NCIS Recap: Season 13 Episode 23 -- Is [Spoiler] Dead? 

Season 13/series vet Michael Weatherly’s run, the manhunt for rogue spy Jacob Scott took some twists and turns — none bigger, though, than the one that put former team member Ziva David in the cross hairs.

NCIS: Cote de Pablo Not Returning for Michael Weatherly’s Send-Off

In the wake of Fornell being put in the ICU by the latest attack, Gibbs vowed to the team, “We’re going to find Jacob Scott and we’re going to kill him” — a game plan wholeheartedly supported by Fornell’s daughter Emily. Or at the very least, Gibbs assures the vengeful young woman, “[Scott] is not going to have a good week.”

As the manhunt forges on, Gibbs’ team is assisted by FBI agent Tess Monroe (who can be very intense, a bit flirty) and MI-6 agent Clayton Reeves (equal parts swagger and sass). Next on Scott’s hit list are two off-grid former spies, Dresser and Kane. Dresser is found dead in his home, where Reeves and CIA vet Trent Kort (now sporting two eyes) have just had a clash. (Kort found Reeves standing over Dresser’s dead body and feared the worst, unaware that Scott had escaped prison.)

Monroe and McGee stake out Kane’s home, and soon enough the former is chugging after and tackling the dirty agent, who apparently helped Scott sell secrets back in the day. Kane claims to not know where Scott now is, but points the team to the Brit’s longtime safe house in a motel — which is now a “spa.” There, security cam video shows Scott accessing a secret stash, then calling up a computer file on…

VIDEOSMichael Weatherly Leaving NCIS: Get a First Look at Tony’s Teary Send-Off

As more and more evidence surfaces suggesting that Scott is next targeting Ziva, as a means to hit those close to the NCIS family, the “most wanted” spy shows up at the Navy Yard to surrender, avowing that he has been framed and has had no role in any of the killings. And Gibbs’ gut believes the guy. Scott says that Mossad director Eli David had private files that could prove his innocence in the “selling secrets to Russians” imbroglio, and he assumed Ziva inherited them. Scott came to Gibbs knowing that he’s a guy who won’t stop until he gets at the truth — which in this case will prove Scott innocent.

In quick succession, Abby reports that Scott’s fingerprints from the kill scenes were

perfect, having been cribbed from his official file, while the blood at Dresser’s murder scene matches… Trent Kort. And now Kort has gone AWOL, ditching his cell at the zoo. Then, just as Gibbs & Co. put a BOLO out on the recently canned spook, a news report comes over the television, about a terror attack on a farmhouse in Israel, now engulfed in flames — also known as the place where Ziva is (was?) suspected of living.

VIDEOSMichael Weatherly Leaving NCIS: Will There Be Tears? Is Tony the Only Exit? And More Burning Qs Answered

Do you think NCIS just killed Ziva? And whatever the case, how will this chain of events factor into Michael Weatherly’s final episode, airing next week?

Part of me is hoping Tony will find her alive, but I don’t know what to believe. A lot of reports said they didn’t ask Cote back for filming. But if they really did kill her off offscreen, that’s messed up. To kill off a main character who spent 8 seasons on the show in an offscreen explosion is pretty unfair, both to the character and the fans.

I agree. It’s a slap in the face to the Ziva fans who have remained loyal to the show. Plus GG stated Tony’s departure would be satisfying for the fans. But then he also promised the TIVA fans a great ending, so he can’t be trusted to deliver. I will absolutely never watch this show again if they kill Ziva.

Really? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Ziva fan (less of a Tiva fan), but I assume you’ve been watching the past few seasons without the character. Why would her death really matter, especially with Tony leaving?

You can’t say GG didn’t deliver – yet. You haven’t seen next week’s episode. Maybe Tony goes to Israel, finds her alive, and decides to stay

that’s exactly how I’ve thought this finale would end for a very long time. They’ll still throw all the bells and whistles and a few misfires just to try throwing us off, but I think he’s going to be staying in Israel and becoming “Mr. Ziva.” I’m hoping they don’t kill off Fornell, I’ve loved Joe Spano since his “Hill Street Blues” days!. We have a history here, they just can’t kill him off!! LOL

Finales that have been over-hyped are a bad thing these days. Too many do it, and they’re never as good or as satisfying as you hope they’ll be.

