NCIS has once again crossed borders, this time bringing back two cherished and familiar faces in it’s eagerly awaited spin-off. As indicated by the title, NCIS – Tony & Ziva Episode 1 begins with the much-anticipated reunion of the witty Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and the fierce Ziva David (Cote de Pablo).
These two beloved characters departed from the main series in Seasons 11 and 13, respectively, with a storyline in Season 17 paving the way for their reunion in Paris, along with their daughter Tali (Isla Gie). The initial three episodes of the series were released simultaneously, providing fans with a wealth of new content featuring Tony and Ziva after a long hiatus.
It begins with a wedding involving Ziva David and a mysterious man, strongly suggesting that there are more perilous events unfolding, before transporting us back to nine days prior. Interwoven with this non-linear timeline are flashbacks from five years ago, where the spin-off continues from the Season 17 episode depicting Ziva’s journey to Paris.
No Country Is Safe Unveils A Fresh Danger For Tony & Ziva
Five years after Ziva’s departure from NCIS, Tony and Ziva have yet to become an official couple, yet they are successfully co-parenting Tali while adapting to a civilian lifestyle. Ziva is busy teaching language classes, while Tony runs a thriving security firm.
One of his notable clients is Interpol, which faces a security breach in the Episode 1 of NCIS – Tony & Ziva, prompting Tony and his tech-savvy assistant Claudette (Amita Suman) to speed down the roads to intervene.
They managed to thwart half of the threat and recover the device responsible for the hack, known as the 9.4 USB, but the anonymous culprits still managed to steal several million dollars from Interpol, leaving behind a staggering 115 million euros (keep that figure in mind).
Nevertheless, the criminals are determined to retrieve that USB and infiltrate Tony’s company. During this incident, one of the criminals discloses his interest in Tali, prompting Tony to discreetly notify Ziva, pulling her into this predicament as well.
At that moment, Ziva was attending a therapy session. It is disclosed that when the couple came together again at a military base five years prior, Ziva was startled by the sound of a shot and nearly reacted with aggression.
Now, she had reached a stage where she could hear a truck backfiring without a response, and was discussing her PTSD with her therapist when Tony’s alert came through. She ensures Tali’s safety, and the couple opts to send Tali away with her babysitter, who has military experience, allowing them to concentrate on the looming threat.
Tony had placed a tracker on the USB, leading them to a hospital. They find themselves walking into a crisis, where criminals are demanding a ransom of 115 million euros to avoid shutting down the hospital’s power, a move that could endanger patients on life support.
In a twist of fate, they are compelled to switch roles; Ziva uses her charm to persuade the hospital staff to pay the ransom while Tony employs his physical skills to track down the criminals. Unfortunately, he is captured and encounters an enigmatic woman (Nassima Benchicou), who had been seen lurking during the Interpol heist. Oddly, she allows him to leave unharmed.
Once the hospital’s threat is alleviated through the payment of the ransom, the couple receives a distressing call from Claudette. She reveals that a staggering 115 million euros was transferred to their corporate account.
Although the funds were quickly withdrawn, the repercussions were severe – Interpol, particularly Tony’s contact Henry (James D’Arcy), suspects their involvement. Now branded as fugitives, Tony and Ziva must exonerate themselves by identifying the true perpetrators.
Fortunately, Claudette successfully locates one of the hackers responsible for coding the 9.4 USB, prompting Tony and Ziva to embark on their quest for justice.