NCIS: Tony & Ziva spoilers tease showrunner John McNamara teases an alternate ending was filmed which may be a potential premiere for a season two. Read on to see what might happen.
The Enemy Of My Enemy?
In the Season 1 finale of their exciting Paramount+ spinoff, Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) must team up to stop Jonah Markham (Julian Ovenden).
They join forces with Martine Aranow (Nassima Benchicou), who had been framing them.
Together, they save Tali David (Isla Gie), who Jonah kidnapped, and thwart his evil plans for 9.4, created by hacker Boris Pescov (Maximilian Osinski).
They also redirect a weapons drone targeting Jonah, only to find Tali is also in danger. Everything worked out okay, other than Jonah dying.
Everything Was Okay
In the end, everything works out: Tony and Ziva are exonerated, Jonah is arrested but dies in prison, likely due to Martine’s scheme, and she advances in Interpol.
Tony and Ziva reunite with Tali’s support, and Ziva gifts Tony a framed photo of Tony’s late friend Henry Rayner-Hunt (James D’Arcy) and Tali.
Additionally, Boris might join Tony and Claudette Caron’s (Amita Suman) company after Fruzsi Gortva (Anne-Marie Waldeck) tricked him and stole his money.
Below, showrunner John McNamara discusses the finale, shares changes made in the final cut, and hints at what Season 2 might bring. (The series has not been renewed yet.)
The Trust Problem
Interviewer: Tony and Ziva are back together and seem to be making it work. You’ve shown how much they trust each other now, which has been a problem in the past, especially in this finale. Trust was essential for their future-right?
McNamara: Yes. It’s funny, some fans asked me about it, but I didn’t respond because I said to watch the show-many fans were upset that they weren’t together in Episode 1.
My answer has always been, you need them to be apart for the story to bring them together-otherwise, there’s no story.
Thrilling Thriller Aspect
Interviewer: I find the thriller aspect fun to plot; I’m a Bond fan, and so is Michael Weatherly-we enjoy espionage and spies, and we could explore these themes for years.
We’ve been friends for 30 years, but I told Cote and Michael from the start, this is a love story-we’ll use the thriller to connect these characters because they’re too stubborn otherwise. Without Jonah Markham, they wouldn’t have come together.
Ending the season with them in a good place is important, both as a couple and as individuals, especially after Ziva’s talk about wanting to kill Jonah. It’s not completely resolved, but she’s in a much better place than in the flashbacks we saw this season.
McNamara Speaks On The Thriller Aspect
McNamara: Absolutely-that was planned; the original ending was different—darker and more of a cliffhanger.
After reviewing the cut and seeing the actors’ and director’s great work, I felt a strong connection to Tony and Ziva in that apartment with Henry’s picture. It felt like the right conclusion-if we do something big and thrilling, let’s save that for Season 2, if it happens.
The original ending was well done, but I decided to end on a calm note instead of a high point. By the end of this episode, you feel drained, and a more intense ending didn’t seem right.
What Cliffhanger?
Interviewer: What was that cliffhanger you had in mind? McNamara: I can’t reveal it because it would spoil the start of Season 2, which isn’t in production yet-however, everything else would have remained unchanged.
It would have just added something extra-yes, we filmed it, edited it, and added the score; it turned out great, and it was really well executed.
Interviewer: Yet, it somehow felt off-we witnessed how their previous attempt at marriage unfolded. Do you view them as a couple willing to try again or do you think they should focus on deepening their commitment to each other before considering another wedding?
McNamara Wasn’t Sure
McNamara: I’m not entirely sure-that’s a question for Season 2. A significant amount will hinge on-I believe I’ll begin by identifying the most emotionally charged situation I can place them in, while ensuring that the audience isn’t subjected to excessive discomfort.
Following that, I’ll explore how this narrative can, in a sense, challenge the relationship without completely involving them.
Currently, the relationship is strong, so it’s time to put it to the test. Season 2 will serve as a stress test.
What About A Wedding?
Interviewer: So, are you focusing more on external factors now that the internal ones were what really kept them apart in Season 1? McNamara: Yes; additionally, what’s interesting is that external factors can lead to new internal ones.
The wedding guest list we saw in the flashback on that piece of paper featured several of their former colleagues. Interviewer: Oh my goodness, you are incredibly skilled at this.
If they were to get married, would there be a major crossover, or would you prefer to handle it similarly to how you approached the flashbacks this season and work around that?
McNamara Would Love To See A Crossover
McNamara: I would absolutely love to see some sort of crossover, I genuinely would. I think the entire franchise is fantastic; I had the chance to get to know Brian [Dietzen] a bit at Comic-Con, and he seems like a lot of fun. As both a showrunner and a fan, I believe it would be exciting if we could make it happen.
However, one of the challenges is that I can’t envision a scenario where this show isn’t filmed in Europe while they are in LA, New Orleans, Sydney, or Hawai’i. So, that presents a bit of a challenge in terms of scheduling, but things can always work out-you never know.
Is There A Connection Between Martine And Ziva Or Tony?
Interviewer: I was anticipating some kind of connection between Martine and either Ziva or Tony, or perhaps both, from their past.