The one person I’m hoping they leave alone, but a reference was made tonight that made me nervous, is Jimmy Palmer. That female FBI agent that is supposedly filling in for Fornell said that he was a “bit chatty” and could be made to spill what he knew with no problems. Makes me feel like something is up with Jimmy. I hope not, I’ve not seen his baby or, for that matter, his little family together in person at the squad room on the show!!!

I think that she was not in the farm house and Ziva and Tony will make a guest appearance and have a brief get together before Tony leaves or shortly after he leaves. Tony would stay if Ziva came back , her leaving was said to be one of the reasons Tony is leaving the show and I believe that, they had a very special connection.

She had it coming. You don’t leave a show when scripts are already written.

If the writers had written scripts/episodes before Cote had renewed her contract, then that’s their fault. She didn’t like the direction they were taking her character that she’d spent 8 years playing so she had every right to leave if she was no longer happy. If I worked in one job for 8 years straight, I’d probably leave after that long too.

Ziva couldn’t have been at/in the house. It’s her legacy to survive even the most hopeless situations. She had to make “it” right “for him,” Gibbs. (Mak8ng Gibbs proud, dedicating her life to finishing “it” and find herself, claim her life back.) She would have been off attending to that aim. Maybe Ziva is back as an undercover operative for Mossad or another agency. Or could she have a husband (or wife) and family now, perhaps achieving her goal?

2 episodes left to say goodbye to Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo… Where was he?? & I’m still hoping that MW’s exit is all about Tony & not Tiva.

And FBI Agent Tess Monroe is absolutely horrible. NCIS only needs one FBI agent and that’s Fornell.

Agree also. Where was Tony? The writers should have watch Criminal Minds’ sign off for Derek.

I mean, I know MW’s time was spent making his pilot, but so far we haven’t really got much “tony-time”

Once again Tony was MIA most of the ep. Felt like he’s already been dismissed and sent on his way. What a big FU for thirteen years and helping to make the show #1. They spent half the episode spotlighting the new agents and the other half with yet more of the never ending Ziva angst. Tony’s exit seems to be about everyone BUT Tony.

I don’t understand this anymore. Your right, seems to be about everyone but Tony.

I have now lost hope that we will see Tony remain in Law Enforcement. Loving the respect for Tony as a character – he’s a cop, it’s who he is. Or rather, who’s he meant to be. Seems like we’re going to have another leaving to find themselves exit.

You wouldn’t know MW was one of the original stars of the show and has been the heart of the show for ages. And we’re going back to the tive have MW hated? Disrespectful.

You really wouldn’t would you? We’ll have to wait and see what next week brings I guess.

One things for sure, when the show eventually ends, I’ll be waiting in anticipation for the official biographies of Weatherly, Harmon, de Pablo, Murray and Perrete to see what everyone really thinks once the potential need to be politic about everyone, cast and crew, is done with.

Where MW was and what real-life reasons there might be for absence, who knows. But Tony was travelling all over the place chasing folks in prev episodes.

Too many scenes with Mr. Bond and not enough Tony. They can sell him next year, leave this year to Tony.

No wonder MW wants to leave. Even in the final episodes before he leaves they still can’t seem to spend any time on his character. I just can’t figure out how a show that had this character down so great let the ball drop and the character struggling to find his way out of the pit they stuck him in!

I believe the scripts were altered to show less MW: 1) Bull pilot; 2) transition to other characters; 3) testing how the show would work without Tony, etc. Remember this is show BUSINESS and NCIS is a valuable property I don’t think it’s personal or trying to ‘punish’ MW. They are probably ok losing his salary for budget reasons anyway.

My take is that the show is less about Tony now to ease the transition of him no longer on the show. I don’t like the FBI agent but can get used to Reeves. Will just have to see how the last episode is…

Pretty much agree–not enough Tony, Thumbs Down on Agent Monroe. However, I really have no problem with a Tony and Ziva reunion, Whatever Tony’s reason for leaving, it should be a fully-realized one, and not something thrown together while the show auditions new agents.

I agree about Tess; she’s almost as annoying as Bishop. Reeves is OK, but has to learn to speak more clearly.

After the type of part Ziva played, am I the only one who feels that Bishop should not have been cast into the new agent role?

