Ziva David: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=JulySeptember 20132023}}

| significant_other children = Tali (daughter; with [[Anthony DiNozzo]])

| religion nationality = [[Judaism|JewishIsraeli American]]

'''Ziva David''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|iː|v|ə|_|d|ə|ˈ|v|iː|d}}; [[Hebrew]]: זיוה דוד, {{IPA-he|ˈziva daˈvid|pron}}, [[feminine form]] of Ziv: "Radiance"; birth date November 12, 1982, [[Beersheba]] in the [[Negev]] desert of southern Israel)<ref name=personalinfo>. She was born in Be'er Sheva, Israel.{{Cite episode|title=Dead Air|episode-link=NCIS (season 8)#ep167|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=October 19, 2010|season=8|number=5|minutes=21:12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|title=The Inside Man|episode-link=NCIS (season 7)#ep141|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=October 6, 2009|season=7|number=3|minutes=42:49}}</ref> is a fictional character from the [[CBS]] television series ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'', portrayed by actress [[Cote de Pablo]]. Ziva first appeared in the [[NCIS (season 3)|season 3]] premiere episode, "[[Kill Ari|Kill Ari (Part 1)]]", and became a regular cast member from the episode "[[List of NCIS episodes#ep50|Silver War]]". She replaced [[Caitlin Todd|Caitlin "Kate" Todd]] ([[Sasha Alexander]]), who was killed at the hands of Ziva's half-brother, [[List of NCIS characters#Ari Haswari|Ari Haswari]] ([[Rudolf Martin]]), in the season 2 finale. Following the onscreen death of the character's father in season 10, Gabi Coccio recurrently portrayed a young Ziva in [[Flashback (narrative)|flashbacks]].

On July 10, 2013, CBS television studios announced that Cote de Pablo would be leaving ''NCIS'' during season 11.<ref name="CoteLeaving">{{cite web |title=Cote de Pablo to leave 'NCIS' |author=Bill Keveney |website=[[USA Today]] |date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2013 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/07/10/cote-de-pablo-to-leave-ncis/2507223/}}</ref> That fall, De Pablo appeared in two episodes as a series regular to wrap up her character's storyline. In season 13, Ziva was apparently killed off screen,<ref name="Ziva is dead">{{cite episode|title=Family First|episode-link=NCIS (season 13)#ep306|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=May 17, 2016|season=13|number=24|time=09:41|quote='''DiNozzo''': "What do we know? What are the facts? 'Cause we don't assume, we verify. Do we know she's dead? 'Cause if we know she's dead, we're gonna get him." '''Gibbs''': "Yeah, she's dead, and we will get Kort."}}</ref> though executive producer and show runner [[Gary Glasberg]] suggested that she might still be alive.<ref name=Evans>{{cite journal |last= Evans |first= Greg |date= May 18, 2016 |title= 'NCIS' Showrunner Gary Glasberg On A Future Without Michael Weatherly – And Whether Ziva Is Really Dead |url= https://deadline.com/2016/05/ncis-finale-gary-glasberg-michael-weatherly-cote-de-pablo-1201758944/|journal= [[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date= May 19, 2016 }}</ref> In season 16, Ziva was confirmed to still be alive, and De Pablo returned in season 17 as a guest star for several episodes.

[[Sasha Alexander]]'s character [[Caitlin Todd|Kate Todd]] was killed in the second ''NCIS'' season finale following Alexander's decision to permanently leave the show. Shortly afterwards, series creator Donald Bellisario announced plans to replace Todd with another female lead. At the time, he stated that the new character would be "quite different" from the previous and of an undecided foreign nationality—"I want to go for a European or Australian girl who is very comfortable with her femininity and sexuality."<ref>Holland, Lila (June 11, 2005). [http://www.tv.com/news/fans-react-with-anger-at-sasha-alexanders-ncis-death-320/ Fans react with anger at Sasha Alexander's NCIS death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514015111/http://www.tv.com/news/fans-react-with-anger-at-sasha-alexanders-ncis-death-320/ |date=May 14, 2016 }}. [[TV.com]]. Retrieved February 6, 2013.</ref>

