NCIS: Tony & Ziva's Most Important Cameo Isn't Anyone From Gibbs' Old Team (2025)

is the spin-off series I have been asking for since finding out that Ziva (Cote de Pablo) is still alive. Of course, a spin-off series with two beloved characters from the flagship series means that cameos are necessary. Once other team members find out that their friends are in danger, they are likely to show up, and that could include Gibbs. However, Gibbs is not the character who is needed the most, rather it’s a character who has a more personal connection to Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva who needs to appear.

The new NCIS universe series needs to include Tony DiNozzo Sr. (Robert Wagner), but there are concerns about Wagner’s age and how he could be incorporated into the series. There is a simple way that connects to the reason why DiNozzo Sr.’s cameo in the new series is so important. After all, is all about family, and family doesn't just help in a time of danger, but is also there in a time of peace.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva Needs To Bring Back DiNozzo Sr. More Than Any Other Member Of MCRT

This NCIS Spinoff Is All About Family

The new NCIS spinoff is more family-related rather than the type of show many are used to within the NCIS universe. With this in mind, there is a character who needs to turn up, as the DiNozzo family isn’t complete without the patriarch, DiNozzo Sr. While the two Tony's had an estranged and difficult relationship for a long time, they formed a tighter bond as the NCIS seasons continued, and there is a lot of hope that the two remained in touch regularly while Tony lives in Paris.

On top of that, we haven’t seen Ziva and DiNozzo Sr. reunite on-screen, which is something that needs to happen eventually. The best way to do that is to include Wagner's character at least once, allowing the two to share some sort of update. Of course, by the time the series starts, Ziva has been back in Tony's life for a few years, , so it wouldn't make sense to have DiNozzo Sr. to see Ziva for the first time, but there could be a catch-up moment or a flashback to their reunion.

Because of the connection to family in the new series, it makes more sense to bring back a family cameo rather than a member of the original team. The original team will also be busy working on their own cases or, in Gibbs' case, are out in the wilderness. When Tony came back for an episode of NCIS season 21, it was to say goodbye to Ducky, someone he viewed as family, so NCIS: Tony & Ziva should repay that with a special cameo.

How Robert Wagner Can Appear As Tony DiNozzo Sr. In NCIS: Tony & Ziva

DiNozzo Sr. Would Have A Relationship With Tali

It won't be easy to bring Wagner's character back for big action moments, as he's 95 now and he'll likely need a more laid-back scene. There are many ways that the series can offer that, bringing tenderness and love in moments of tension and apprehension. While bringing the love, there is also the ability to bring must-needed slower moments and joy, offering everyone a chance to just breathe and process the action that is happening.

From details about the premise of the series, NCIS: Tony and Ziva will offer a look at Tony and Ziva’s life together after all the lies and secrets told over the years. After learning he had a daughter, Tony left NCIS and America for another life, heading to Paris to raise Tali. Then he suddenly learned that Ziva hadn’t died as everyone had thought, and she had faked her own death to protect their daughter.

This act was both selfish and selfless, leading to a lot of confusion and hurt that needs to be worked out on-screen. The couple will need to reconnect to get their strong romantic and friendly relationship back, and the best way to do that is through date nights. Tali will need a babysitter for that, and considering their jobs and lifestyles, they will need someone they can trust. DiNozzo Sr. is the best choice for that, and it would offer some tender moments between grandfather and granddaughter.

If Wagner can't make it for filming, a video call would work instead. This would at least show the familial connection, which is something the show needs to include to bring empathy and love. Wagner still has a connection with Weatherly and de Pablo, as he's appeared on their podcast, so he is still connected to the cast and the franchise as a whole, and it opens the door for this essential cameo in NCIS: Tony & Ziva.