CBS Primes NCIS’s Tony & Ziva’s Replacement Pairing To Be Better Than Weatherly & de Pablo

Published Oct 22, 2026, 7:30 AM EDT

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While the NCIS franchise does well without having romantic entanglements at its center, the newest pairing being built up in the universe appears like it's being primed to become a replacement for Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo's iconic Tony and Ziva. Throughout the first years of the flagship show's run with Weatherly and de Pablo, who quickly fell into an adversarial flirtation upon Ziva's arrival during NCIS season 3, viewers got the chance to buy into a true will they/won't they relationship. Ziva, who slowly but surely became a part of the MCRT, warmed up to Tony, but never stepped over the line.

After years of relationship building that left viewers muddy on whether Tony and Ziva would ever figure things out, de Pablo departed the series during the beginning of NCIS season 11, and Weatherly followed at the end of NCIS season 13. Both were fond of their characters and de Pablo ultimately returned to the show an arc that would, eventually, push their paths toward each other. When NCIS: Tony & Ziva was announced to be the next chapter of their story on Paramount+, viewers were excited to finally see the pair in action again, but the show was sadly short-lived.

With Tony returning to NCIS season 24 without Ziva on screen, there's been much discussion about whether viewers will get the opportunity to see them again, especially now that they're finally together romantically. Thankfully, a new potential pairing in the NCIS universe, NCIS: New York's Addy Ross (Jacqueline Byers) and Wyatt Sellers (Shane Harper), are primed to take their crown.

Why NCIS: New York's Addy & Wyatt Are Poised To Be The New Tony & Ziva

While there's a long way to go before Addy and Wyatt of NCIS: New York could functionally become the next TiVa, there's promise in the new pair of agents from the first episodes of the series. Addy, who's been with NCIS for longer than newcomer Wyatt, has a tougher exterior than anticipated, while Wyatt, who's freshly arrived in New York by way of Alaska and is going through a divorce, is more vulnerable. The pair already share a shorthand, and in working together, their chemistry is obvious even in the few short episodes of NCIS: New York that have aired.

Though the show hasn't done a deep dive into their personal lives as of yet, it's clear that Addy and Wyatt get along, and their interest in each other's lives goes beyond their time together in the office or working on a case. It may be too soon for them to care about each other on a deeper, more personal level, but the relationship that's already being built appears to be one that could grow if tended to in the right way. Having to trust each other professionally and understanding what each other's strengths are even in the most intense circumstances is proving to be fascinating to watch.

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Addy & Wyatt Are Already Building A Better Story Than TiVa

While there's still a ton to uncover about Addy and Wyatt, their partnership and potential relationship started in a way that feels like a far less impossible mountain to climb than Tony and Ziva's. NCIS saw Ziva come into the MCRT in a time of massive turmoil after Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander) had been brutally murdered, and her position as a former Mossad agent wasn't exactly promising for Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and the rest of the team. As she gradually became more of a consistent part of the show, Ziva grew with the MCRT and on her own, but there was a lot of red tape to cut through first.

Addy and Wyatt's relationship has started on an easier note, with both of them working together at the start of NCIS: New York and no need to establish them as brand-new partners. With a dynamic already built into the show, even though it's a fresh one, the pair already have a rapport, and even tackled a similar storyline as one of Tony and Ziva's best early moments. NCIS: New York's third episode saw Addy and Wyatt go undercover as a couple, and while it wasn't as intense as Tony and Ziva's first undercover episode, it proved they're on a great path.