De Pablo later said that the character was simply described as a generic eastern European woman and that she had used a Czech accent when auditioning.<ref name="Carnegie Mellon Today">{{cite web |url=http://www.carnegiemellontoday.com/article.asp?aid=831 |title=Prime Time – Carnegie Mellon Today |first=Rob |last=Owen |work=carnegiemellontoday.com |access-date=February 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509134122/http://www.carnegiemellontoday.com/article.asp?aid=831 |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Over 50 actresses reportedly auditioned for the role, and another actress with a longer résumé had initially been the frontrunner.<ref name="Carnegie Mellon Today"/> During a screen test, de Pablo and other actresses were paired with [[Michael Weatherly]], who went offscript by brushing her hair back and commenting, "You remind me of [[Salma Hayek]]." De Pablo described her response as follows: "I dismissed him completely. My primary thought was, 'Don't let this guy get physically close to you.' And, at that moment, everybody in the room started laughing and thought it was the funniest thing in the world because the chemistry between the two characters was perfect."<ref name="Carnegie Mellon Today"/> Co-executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson remarked that de Pablo won the role of Ziva for her reaction to Weatherly's departure from the script, saying, "When you get actors who really listen and respond organically in the moment to what they're hearing, sometimes magic happens. They really seemed to get that immediately, and that doesn't always happen."<ref name="Carnegie Mellon Today"/>

The character's nationality was changed to Israeli after de Pablo was cast.<ref name="Carnegie Mellon Today"/> She was also rewritten as a Mossad agent and Ari Haswari's half-sister, with creators originally planning for her to be Interpol or Royal Australian Navy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bobbin|first=Jay|title='NCIS' moves on|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-07-17/entertainment/0507170501_1_michael-weatherly-donald-p-bellisario-navy-ncis|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 17, 2005|access-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref> De Pablo later added, "I was one of the last to audition, and I don't think they had a clear idea of what they wanted. So I interpreted Ziva as a cool, competent woman, not the usual Hollywood sex symbol with big boobs, but [someone] who was comfortable in her own sexuality and used to working with men on an equal footing. It helped that by my looks, I could be taken for almost any nationality."<ref name=JJ/> She has also said that Ziva is based on an Israeli woman that she had known prior to joining the series.<ref name=news>{{cite web|last=Vickery|first=Colin|title=The Big Ask: Cote de Pablo (NCIS)|url=http://www.news.com.au/news/the-big-ask-cote-de-pablo-ncis/story-fnejnj7h-1226471303393|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130403222222/http://www.news.com.au/news/the-big-ask-cote-de-pablo-ncis/story-fnejnj7h-1226471303393|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2013|work=news.com.au|access-date=February 22, 2013|date=September 11, 2012}}</ref>

Ziva is scripted as someone who "has had to do awful things and watch awful things in her life";<ref name="Fort091020">{{citeCite news web|last=MartingaleMartindale |first=David |date=October 20, 2009 |title=Slowly but Surely, NCIS Rises to Top of Ratings |datepage=October33 17|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |location=Fort Worth, 2009Texas |workurl=Starhttps://star-telegram.newspapers.com/clip/117087767/slowly-but-surely-ncis-rises-to-top-of/ Telegram|access-date=January 23, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> she has "seen 12-year-old suicide bombers in Israel"<ref name="Bait">{{Cite episode |title= Bait|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=March 14, 2006|season=3|number=18}}</ref> and gone hungry long enough to resort to eating [[maggot]]s.<ref name="Friends and Lovers">{{Cite episode |title= Friends and Lovers|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=February 13, 2007|season=4|number=15}}</ref> In the third season, she recounts an incident in which one of her friends from Mossad had been beheaded after infiltrating a Hamas cell in [[Ramallah]]; Hamas terrorists sent his head back on the overnight express, leading her to view captivity as worse than death.<ref name="Head Case">{{Cite episode |title= Head Case|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=February 7, 2006|season=3|number=15}}</ref> Ducky later told Gibbs that, "Agent David has been through things you and I can't even imagine" and suggested that she was the only one who could relate to a suspect who had been abused.<ref>{{cite web |last=Marsi |first=Steve |title=NCIS Review: 'Freedom' |url=http://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/02/ncis-review-freedom/ |publisher=TV Fanatic |access-date=February 12, 2013 |date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>

During the episode "[[Kill Ari|Kill Ari (Part 2)]]", NCIS Special Agent Gibbs finds himself cornered by an armed Ari, but Ziva emerges at the last minute and kills Ari with a single gunshot wound to the forehead, similarly to the way Ari had shot Agent Kate Todd in the [[NCIS (season 2)|season 2]] finale, "Twilight".<ref name=JJ/> After Ari's death, she asks to be assigned as a liaison for Mossad at NCIS, where she subsequently joins Special Agent Gibbs' team in the episode "Silver War", permanently replacing the deceased Agent Todd.<ref name="Fox News">{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2012/03/01/before-they-were-famous-the-stars-of-ncis/ |title=Before They Were Famous: The stars of 'NCIS' |work=[[Fox News]] |date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613181306/http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2012/03/01/before-they-were-famous-the-stars-of-ncis/ |archive-date=June 13, 2013 }}</ref>