There wasn’t any Ziva at all. They mentioned her name. Big whoop

…. too much reference to Ziva in this show … really could care less how much screen time Tony gets : he’s leaving the series …. he’ll get an appropriate send off in the season finale … both ‘possible’ replacements were OK but wouldn’t rate either a ‘keeper’, by any means … more important to me, it was a pleasure to see a case based story line for a change, instead of the the character driven episodes, (YAWN), that have been far, far too prevalent this season. . . .

Chance are highly likely that Ziva is toast. This is NCISbthe show that loves to kill off many a female actresses. What better way to have Tony move on them to finally out the nail in the TIVA coffin. Not thatninamnfor it but I can’t see them having Tonynleave to run around looking for Ziva. Been there and done that. Now could he move on with that love gone I certainly think that’s where we might be headed. I guess we will tune in next week to find out.

Killing off Ziva just proves to the masses what we already knew, Gary Glasberg is a bitter troll who did his best to ruin Tiva from the second he was hired.

I will never watch this show again if she is dead.

Aww that’s to bad so that means only 20 Million minus 1 will be watching. How will they go on.

Considering how much time they’ve spent the few weeks promoting the fact it’s Weatherly’s last 3 episodes, you’d expect a little more Tony.

And seriously? Making it about Ziva, when Tony was around before and after she left is just… Wrong.

Ziva is part of Tony. Ziva wasn’t in a single scene of this episode so not sure why you are whining about her name being mentioned

I’m whining because I expected more. Yes, Zivas a big part of Tony, but Tony is more than just Ziva. Its not even that it’s Ziva. I would’ve been just as annoyed if they were focusing on Zoe or Jeanne.

I wanted to see kick ass agent Tony, maybe finally take that promotion he has long deserved. Not a Tony chasing after women. I was just disappointed.

Two more episodes. You’ll get what you want in the last one, which will probably be all about Tony as we’ve been told that Cote de Pablo isn’t in the last episode. Tony will probably bid a married Ziva goodbye in the next episode and then have the last episode all to himself and Senior

Ziva is more important to the show than Zoe or Jeanne, who already had two episodes about her this season. Ziva was a part of Tony’s story for 8 seasons, if the show is going to honor Tony, they have to do that justice.

Oh dear God, get over it she wanted to leave. At this point I’m glad Tony is leaving so we don’t have to hear about Ziva and their epic love story. This show is bigger then one character though if we listen to you NCIS is Ziva. Guess what, she’s gone and the show survived as a matter of fact the ratings did nothing. Time to move on.

Wish they would focus more on Tony and less on Ziva. She is gone and we need a proper goodbye for Tony.

I’m hoping next week is about TONY. He deserves his own send off after spending 15 years with Gibbs (2 pre-series). If it’s to go off to Israel to be with his former teammate it will be a huge letdown and a slap in the face to Michael who played a character in his own right well before Season 3.

I don’t think Ziva is dead, but Tony will leave to be with her. I DO NOT like Tess Monroe at all. Reeves has potential but while Sarah Clarke is a good actress the character is not!

This will be what propels Tony to realize his love for Ziva is worth leaving NCIS and riding off into the sunset to find her once it is confirmed she wasn’t at the farm and is not dead. Makes the Tiva fans happy and gives a plausible exit for DiNozzo. On with the new characters.

And what about the fans who are not Tiva fans? I believe most Ziva/Tiva fans are gone after this season so why try to please them? If your scenario turns out to be true not only will most Tiva fans stop watching many non-Tiva fans will stop watching… Like me.

i don’t understand why you would stop watching. I like all the characters and think it will be nice to get some newbies and storylines. Gibbs, Abby and McGee are the foundational characters. Tony obviously longed for Ziva so since Cote & Michael both wanted off the show, i think it is good for the show to send them off together. I am indifferent about Tiva.

Are you taking Tiva or non- Tiva fans melody?

I happen to agree with BJG77 though, regardless, I feel fans of both categories will stop watching should they end with Tony chasing her across the world.

I enjoyed the episode. Fast paced with twists and turns. Too soon to see how the newbies will fit in, so I’m willing to give them a chance. Hope they take the edge off Tess a bit.

I, for one, would love to see Tony reunite with Ziva. Tho I’m not a big shipper, it would make the most sense. He obviously still cares for her. So, I certainly hope she’s alive.

