For all of August, Cote de Pablo has been the center of all “NCIS” headlines. Her departure shocked fans. It left them crippled, asking how their lives could have taken such a drastic turn for the worst. She’s a staple on the show. She’s a fixture that cannot be replaced, figuratively, of course. Although Pablo’s Ziva was, and still is, one of the most beloved characters on the show, that doesn’t mean it’s going to stop in its tracks once she’s gone. There’s plenty more on the “NICS” menu, which means there’s more to look forward to as the 11th season rapidly approaches.
According to TVLine, Tim’s new geeky computer girlfriend, Delilah is an admirable substitute for McAbby. While some fans feared she may just be a clone, executive producer Gary Glasberg can assure you that won’t be the case. “I’d like to believe that maybe he’s drawn to people like that and is intrigued by women like that, but I wouldn’t say that [Abby and Delilah] are that similar,” he said. “They have their differences, that’s for sure.”
As for Ziva, because let’s admit it, it’s on everybody’s mind, she won’t be leaving in a body bag. Phew. We can all take a long sigh of relief. "It's not what this character deserves," Glasberg said. "Also, [we killed off] Sasha Alexander's Kate character [back in season 2] and I like the idea of doing this one a little different and respecting who [Ziva] is."
The first two episodes of will be more than a mournful and reminiscent goodbye. It will continue to show more of who Ziva is, allowing fans to get to know her character even better upon until her point of departure. Glasberg hints that viewers will get a rare peek at "what makes Ziva tick" in the two part farewell, adding, "In the second episode we learn why she's going to make the decision she's going to make... We put a lot into that storyline, so I hope it works for people."
“NCIS” will return to CBS on September 24.