In the fifth season finale, "[[List of NCIS episodes#ep113|Judgment Day (Part 2)]]", Ziva's liaison position is terminated under the orders of newly appointed [[List of NCIS characters#Leon Vance|Director Leon Vance]] following the death of Director Shepard. "[[Last Man Standing (NCIS)|Last Man Standing]]", the sixth season premiere, picks up with her having resumed working as a Mossad field agent and undercover in [[Morocco]].<ref name="Yahoo"/> After Gibbs notices footage of an unconscious Ziva on the news following an explosion where she was working, it is soon revealed that Vance had deliberately sent Ziva back to Israel in order to help uncover a [[Mole (espionage)|mole]] within NCIS itself. She returns to the team at the conclusion of the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/ncis/last-man-standing/episode/1203400/summary.html|title=Last Man Standing Season Episode Guide on|publisher=Tv.com|access-date=May 18, 2010|archive-date=May 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530005320/http://www.tv.com/ncis/last-man-standing/episode/1203400/summary.html?|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Believed to be dead in the first episode of season 7, "[[Truth or Consequences (NCIS)|Truth or Consequences]]", Ziva is nonetheless found alive later in the episode, rescued by DiNozzo and McGee, with Gibbs killing her captor himself. Following her rescue, she resigns from Mossad and applies to become a full-fledged NCIS agent and an American citizen.<ref name="Yahoo"/> Ziva receives mandatory psych evaluations and therapy<ref name="TVF3"/> but refuses to discuss with anyone what had happened to her in Saleem's camp. However, it is made clear that she suffered extensive abuse and torture<ref name="Yahoo"/> and it is implied that she was raped as well while in captivity.<ref name="Patriot Down">{{Cite episode|title=Patriot Down|series=NCIS|series-link=NCIS (TV series)|network=[[CBS]]|date=May 18, 2010|season=7|number=23}}</ref> Cote de Pablo briefly addressed this, confirming that, "Bad things happened to Ziva in Africa when she was captured."<ref name="TV Week">{{citeCite magazine web|last=Willman |first=Chris |date=October 16, 2009 |title=The Future for "'Tiva"' |workmagazine=[[TV Week]] October 10–16 Issue ACP Magazines|date=October 16, 2009}}</ref>

Ziva becomes fixated on revenge as the season continues and ultimately kills Bodnar, albeit in self-defense. Executive producer Gary Glasberg divulged that the plot was designed to draw out aspects of the character's personality that had been dormant for several years, saying, "People are going to see a Ziva David that they haven't seen in a long time. There is a strength and a resolute determination."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bryant|first=Adam|title=Mega Buzz: Relationship Woes on Castle and New Girl and an NCIS Witch Hunt|url=http://www.reviewatlas.com/tvguide/x333080153/Mega-Buzz-Relationship-Woes-on-Castle-and-New-Girl-and-an-NCIS-Witch-Hunt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630055521/http://www.reviewatlas.com/tvguide/x333080153/Mega-Buzz-Relationship-Woes-on-Castle-and-New-Girl-and-an-NCIS-Witch-Hunt|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2013|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 11, 2013|date=April 16, 2013}}</ref>

|source= —Cote de Pablo on the characterization of Ziva<ref name="Netscape">{{cite web |url=http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/celebrity/becksmith.jsp?p=bsf_depablo_rstar |title=TV RISING STAR: Cote De Pablo |first= Stephanie |last= DuBois |work=Netscape Celebrity |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410172232/http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/celebrity/becksmith.jsp?p=bsf_depablo_rstar |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

