Michael Weatherly (Tony) #19

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When DiNozzo cries for Ziva’s departure.

The two-parter episode that starts season 11 marks the departure of the fiery Ziva, played by Cote de Pablo. Confessions of Michael Weatherly, alias DiNozzo, her smitten partner.

(the literal translation would be numb with love, which I love, but I don’t know if it’d make sense in proper English…)

At the beginning of this season, which corresponds to NCIS’s 10th anniversary on M6, nothing’s right for DiNozzo anymore. The special agent quit his job at NCIS in support to his boss, Gibbs, who was targetted in a recent case. His partner, Ziva David, who he’s in love with, has gone back to Israel, her homeland. And he’s going to be the object of a murder threat…

T7J: DiNozzo is going to Tel Aviv to find Ziva, but the lovely brunette won’t come back to Washington with him. Are you satisfied with the way Ziva’s character left the show?

MW: Absolutely. This intense storyline follows up Ziva’s story: the murder of her father, the fact that she feels lost and is looking for her place. The writers coherently integrated Cote de Pablo’s decision to leave. American fans are demanding her return. And I miss Cote a lot.

T7J: Tony and Ziva played a platonic “I love you/I love you not” game for 8 seasons. We’ll never see them in a real relationship now. Isn’t it frustrating for the faithful fans?

MW: But they did share a real relationship! You know, sex is not necessarily the most important part of a real lovestory. Ask any married couple, especially one with young children. Tony and Ziva shared a deep bond, they had the same sense of fun but they also knew how to maintain some mystery between them.

T7J: How does Tony react to Ziva’s departure?

MW: He stays true to his usual defense mecanism: humor. Ziva’s decision is like a romantic break up. Tony is going to go through an existential crisis. We’ll learn that he is part of a men’s support group.

T7J: Were you disappointed by Cote de Pablo’s sudden decision to leave NCIS?

MW: Disappointed, no. Sad on the moment, yes. Cote is a remarkable actress and a very close friend of mine. She wants to focus on doing movies. Selfishly, I would have loved for her to stay because she’s very funny and talented.

T7J: Her last day on set must have been emotional….

MW: Oh yes! The goodbye scene is the last scene we shot. No need to use fake tears on my face. For Cote neither. We then went back to our trailers, arm in arm, and I gave her a big kiss.

T7J: NCIS has been a huge hit in France for 10 years now. Do you have a particular bond with our country?

MW: I do. I went there for the first time in 1988. And I fell in love with your capital city. My first date with my wife, Bojana, was in Paris. I’m also grateful to M6 for NCIS’s success there.

T7J: You have 2 young children: Olivia, 22 months old, and Liam, 4 months old. Is it hard to be both a full-time actor and a devoted father?

MW: Yes. With my wife’s close pregnancies, I spent my time eating. I need to lose weight. When I see myself on screen, I think: “What happened to DiNozzo, he looks tired.”. I hope that the viewers think it’s because of Ziva’s departure. Tony is sad so he compensates with food!