Is that something we can expect in the future, or should we dismiss that possibility? McNamara: I’ve never considered that before; it’s an interesting thought-you should definitely write an episode.
Interviewer: At this stage, how much do Tony and Ziva trust Martine, and what about her trust in them; how does that dynamic evolve moving forward? They had to rely on each other under very specific circumstances.
They’re Glad Martine Is A Better Person Than They Thought, But Ziva’s Not Fooled Easily
McNamara: Yes, I would say they feel quite relieved and pleased that she has proven to be a better person than they initially believed, but they’re not foolish, especially Ziva.
She is not easily deceived; I believe she trusts Martine only as much as she can manage her, which seems to be about five feet, considering the altercation in Episode 8.
Interviewer: What do you think that relationship will look like moving forward, is it simply a matter of mutual benefit, or will they prefer to keep their distance unless necessary?
McNamara: Honestly, I’m not sure; you might have better insights than I do. I don’t want to give away any spoilers for Season 2, but I definitely want Martine to be involved.
Why Was Martine Left Advancing At Interpol After Jonah’s Death?
Interviewer: Martine arranged Jonah’s death and is advancing at Interpol; why did you choose to leave her on that note? McNamara: I thought it was entertaining-much of what I do, like many writers, is based on instinct; What would keep me engaged with the show?
I always consider that everyone has a remote in their hand, and if they lose interest, they switch it off and start watching Tulsa King, so I found it intriguing.
Firstly, I believed she could do that, without a doubt. I also thought it tarnished her redemption a bit, and it raises questions about her future.
How Concerning Is Having Had Jonah Killed For Martine In That Leadership Role?
Interviewer: Yes, I was going to ask, how concerning is it for her in that leadership role? Even after her talk with Dejan Lazar (Velibor Topic) about dealing with their sins, she still seems like a significant threat, depending on what else from her past might resurface.
McNamara: Yes, remember in Episode 7 or 8, I think it was 7, where Lazar suggests that Martine’s father is a very influential, very sinister figure in the espionage world.
In a way, she reflects Ziva; that was part of the intention because Ziva was trained by her father from a young age, as we know. And I believe Martine had a similar but even darker upbringing-so I think there are intriguing elements there.
What About Boris Working For Tony’s Company?
Interviewer: Boris is working for Tony’s company; that would be funny, is it really possible; would Boris take an office job, he’s broke now, so he might have to.
McNamara: Exactly-he’s completely out of money, and I think he’s less likely to commit crimes now that he’s with Claudette.
She influenced him more than he influenced her; she helped him set boundaries and understand loyalty and family-I believe he enjoys being part of a family.
He had a rough childhood-in Episode 2, it’s suggested he was in a closet and had to lie about coding. It must be a relief for him not to hide anymore, but leopards don’t change their spots completely, so he might still be up to something.
What About Fruzsi, What’s Up With Him And Her?
Interviewer: What about Fruzsi and her true nature-when Season 1 ended, did you see that as a potential storyline for him-would he pursue her or leave it behind?
McNamara: I honestly don’t know, I’m not being; evasive; I really have no idea. Interviewer: What did you enjoy about Boris’s ending in Season 1?
McNamara: I like when bold characters lose their bravado, revealing their true selves-Fruzsi represented that bravado for him-she was supportive and in love with him, or so he thought. He was deeply in love with her, and it completely changed his life as a writer; I love that-Max performed excellently.
Tali Has Mixed Feelings About Her Parents Remarrying
Interviewer: There were subtle hints that suggested there was more to her than what appeared on the surface. McNamara: Absolutely.
Interviewer: So, Tali had a deep affection for her; I love how you can really see the influence of Tony and Ziva in her character, particularly during the cabin scenes.
Then there’s her mixed feelings about her parents reconciling, while also playfully engaging with them about it in the finale. This really contributes an extra dimension to the family dynamic.
The Dynamic Was Definitely Present
McNamara: I believe the dynamic was present, especially in Episode 7 when she asked, are you two getting back together, to which they replied, no-and she responded, good.
Throughout the season, they conceal the fact that they had a night together- I sense they might be a bit intimidated by her. She’s quite a force, as is the actress portraying her; Isla is fantastic; their primary concern is her happiness, that’s their top priority.
They aim to be good parents; therefore, they likely both feel a significant amount of guilt regarding the canceled wedding, yet Tali seems okay with it, which I think catches them off guard.
What’s really surprising is her complete lack of interest in them reconciling, and now that they are, she’s going to have a little fun at their expense.
What Are The Chances For A Second Season?
Interviewer: That was really good-how do you feel about the chances of a second season? McNamara: I’m not a pessimist, but I’m also not an optimist; I’m a realist, and it all depends on the data and the numbers.
How many viewers are there, how many subscriptions; did they stick with the season, did it grow, are they going to binge-watch?
People can binge it now-all these factors matter, I believe everyone at the studio and Paramount+ is quite pleased with the show creatively.
Honestly, I just don’t know the numbers; they usually get shared 30 days after the last episode airs-we’ll be having Thanksgiving turkey when I finally get the numbers.
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