''NCIS'' costume designers initially had Ziva's clothing style fluctuate; she is introduced wearing an [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] uniform jacket, cargo pants, and [[combat boots]] to illustrate "the Israeli military influence" on the character<ref name="DressingRoom">{{citeCite AV media web|title="The Dressing Room: The Costumes and Wardrobe of N.C.I.S.|work=" NCIS Season 5 DVD specialSpecial Features features|yeardate=2008 |type=DVD}}</ref> but afterwards is frequently dressed in high heels and skirts in a manner similar to her predecessor, Kate Todd.<ref name="Wardrobe">{{cite web|title=Behind The Scenes: Wardrobe Dept|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/video/1915980318/ncis-behind-the-scenes-wardrobe-dept|work=CBS|access-date=July 9, 2013|date=May 9, 2011}}</ref> On realizing that the latter was impractical for an officer of the Mossad, designers settled on a more simple and low-maintenance style.<ref name="Wardrobe"/> Subsequently, "T-shirt, cargos, ponytail" became Ziva's [[trademark look|signature look]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Diaz|first=Glen|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/ncis/cote-de-pablo-glams-up-for-nci-23047.aspx|title=Cote de Pablo Glams up for 'NCIS' Premiere|work=[[BuddyTV]]|date=September 24, 2008|access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> This allowed Cote de Pablo to typically be "in and out of hair and makeup in all of 20 minutes".<ref>{{cite web|last=Gostin|first=Nicki|title=Meet the 'NCIS:LA' star who won 'Dancing' in another country|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/29/showbiz/tv/daniela-ruah-ncis-gostin|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 9, 2013|date=February 29, 2012}}</ref> She explained, "From what I've been told, I'm one of the quickest girls in the business as far as getting ready everyday for ''NCIS''. I put on my cargos, my T-Shirt, my microphone, my hair is usually up in a ponytail and I wear very little makeup."<ref name="Aradillas">{{cite web|last=Aradillas|first=Elaine|title=Cote de Pablo Goes Glam for NCIS Premiere Episode|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20228304,00.html|work=[[People Magazine]]|access-date=July 9, 2013|date=September 23, 2008}}</ref>

Over the course of the show, Ziva has been involved in numerous action and combat scenes.<ref name=NYT/> Cote de Pablo frequently did her own stunts, saying that she "liked the challenge of learning to fight and enjoyed the adrenaline rush".<ref name="Smith">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Dianna |title=Ziva's No Diva |url=http://www.bocaratonobserver.com/index.php?reqpage=the-observer-online&issue=86 |work=Boca Raton Observer |access-date=May 25, 2013 |date=June–July 2013 |archive-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823235419/http://www.bocaratonobserver.com/index.php?reqpage=the-observer-online&issue=86 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She described some of the work as "intense" and "taxing on the body" but added, "Coming from the theater I love that. You get home and you're exhausted, but you feel like you've really worked."<ref name="Netscape"/> She sustained several injuries while filming—"I hurt myself a lot. I hurt my neck, I hurt my groin, my pelvis and I had a couple of injuries that were really hard to deal with."<ref name="D'Mello"/> After injuring her neck, de Pablo decided to partially stop doing stunt scenes during the tenth season and "let the pros do what they do best".<ref name="D'Mello"/><ref name="Smith"/>

In July 2013, ''NCIS'' received an [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] nomination for "Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Miniseries, or Movie" for the tenth season episode "[[Revenge (NCIS)|Revenge]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Emmys 2013: Complete list of nominees|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/tv/la-et-st-emmy-nominations-2013-list,0,6335367.story|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 18, 2013|date=July 18, 2013}}</ref> The stunt performed in that episode involved an extended fight scene between de Pablo's character and her father's killer. When the ''NCIS'' cast was honored by the Red Cross at the Santa Monica Red Carpet in April of that year, co-star Brian Dietzen stated that de Pablo had worked on the scene throughout the previous night until six in the morning and, as a result, was unable to attend the event.<ref>{{citeCite AV media web|lasturl=Hume|firsthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ashley_gUb5L_EY6I |title=NCIS honored by the Red Cross|work=Hollywood - Hollywood.TV |date=April 919, 2013 |type=Videotape |publisher=Hollywood.TV}}</ref>

|source= —[[Cote de Pablo]] on Ziva and languages<ref name=tv.com>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Stefanie |title=Cote de Pablo dishes on NCIS |url=http://www.tv.com/news/cote-de-pablo-dishes-on-ncis-18963/ |publisher=TV.com |access-date=February 10, 2013 |date=October 20, 2009 |archive-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318130303/http://www.tv.com/news/cote-de-pablo-dishes-on-ncis-18963/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

At one point, de Pablo was given 48 hours to memorize a monologue in Hebrew.<ref name="Hahn"/> She divulged that she used to criticize other actors who portrayed Latin characters and did not speak convincing Spanish but changed that perspective after having to learn Hebrew to depict Ziva.<ref name="Hahn"/> "Everything I had judgments on has turned around and bitten me in the butt," she explained.<ref name="Hahn">{{cite web|last=Hahn|first=Kate|title=Cote de Pablo: Radiating Inner and Outer Beauty|url=http://www.prevention.com/health/emotional-health/cote-de-pablo-ncis-star-shares-her-beauty-secrets/8-what-shes-learned-her-alter-ego|work=[[Prevention (magazine)|Prevention]]|access-date=August 5, 2013|archive-date=August 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812013358/http://www.prevention.com/health/emotional-health/cote-de-pablo-ncis-star-shares-her-beauty-secrets/8-what-shes-learned-her-alter-ego|url-status=dead}}</ref>

By Season 4, their friendship has grown and Ziva is accepted by the rest of the team, as shown in the season's premiere, "[[NCIS (season 4)#ep71|Shalom]]", where Tony and the rest of the team put their careers on the line and vow to prove Ziva's innocence before she is apprehended by the FBI for a crime she did not commit, knowing that their involvement could land them in prison. By the fifth and sixth seasons, Abby and Ziva are firm friends. When Ziva first appeared, she would flinch whenever Abby would hug her; however, by Season 6, Ziva overcomes her discomfort, and now accepts and returns the hugs.