For having had as much time as they’ve had to do a decent job to say goodbye to Tony DiNozzo, they’ve done a pretty poor job of writing so far. It’s almost as if they literally pulled names out of a jar from past episodes to bring in characters that have crossed Tony’s path. I can only hope next week’s episode goes much better than tonight’s.

Too little Tony given his long known exit. What this episode and last he had better things to do? Just odd.

The Ziva stuff is an unnecessary distraction, especially how underused Tony has been.

The new FBI agent is entertaining a tough attitude would add to the team.

I am going to be so pissed the hell off if they just killed ziva. and don’t even get me started on that cowardly, bastardly son of a bitch traitor kort

I wish there was more Tony and I could see him getting a promotion to an overseas location or doing a liaison position with Mi6. Yet can we talk about Emily? She really did scream Diane’s child in several scenes.

Ziva’s not dead and the Tivites may still get their happy ending after all, albeit offscreen. My guess is Ziva killed Kort andnow Tony will go off to find her.

IMO keep the Brit and lose the FBI agent or tone her down Alot. I just found her unlikeable.

Emily channeling Diane at the hospital was a hoot. Future shows should note her pedicure and painting threat techniques in rousing comatose patients.

Disappointed they made Kort the bad guy. Like him or not at least he was always an interesting character.

One more episode to go. Whatever causes him to leave I just hope most of the episode revolves around Tony. Hasn’t been enough of him in these last episodes.

Killing ziva would actually be a great way for Tony to leave.

Another female agent, friend, whatever that he cared deeply about is killed and he couldn’t save her.

Misguided though it may be, Tony feels guilty, takes the blame himself and decides he can’t do the job anymore.

Tiva fans can squee because Tony couldn’t carry on without her.

Those who weren’t the biggest ziva/tiva fans finally see the back of the character and the tease of will they/won’t they.

The show gets to re-boot. Start looking forward to the future, not stay buried in the past.

I think she’s dead. This is their way of putting the nail on a coffin. You don’t leave a show the way she did. She left when scripts were already written. Thats not a good thing to do.

Killing her off will make Tony want to reevaluate his life and we will never hear the word Ziva again.

Also when there is a final episode of NCIS….Michael Weatherly left the show on GOOD TERMS and will likely be in the final episode.

By killing of Ziva…its gives the Tivaites a bone (they can leave a ruin another show with their Mary Sue Cliches) And Tony…leaves to start fresh.

If they wrote scripts before Cote renewed her contract and they knew for sure she was coming back, then that’s on them. They should have been more prepared and planned for her staying or leaving.

Very disappointed that Michael was given so little air time, which he so richly deserved.

And…if you killed off Ziva you may have lost one of your biggest fans. Hope the finale

I totally agree. For them making a big deal about Michael Weatherly’s final 2 episodes, he had very little air time. He hasn’t had much of a story line these last two seasons, I am so disappointed about that!! He has done so much for that show. He/and the fans deserve more!! I also did not like the new character’s, especially the famale FBI agent. Could not stand her.

Still hoping that Tony’s exit is not going to be sacrificed on the alter of an overly vocal minority.

15 years as an NCIS Agent in his own right – not as an addendum, +1, sidekick, dead weight or afterthought to an unbelievable character and nonexistent ‘love’ interest – Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo deserves an exit wholly about *him*.

After 13 years on NCIS, Michael Weatherly deserves to be remembered as a loyal and classy guy who tolerated far more than he should have to, on and off screen, it is such a shame the tptb aren’t as gracious as he has been they should be ashamed of themselves.

Will I continue to watch next season, I still don’t know. But Agent Monroe is not appealing and holds no draw for me. Clayton Reeves has potential – hope it’s not wasted…

If Ziva was alive but badly injured Tony would take a Leave of Absense to care for her

I thought this was a pretty good episode. I’m not all that torn up about Tony not being in the episode that much; they are, after all, trying to set up a new team dynamic since Weather CHOSE to leave the series. It’s likely he was filming his new pilot while trying to finish the final episodes. The only character I found annoying was that of Emily. Bad, way over the top acting.

Emily is supposed to be like her mother Diane–brash, loud, bossy. I think it was a bit funny watching her. Did not like the FBI agent Monroe…annoying and too intense. MI6 agent Reeves was OK. I hope the last episode is very good. I’d rather see Tony get his own team, but I am thinking it might be about him going to Ziva which is kind of anticlimactic.

