might Not Tell The Story That Tony & Ziva Deserve
Tony & Ziva Deserve More Than 10 Episodes
NCIS: Tony & Zivawill be the first time that Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David reunite on screen after their difficult relationship inNCIS. It is for this reason that the pair deserves more than just 10 episodes. For one thing, shows are never guaranteed a renewal. IfNCIS: Tony & Zivafails to live up to theNCIScharacters' popularity, then it might be canceled before it receives a second season, which would mean that it would only have 10 episodes to tell Tony and Ziva’s story.
Another consequence of having a shorter season is that10 episodes just might not be enoughto properly tell Tony & Ziva’s story. The pair has a lot of history that needs to be unpacked in the right way. Moving through their story too fast would be incredibly disappointing.
If anything is to come out ofNCIS: Tony & Ziva, it should be a happy ending for Tony, Ziva, and their daughter, Tali. From the trailer, it seems like trouble keeps finding them. I am worried thatNCIS: Tony & Ziva’s shorter season might mean that a happy ending is not possible for the couple,as there might not be enough time to give them one. Even if the season ends on a happy note, it might feel rushed and unearned, considering the limited screentime.
How NCIS: Tony & Ziva Can Still Have A Complete Story With A Shorter Season
Tony & Ziva Need To Talk About Their Past
Even thoughNCIS: Tony & Zivais confirmed to have a shorter season 1, all is not lost. There is still hope that the show can give the characters the story they deserve. The writing just has to be diligent in drawing from their past, just enough to make Tony and Ziva’s future together work. For one thing,NCIS: Tony & Zivaseason 1 needs to be a complete story. While the finale can leave some storylines open in case the show is renewed for season 2, it cannot end on a cliffhanger.
Tony and Ziva’s life onNCISwas filled with cliffhangers and unanswered questions.NCIS: Tony & Zivamust not follow that trend. Their slow-burn relationship was powerful but also left the characters in a lot of pain. As a result,NCIS: Tony & Zivaneeds to be careful about how it tells Tony and Ziva’s stories. If the show’s writers want to continue the slow-burn trope, they must also create a satisfying conclusion to avoid repeating history.
Their slow-burn relationship was powerful but also left the characters in a lot of pain.
Besides thinking about the show’s ending,NCIS: Tony & Zivacould also create a complete, satisfying story byrevealing details about Tony and Ziva’s past. How they fell in love, how Ziva felt when she discovered she was pregnant, and what it was like raising Tali are all fascinating questions that are also integral to the couple’s history. As a lot of time has passed between Tony and Ziva’s last appearances onNCISand their first appearances together in the spinoff, there needs to be some explanations that fill in the missing details.