McGee, Abby, and Ducky all support Ziva as she prepares to become an American citizen in the seventh season, with McGee even quizzing her for the citizenship exam. In the finale, they are all present at her swearing in ceremony.<ref name="Yahoo6">{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/5-most-touching-ncis-moments-7137760.html?cat=39|title=5 Most Touching "NCIS" Moments|publisher=Yahoo! Inc.|access-date=February 14, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412051918/http://voices.yahoo.com/5-most-touching-ncis-moments-7137760.html?cat=39|archive-date=April 12, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to de Pablo, Ziva had grown closer to her coworkers at NCIS than to what remained of her blood family by this point in the series.<ref name="TV Week">{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=October 16, 2009 |title=The Future for "Tiva" |work=[[TV Week]] October 10–16 Issue ACP Magazines}}</ref>

Gibbs' relationship with Ziva has been called that of a surrogate father figure by executive producer Gary Glasberg,<ref>Halterman, Jim (January 14, 2013). [http://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/01/ncis-exclusive-gary-glasberg-on-vances-loss-zivas-revenge-and-be/ NCIS Exclusive: Gary Glasberg on Vance's Loss, Ziva's Revenge & Beyond]. ''TV Fanatic''. Retrieved February 9, 2013.</ref> a tendency that intensified after she severed contact with Eli David following her return from Somalia. Cote de Pablo explained, "[Ziva's] got what I think you could call anger issues. She thinks she's been betrayed by her family, particularly her father. That's a big deal to her. Which would also explain her love and relationship with somebody like Leroy Jethro Gibbs."<ref>Marsi, Steve (October 29, 2009). [http://www.tvfanatic.com/2009/10/ncis-cote-de-pablo-michael-weatherly-dish-on-ziva-and-tony/ Cote de Pablo Dishes on NCIS' Ziva and Tony] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926085945/http://www.tvfanatic.com/2009/10/ncis-cote-de-pablo-michael-weatherly-dish-on-ziva-and-tony/ |date=September 26, 2011 }}. ''TV Fanatic''. Retrieved February 9, 2013.</ref> Ziva seems to be more willing to show her vulnerability to Gibbs than to most of the other characters, and Michael Weatherly suggested in 2012 that she might have become something of a "hellcat" without Gibbs' guidance.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mitovich|first=Matt|title=NCIS Episode 200 Explores Alt Realities: Who Comes Back? Who Is a Hellcat? Who Has a Kid?|url=http://tvline.com/2012/02/06/ncis-episode-200-preview-glasberg-weatherly/|work=TVLine|date=February 6, 2012 |access-date=May 16, 2013}}</ref> Additionally, Ziva and Gibbs share several characteristics: they both rarely show emotion, speak several languages, and are extremely skilled at what they do. Though she often finds it difficult to follow his orders due to the [[autonomy]] she had as a Mossad control officer, Ziva looks up to Gibbs as a leader and often restrains herself from resorting to her assassin background in situations where he would not approve. He often uses this background to their advantage, however, by choosing her to interrogate certain suspects. Ziva truly loved Gibbs more than just as a father figure, but more on a sexual level. In season 17, their relationship moved forward.

In Season 7's final episode Gibbs misses Ziva's citizenship ceremony due to a visit from Alison Hart.<ref name="Yahoo6"/> She seems to have forgiven this, however, and in the [[NCIS (season 8)|Season 8]] episode "Dead Air", she asks him to play "catch" with her. In the Season 8 episode "[[Baltimore (NCIS)|Baltimore]]", after learning that her partner Tony DiNozzo arrested Gibbs when he first met their boss, Ziva comments that she would rather arrest her own father than Gibbs. In the Season 9 episode "Safe Harbor", Ziva questions his seemingly solitude lifestyle, prompting him to respond, "You're never alone when you have kids," kissing her forehead and adding, "Good night, kid."<ref name="Safe Harbor"/><ref>Marsi, Steve (October 19, 2011). [http://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/10/ncis-review-safe-harbor/ NCIS Review: Searching For the Next Mrs. Gibbs] ''TV Fanatic''. Retrieved February 9, 2013.</ref>

