Exclusive Interview
‘NCIS’ Stars Michael Weatherly & Cote de Pablo Reveal When Tony & Ziva Fell in Love
“It’s complicated.” That’s the best way to describe Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva’s (Cote de Pablo) relationship in their NCIS spinoff, now streaming on Paramount+. (The first three episodes dropped on September 3, and the rest of the season will drop weekly on Thursdays.)
Before they had a daughter together, reunited in 2020, and split some time before 2025, they had a very long, slow burn across de Pablo’s time as a series regular on NCIS (Seasons 3 to 11, with Weatherly exiting two seasons later). In fact, it was a shock when, after word that Ziva had died — or “died,” as we later learned was the truth — Tony learned they had a daughter together. They’ve come a long way from then. But with that history, Swooon had to ask the stars themselves on the NCIS: Tony & Ziva premiere red carpet recently when they thought their characters fell in love with the other.
“When did he know he fell in love or when did he? Because I think that there was an unconscious sort of falling in love. I’ve been married for a long time. I know how this works. … No, it’s exquisite, the feeling of pressure I feel right now,” said Weatherly as de Pablo listened in from nearby. “I think it was love at first sight.”
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He continued, “I think obviously the stars align, but I think really, it culminates when she is taken in Season 6 into Season 7. I think that’s kind of the apex of the acknowledgement when he’s under truth serum, the episode ‘Truth or Consequences.’ And he says he couldn’t live without her.” (That episode was one of the ones that both listed as a favorite when TV Insider spoke with them at San Diego Comic-Con.)
De Pablo had a similar answer. “I think it was early on. I think they sort of got into this flirty thing first, and they both probably felt they were very much in control with the whole thing,” she said. “And then inevitably the inevitable happened, and I think you could sort of track it in a way, Season 3, little by little, and then it gets more and more complex to the point where it gets overwhelming, and then they just have to shut down their feelings.”
She also shared that “there’s a lot” of romantic moments coming up on NCIS: Tony & Ziva, the spinoff tracking the exes on the run together. “It’s a nice little thing for the fan base because I think they’ve been hoping for it for a long time,” she added.
Weatherly specifically pointed to Episode 4 and a moment “on a boat” as one fans should watch out for.
When do you think Tony and Ziva fell in love? What are you hoping to see from the pair in the new spinoff? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva, Thursdays, Paramount+
