Comments from actress Cote de Pablo seemed to indicate that she would not be interested in reprising her role as Ziva, and fans had reason to give up hope when she didn’t even appear in Michael Weatherly’s final episode.
The Season 16 reveal that Ziva is likely alive was exciting but hardly guaranteed a return.
Ziva David’s story on NCIS seemed over and done with ever since it was stated that she died in Israel, leaving Tony to raise the daughter she’d never told him about.