''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' included Ziva in its compile of "29 Female TV Characters You'd Date", placing her at number 17,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=29 Female TV Characters You'd Date|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20467516,00.html#2091401429-female-tv-characters-youd-date/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=May 16, 2013|date=May 21, 2011}}</ref> and ''Postnoon'' included her in its list of "The sexiest cops on TV".<ref>{{cite web|title=Raising the heat: The sexiest cops on TV|url=http://postnoon.com/2013/07/02/raising-the-heat/133186|work=Postnoon|access-date=July 2, 2013|date=July 2, 2013}}</ref> In December 2011, [[TVLine]] announced Ziva as the winner of its "Ultimate Female Law-Enforcement Crushes Bracket Tournament".<ref name="Tournament">{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Slezak |url=http://tvline.com/2011/12/27/ncis-ziva-david-ultimate-female-law-enforcement-crushes-bracket-tournament-winner/ |title=NCIS' Ziva David Wins Our Ultimate Female Law-Enforcement Crushes Bracket Tournament! |work=[[TVLine]] |date=December 27, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> The tournament consisted of 64 nominated female characters from [[police procedural]] shows and several single-elimination rounds, garnering nearly one million votes by the end.<ref name="Tournament"/> Mary Edwards from the ''Reasons to be Beautiful Magazine'' published a list of "5 Great Female TV Characters of 2011" and wrote, "If any woman could have ended up a cold, emotionless killing machine, [Ziva]'d be a top candidate. But she's not ... She learns what it's like to have compassion and loyalty. She grows up. As an immigrant, she faces prejudice and racism, but she handles it with poise."<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Mary|title=5 Great Female TV Characters of 2011|url=http://reasonstobebeautiful.com/2011/12/17/5-great-female-tv-characters-of-2011/|work=Reasons to be Beautiful Magazine|access-date=May 17, 2013|date=December 17, 2011|archive-date=January 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130172748/http://reasonstobebeautiful.com/2011/12/17/5-great-female-tv-characters-of-2011/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Her frequent misunderstanding of American idioms and slang has been described as "endearing"<ref name="Fox News"/> and is generally considered an appealing aspect of the show.<ref name="Winslow">{{cite web|last=Winslow|first=Jacqueline|title=The Five Funniest Ziva-isms on 'NCIS'|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/five-funniest-ziva-isms-ncis.html|work=Yahoo!|access-date=May 20, 2013|date=November 30, 2010}}</ref> Shortly after Ziva joined the series, Noel Holston from ''[[Sun Sentinel]]'' described her as "an exotically beautiful Israeli whose tendency toward malaprop English belies her investigative and interrogative experience".<ref>{{cite web|last=Holston|first=Noel|title=Cowboy Mentality Helps Ncis Grow In Numbers|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-11-29/lifestyle/0511280111_1_ncis-donald-p-bellisario-agent|work=[[Sun Sentinel]]|date=November 29, 2005|access-date=June 7, 2013|archive-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220081942/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-11-29/lifestyle/0511280111_1_ncis-donald-p-bellisario-agent|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, ''[[Jewish Exponent]]'' editor Michael Elkin commented, "All shook up? That's the freshness she's injected into [''NCIS''], which just wrapped its fourth season with military honors and where second-season de Pablo is de anti-pablum, a no-nonsense ninja of a nemesis for those nasty evil-doers who soon discover that the Israeli is for real."<ref name="Elkin">{{cite web|last=Elkin|first=Michael|title='I've Got a Secret,' Israeli-Style?|url=http://www.jewishexponent.com/ive-got-a-secret-israeli-style|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629134948/http://www.jewishexponent.com/ive-got-a-secret-israeli-style|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2013|work=[[The Jewish Exponent]]|access-date=May 25, 2013|date=June 7, 2007}}</ref> In a 2012 publication of ''[[The Jewish Daily Forward]]'', Lilit Marcus wrote, "Despite being unevenly written, Ziva was always compelling: She was tough, fearless and, often, tender."<ref name="Marcus">{{cite web|last=Marcus|first=Lilit|title=Mossad Daughter Keeps Me Glued to 'NCIS'|url=http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/151033/mossad-daughter-keeps-me-glued-to-ncis/|work=[[The Jewish Daily Forward]]|access-date=July 10, 2013|date=February 8, 2012}}</ref> C. Coville from ''[[Cracked magazine]]'' questioned the choice to script her as "an espionage expert who knows nine languages ... all at age 28", describing excessive multilingualism as a common problem in television dramas.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coville|first=C.|title=5 Things TV Writers Apparently Believe About Smart People|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_18960_5-things-tv-writers-apparently-believe-about-smart-people.html|work=[[Cracked (magazine)|Cracked]]|access-date=August 6, 2013|date=January 9, 2011}}</ref>

