First things first: I’m a fan of goofy Tony and his plethora of pop culture references, but when he slid into that seat opposite Michael Rivkin last night — after translating Ziva’s phone conversation with him to track them to a restaurant, then calling her back to the office to get her to leave their table — it was the first time I ever remember chanting "Ton-y! To-ny! To-ny!" It’s nice to be reminded every once in a while why he’s the senior field agent. And, of course, how good he looks in a suit.
That final scene of Tony and Rivkin in Ziva’s apartment, embedded below, practically made me wet myself. Pretty sure the post-commercial teaser shot of Tony on the ground, weapon drawn, was the best one ever. You didn’t want it to be Tony, and yet you totally wanted it to be Tony. Him killing Rivkin must have been that "almost unforgivable" thing Cote de Pablo told us Tony would do to Ziva…From the trailer for next week’s season finale, embedded after the jump, we know she wasn’t lying when she said that Ziva holds a gun to Tony. My heartrate just picked up thinking about it — that’s good TV.
Now we can address the question in the headline and in the season finale promo: Who’s not coming back from the trip to Israel? We’re supposed to think it’s Ziva, and maybe it will be — exec producer Shane Brennan isn’t afraid to divide the team, which we learned in last season’s finale. He’s told us that this story arc carries through to the season 7 premiere, so expect a cliffhanger. (I’m thinking it will turn out to be Director Vance who stays behind for that assignment discussed at the intelligence summit…Any chance Ziva has been working an assignment for Vance that she wasn’t allowed to tell Gibbs about, like when Tony had to date the Frog’s daughter for Jenny?)
P.S. Why didn’t Gibbs reveal that it was Ziva who killed Ari and not him? Because when someone’s loyalty is being questioned, you don’t want to bring up that she turned on her half-brother, even if he was evil (but hot)?
P.P.S. Yay for McGee making a sexy friend.
More ‘NCIS’:
Photo Gallery: NCIS‘ Shane Brennan takes us inside "Legend" and the would-be spinoff
NCIS‘ Cote de Pablo talks Tiva tension and takes the EW Pop Culture Personality Test
Thanks for the NCIS mention! I know this is season finale week for most shows, but last night’s episode of NCIS was fantastic. I’m a huge Tony fan too and I love to see him put on the serious face, especially when Gibbs approves and supports him. It’ll be a bear to see that scene in the trailer where Gibbs questions whether Tony’s motive for the shooting was truly based on self-defense. I don’t know what the ending will bring, but I love serious drama surrounding the team–and I know it’ll be good.
What a nerve-wrecking episode! And it seems the finale will be no different. The summer angst will be worse. I do think the Ari thing will come up again and I want to see the team’s reaction to it.
This will be a tramatic summer waiting for the Fall. really would not like to loose anyone from the cast. This is one of the greatest shows on TV, My family has watched from the the very first day. We were also JAG fans.
Tony was hot hot last night and the final scene great, cant wait till next week.
Great episode. I loved the part where Gibbs stayed to talk to Tony after everyone left and confided that he, too, was troubled by what was going on between Ziva and Michael and he should “stay on it”. As far as Gibb’s not revealing that it was Ziva who shot Ari, I would think it’s because he’s protecting Ziva from the repercussions she might face if her family, Ari’s buddies and the Mossad, back home knew she fired the fatal shot.
The actor who plays “Vance” is so wooden that I hope they kill him off. And I wish they would introduce a new female character who becomes (the new) director. And who creates major sexual tension between her and Gibbs. Shepherd and Gibbs were so hot together. We need a new woman on the team. I miss Kate. I miss Shepherd.
From what i remember the tagline said someone’s not coming home….that could mean that Ziva picks NCIS/Tony over her father and so is not allowed to go back to her home.
Last night’s episode was awesome. Go Tony! I have a feeling that the entire Michael relationship was a ploy from the get go. Ziva’s dad is not above using his children for his own ends. *coughARIcough* What those ends are I haven’t the foggiest. Bring on the finale!
And I wish they would introduce a new female character
With “Kings” no longer around, that should free up Susanna Thompson to return as Col. Mann, if the NCIS ptb have the desire to do so. Yeah, the character is retired, and living in Hawaii, but that doesn’t mean she can’t come back to DC, right?
As to who won’t be coming home, if it’s not Ziva, I have the feeling it’ll be Vance. The SecNav pretty much said that he has a shady past. Could he be some sort of sleeper agent?
I couldn’t STAND Jenny Shepherd and was glad when they killed her off. I wasn’t sure about Vance, but they’ve been adding interesting nuances to his character and want to see where it leads. That fight between Tony and Rivkin was intense. I was getting tired of Goofy Tony, so I’ve enjoyed seeing Agent Tony. Maybe Tony has to respond to charges in Israel? And why are they making the Israelis, one of our main friends, into the potential bad guys? I hope they don’t go very far down that road.
Oh man that was a great episode! I can’t wait for next week. I hope its Vance that doesn’t come back!
I thought Tony was great. Sometimes his character overdoes the goofiness. It’s nice to remember why he is senior field agent.
I feel better seeing that Ziva’s finger was not on the trigger in that last clip… maybe she just wants to threaten Tony, not actually shoot him. Who knows?
Wonder if also when reading Gibbs has to make a shocking decision. What if they make Gibbs the new director of NCIS?
I think it’s Ziva who’s not coming home, for now. My guess is she’ll return eventually though.
@UnHoly Diver I totally agree with you. I, too, hope they’ll bring Susanna Thompson back. Not only is she an excellent actress but she also had great chemistry with Mark Harmon.
Oh, I sooo agree with you, Mandi. You summed up my feelings exactly as I watched this ep. And yes, Tony looks darned good in a suit.