I hope she isn’t dead. I don’t think I could watch the dvds knowing that she was killed off in this fashion.

I was flipping back and forth between the Flash and NCIS but the minute I heard Ziva’s name, NCIS had all my interest. (My guess is we get to see Ziva next episode to wrap that story up and then it’s only about Tony in the last episode, disappointing all Tiva fans.)

I really like Tess Monroe, I could tune back in for her. Reeves seems sort of meh though.

I hope this isn’t the end of Trent Kort. I always liked his very shady grey.

Guessing this will be how Tony leaves. He will leave NCIS to go to Israel to look for Ziva and/or Cort. He won’t be able to rest until he finds out whether she is alive or dead.

I said Ziva is not dead ’cause I can’t bear that to be the case. I think Ziva is alive and Tony goes to Israel to find her, with or without her knowledge. Some life-changing event then occurs in Tony’s life. Could he be joining Mossad as a liaison? I am at a loss as to how/why Tony could leave his NCIS family fir anything ither than a great romance. And there have been two: Jean (taken) and Ziva. Oy, my heart aches at any storyline, for everyone.

Come on? You think they’re going to kill the “Golden Goose”?

I’d put money on ” some kind” of appearance, be it new or a flashback. It will clean up in the ratings

Never gonna happen. She left when scripts were already done.

Why did they have scripts already written if she hadn’t renewed her contract? They should have prepared alternative scripts and been more organised.

With all that’s going on, I’m concerned that Tony’s send-off is going to get shot shrift next week. If so, I’m going to be terribly disappointed.

With all that’s going on, I’m concerned that Tony’s send-off is going to get shot shrift next week. If so, I’m going to be terribly disappointed. Also, I can’t stand FBI Agent Monroe. I liked MI6’s Reeves, though.

Well this recap is much like the ep – precious little Tony. Expected better from NCIS and the excuse for the lack of Tony given by the writer was nothing short of laughable.

I hope the show doesn’t go the route of making it look like Ziva is dead and Tony goes off looking for her because he doesn’t believe it or his heart is so broken he can’t work anymore.

I love tony and I miss Ziva. Not a tiva shipper so wouldn’t matter if they reunite. Just hope he plummels kort. Awaiting that for a long time

Like when Clooney came back in ER for Margulies exit(season 6); they kept it silent and Clooney kept saying that he had not been asked. They filmed 1 minute with him outside the studios; they can do the same now.

That is my thoughts too. Plus wasn’t it mentioned that a show brought someone in for a super secret guest taping

Ziva is dead and Tony goes on a tirade looking for Trent Kort to make him pay although the scenes from his leaving look far less dramatic.

It’s the last two episodes with Tony and instead of giving him a lot of screen time, we get this lame plot about someone targeting Ziva. I was happy to see Ziva go. She held the show and Tony in a rut for years. And I’m sorry that the PTB decided to pander to the Ziva/Tiva fans for Tony’s last two episodes. I hope they don’t have him quit to be with her.

Well we already know that Michael Weatherly stated in an interview that there’s “sudden death” that drives him to leave. At first, Dinozzo Sr. came to mind but, after seeing tonight’s episode who else can it be except Ziva!?! Which breaks my heart to say…

I kind of hope they have killed Ziva, not because I wish any harm to the girl, but I think it will make a stringer reason for Tony to leave. If she is alive and he goes running off after her … AGAIN, I think that makes Tony look very week. He has been rejected by her when she went to Isreal, which was after she slept with someone else after Tony made it fairly clear he had more than work mate feelings for her, and also, after he aced her from Somalia, she also did not pursue anything after her told her he “couldn’t live without her” under truth serum. After all this rejection, if he went after her again it would be very disappointing.

However, if she has died, maybe it would be a slap in the face to realise how much he has missed out on and drive him to have more meaning in his life and to break free the way Ziva did to pursue what she wanted. Or, alternatively, he needs to break away from the team who are a constant reminder of what he had with her and to start fresh.

In relation to the two new agents, I am not a not a fan of the FBI woman. Way to brash and “all knowing” which annoys me. We already have Gibbs for that. However I really liked the MI6 guy. He looks like he can be a bit of fun and he seemed more relaxed in the roll than the woman.

Will be interesting to see how next weeks final plays out. I will certainly miss Tony who has always been my favourite and whether the next season will be able to hold my attention which has been waiting over the last couple of seasons.

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