Ziva's "will they/won't they" relationship with Tony DiNozzo, dubbed "[[Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David|Tiva]]" by viewers,<ref name="Glenn Diaz 2010">Diaz, Glenn (March 11, 2010). [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/ncis/ncis-what-do-cote-de-pablo-and-35173.aspx NCIS: What Do Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly Think of Tiva?]. [[BuddyTV]]. Retrieved February 9, 2013.</ref> became a prominent subject of interest.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pace|first=Robert|title=Will Ziva & DiNozzo Form a Romance on 'NCIS'?|url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/130106_NCIS_Cast_on_Ziva_David_and_Tony_DiNozzo_s_Relationship/index.html|work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|access-date=May 29, 2013|date=February 5, 2013|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515101940/http://www.etonline.com/tv/130106_NCIS_Cast_on_Ziva_David_and_Tony_DiNozzo_s_Relationship/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Jessica |last=Durham |url=http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/7625/20130603/ncis-spoilers-ziva-tony-will-tiva-take-next-step-season-11-season-10-finale-hints-character-death-fans-reveal-love-cbs-couple.htm |title='NCIS' Spoilers Ziva Tony: Will 'Tiva' Take Next Step in Season 11? Season 10 Finale Hints Character Death While Fans Reveal They Love CBS Couple |work=Fashion & Style Magazine |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=June 4, 2013 |archive-date=June 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608091910/http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/7625/20130603/ncis-spoilers-ziva-tony-will-tiva-take-next-step-season-11-season-10-finale-hints-character-death-fans-reveal-love-cbs-couple.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Maureen Ryan from ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' commented that their "love-hate banter gives the show extra zip" during de Pablo's first year with the series.<ref name="Chicago Tribune1">{{cite web |first=Maureen |last=Ryan |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/03/ncis_delivers_w.html |title='NCIS' delivers without hype |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 10, 2006 |access-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017065728/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/03/ncis_delivers_w.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Due to being drawn out over several years, the development has been called a "slow burn",<ref name="Jan 2012 EW">{{cite magazine|last=Gonzalez|first=Sandra|title='NCIS': What did you think of last night's buzzy Tony-Ziva moment?|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/01/04/ncis-tony-ziva-moment/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=May 19, 2013|date=January 4, 2012}}</ref> with Tony and Ziva being included in ''TV Tango'''s "Top 10 Romantically Challenged TV Couples".<ref>{{cite web|last=Vicic|first=Mike|title=Top 10 Romantically Challenged TV Couples|url=http://www.tvtango.com/news/detail/id/193|work=TV Tango|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=April 19, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' described them as a "[[power couple]]" in 2013<ref name="2013 EW">{{cite magazine|last=Rice |first=Lynette |title='NCIS': See Tiva get up-close and personal – EXCLUSIVE PHOTO |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/09/ncis-see-tiva-get-up-close-and-personal-exclusive-photo/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=May 11, 2013 |date=April 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411024816/http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/09/ncis-see-tiva-get-up-close-and-personal-exclusive-photo/ |archive-date=April 11, 2013 }}</ref> and contributor Sandra Gonzalez noted that "it's tough to deny the chemistry the two actors (Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo) share" after "[[Housekeeping (NCIS)|Housekeeping]]" aired.<ref name="Jan 2012 EW"/>

