‘NCIS’: 5 Things We Need to See From Tony’s Return
Tony’s (Michael Weatherly) reuniting with his former team on NCIS in Season 24 in a major way.
The original series star returns after exiting as a series regular at the end of Season 13, briefly returning for the tribute episode to the late David McCallum and his character, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, in Season 21, and starring in his own spinoff with Cote de Pablo, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, for one season. So far, few details have been revealed about what to expect, other than it’s “a season-long arc.”
That doesn’t keep us from having a list of things we need to see with Tony back on our screens on NCIS. Read ours, then share yours in the comments section below.
Ziva (and Tali)
Simply put, it’s time to see Tony and Ziva together on NCIS. (Both Weatherly and de Pablo returned separately in the time since their exits.) It was a major shock when everyone learned, after Ziva faked her death, that she had her and Tony’s daughter, Tali. We never saw them together onscreen. Then, in their spinoff, they had nearly gotten married, only to split, but were back together by the end. Plus, now that they are a solid family unit with Tali, why would Tony come back to the States for a major arc without Ziva and their daughter?
And a fun bonus would be getting to see Tali with McGee’s (Sean Murray) twins.
Marcell Piti / Paramount+
Tony & McGee team-ups
It was always fun to see Tony and McGee teamed up together, especially in the early days. (“We kind of added and extrapolated onto [the script] and had a lot of fun, and a lot of that made the show in that first decade,” Murray recalled to TV Insider in 2024 after Weatherly’s Season 21 return.) There’s no way that the series doesn’t bring that back, especially to see Tony’s perspective of how much McGee has grown from Probe to now Senior Field Agent.
Plus, we need to see Tony and McGee talking about the latter’s teen son, Mateo (Patrick Keleher), that he just learned about last season. After all, Tony was around 18 years ago when McGee was in the relationship with his mother. And it’s very possible that, depending on what exactly happened between Mateo and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) in the last scene of the finale — the agent confronted the teen about suspicious behavior, and someone fired a shot — McGee’s going to need his old friend by his side for support.
Tony’s in touch with Gibbs
It’s the perfect way to get a crossover between NCIS and the prequel, NCIS: Origins, with Mark Harmon reprising his role as Gibbs in the latter for all 10 of its Season 3 episodes. It would be great to see Tony visiting Gibbs in Alaska, though a phone call — or even just one side of it — would work, too.
Tony and Palmer talks
Remember when Tony started turning to Palmer (Brian Dietzen) for advice? Both have come a long way since those days, but let’s have something that harkens back to them.
Mention of Vance’s funeral
When LL COOL J reprised his role as Sam Hanna ahead of his new spinoff, NCIS: New York, he mentioned that he was at Vance’s (Rocky Carroll) funeral. It’s hard to imagine that Tony and Ziva weren’t there as well, but let’s get it said onscreen that they were.
NCIS, Season 24, Fall 2026, Tuesdays, 8/7c, CBS
Conversation28 Comments
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F
Hopefully Tony will have changed from a wisecracking belittling jerk that he was in the original NCIS
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G
His character had long since evolved from that in the last 3 seasons he was in
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L
But that's why he was so loved!
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K
I miss Tony. The humor has been gone from the show since he has been gone. Wilmer Valderama is funny but Michael Weatherly has that natural comic timing.
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A
But cote establish the funny office dinamics with mcgee. Always ziva. Because with kate there wasn't caramediere.
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X
This whole premise feels like visiting your high school a year after you graduate. There's no reason or need to have this character come back. Why would they need to acknowledge he was at Vance's funeral? Why does he need to be in touch with Gibbs? DiNozzo is a middle aged man. Time to let go of the Gibbs adulation. This is all so weird.
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D
I have to agree, tine to move on. This group meshes very well
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L
I am so excited, I loved Tony, don't care if Ziva shows, but it would be nice if he at least mentioned her from time to time. However she could come around like Delila, from time to time to help.
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J
I am waiting to see McGee's twins. We have seen everyone's kids but his: Vance, Tony & Ziva, Palmer, Hanna, and even Kelly in all the flashbacks.
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A
I want to see isla gue as tali dinozzo and a little brother for tali, a third dinozzo.
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C
I like Tony, but do not want Ziva to return...never did like her.
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A
ALL THE FANS WANT TO SEE THE WEDDING OF TONY AND ZIVA, HONEYMOON IN AN ISLAND, A LITTLE BROTHER FOR TALI, ISLA GIE AS TALI DINOZZO, TALI MEETING PALMER AND MCGEE KIDS.
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J
I like Ziva. Part of me does wonder if it would have been Kate if she wasn't killed.
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A
ZIVA IS WHAT MADE NCIS A HIT. NOT THE SNOBBISH KATE. WITH THE SNOBBISH KATE, NCIS WAS ONE OF THE MANY BORING FRANCHISE. ZIVA, SUCH AN ORIGINAL CARACTER NEVER SEEN ON TV, MADE NCIS A HIT AMONG THE OTHERS. IF WOULDN'T BE FOR ZIVA, DINOZZO WUOLD HAD REMAINED A DEPRESSED CLOWN PLAYBOY. KUDOS ONLY TO COTE AND HER HUMBLENESS.
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A
Instrad i never liked the snobbish of kate. Also weaterly is snobbish in life. I don't like snobbish people.
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B
I hope they don't make DiNozzo Director, as that would be very lazy writing. Bringing him back will undermine building McGee's character up.
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R
Could do without Tony again. Really hope they don't make him the director.
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M
I didn't miss Tony
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H
The cast works really well together. Please don't make Tony the director. No readon to bring him back. I'll be gone.
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B
The show has matured and grown. Hopefully so has Tony. LOVED Ziva and she needs to be acknowledged the same as Delila and everyone else's families.
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V
The perfect director would hetty
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S
that's a great idea. Never thought about Hetty. I loved her on NCIS: LA. Not the same without her.
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K
I would love for him to be the new acting director
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J
Not looking forward to have Tony back at all. He degraded the team and mouth is disgraceful. I hope they put him on as the new director, McGee deserves it. I really enjoy the cast that has been on it is a welcome change!!!
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D
I would be happy to see Tony and Gibbs return and being able to get along together
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P
So does Tonys coming back mean Torres is dead killed by Mateo???
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K
I’m looking forward to Tony’s McNicknames for McGee and I hope he left Ziva I can’t stand her. She’s awful and she just wanted to change Tony and was so critical.
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A
Ziva made tony serious. So well done ziva
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