Ziva, and Cote de Pablo's depiction of her, has been analyzed and commented upon by a number of critics, opinion columnists, and academics. She is credited as being the only Israeli regular on mainstream American television as well as the "most prominent televisual Israeli".<ref name=Kensky/> [[Sarah Honig]], an Israeli journalist and opinion columnist, wrote that Ziva is "quite possibly the only Jewish regular on American TV who's unapologetic, complex-free, and not comically dysfunctional" as well as "the only positive Israeli sort on the screen anywhere" in ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''.<ref name="Jerusalem Post">{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Honig |url=http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Opinion/Article.aspx?id=254299 |title=Another Tack: Ziva for Prime Minister |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=January 19, 2012|access-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> Jewish commentators gave the character favorable reviews, with ''[[Jewcy]]'''s Abe Fried-Tanzer stating, "Linguistic difficulties aside, Ziva is the show's most stable and dependable character, as steadfast as Harmon's Gibbs. Upon her arrival in Washington, D.C., Ziva proves her loyalty time and again, first saving the life of her future mentor Gibbs by shooting her murderous half-brother who was threatening him. That selfless, endearing act is representative of the kind of behavior that Ziva later exhibits over the seasons as she bends over backward to defend her teammates amid, and in spite of, the jokes her foreigner status frequently elicits. Ziva's portrayer, Cote de Pablo, is not Israeli, nor is she Jewish. Though the Catholic-born Chilean actress' pronunciation of the name of her character's home country leaves something to be desired, she does capture a certain Israeli toughness and no-nonsense attitude."<ref name="Jewcy">{{cite web |first=Abe |last=Fried-Tanzer |url=http://www.jewcy.com/arts-and-culture/network-jews-ziva-david-from-cbs-ncis |title=Network Jews: Ziva David from CBS's 'NCIS' |work=[[Jewcy.com]] |date=May 29, 2012|access-date=May 30, 2012}}</ref> Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel agreed that Ziva's sympathetic portrayal allowed the series to fairly show the security concerns of the Israeli government and the measures it takes to defend its citizens while still maintaining its role as a "good and helpful ally" to the United States.<ref name="Jewish World Review">{{cite journal |first=Elliot B. |last=Gertel |url=http://www.jewishworldreview.com/elliot/gertel_ncis.php3?printer_friendly |title=One tough Jewess |journal=[[Jewish World Review]] |date=July 16, 2009 |access-date=February 10, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064428/http://www.jewishworldreview.com/elliot/gertel_ncis.php3?printer_friendly |url-status=dead }}</ref>

De Pablo herself has been to Israel, visiting in 2007 after she received an invitation from the Israeli government.<ref name=JJ>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/ncis_mossad_agents_cover_gets_blown_shes_chilean_20070316/ |title= 'NCIS' Mossad agent's cover gets blown—she's Chilean |work=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]] |access-date=February 6, 2013 |first=Tom |last=Tugend |date= March 15, 2007}}</ref> Shortly after returning, she stated in an interview that "Someone from the Israeli department of tourism watched the show and saw that there was an Israeli character on the show, and they were very happy about that. So they offered to give me a full tour of Israel. ... I'm still trying to digest everything. Everywhere you go, you're surrounded by Muslims and Christians and Jews, you can feel the tension, and you can understand why that is going on, but at the same time, everywhere you walk is holy. I went to [the historic fort] Masada, I floated on the Dead Sea. ... It was more of a trip for Ziva than for Cote. It absolutely informed my insights into her soul."<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite web |first=Maureen |last=Ryan |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/05/ziva_david_of_n.html |title='Ziva David' of 'NCIS' finally visits Israel |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501094944/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/05/ziva_david_of_n.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She concluded that she ultimately thought that Ziva was a fairly accurate representation of the Israeli public.<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/>

{{quoteblockquote|Ziva David, a principle{{sic}} character in ''NCIS'', has really altered my view of the Jewish people and Israel's plight. I know stereotypes are politically incorrect, but it does not mean they don't exist, and it also doesn't mean there isn't something to them. Somehow I just don't think Ziva is what people think of when they think of Jewish women. Given the staying power of ''NCIS'', and the impact of Ziva, maybe that stereotype of Jewish women has been reset. ... The character and actress' success may be an unexpected bonus. Ziva, played by Cote de Pablo, is a beautiful, sexy woman with a great smile and terrific eyes. She is funny, easy to like, professional, and believable. But she is also extremely smart, a strong contributor to the team, and lethal with weapons and martial arts. ... One very wise mentor of mine told me that he thought Ziva might represent a subtle shift within the Jewish world. It was his observation that in past years the woman played a secondary role in much of Jewish life. He felt that Ziva's ascendancy marked a change in Jewish culture. He went so far as to point out the camaraderie between Ziva and her father. Who knows, this observation might be accurate. I am totally unfamiliar with the traditions of the Hebrew people. However, I do believe Ziva has been an excellent representative of the Jewish people.<ref name=Vogl>{{cite web|url=http://www.nolanchart.com/article9676-israels-best-ambassador-ziva-david.html |title=Israel's best ambassador, Ziva David|first=Mark|last=Vogl|work=[[Nolan Chart]]|date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2013}}</ref>}}

* [http://nciswiki.cbs.com/page/Ziva+David Ziva David] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221180855/http://nciswiki.cbs.com/page/Ziva+David |date=February 21, 2008 }}—CBS's Official ''NCIS'' Wiki

* [http://www.bringbackcote.com/ Bring Back Cote—website created to protest the decision to write out the character of Ziva] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006001204/http://www.bringbackcote.com/ |date=October 6, 2013 }}

[[Category:Fictional Jewish womenJews]]