Source: TvGuide Online "Ask Matt"
Question: Maybe it's me, but in the last several
NCIS episodes of the just-completed season, Ziva's role seemed marginalized. It almost seemed as if now that she wasn't a Mossad agent, what were they going to do with her. And when you consider
NCIS' track record with female characters (Kate, Paula Cassidy, Jenny, Agent Lee, the Louise Lombard character from
NCIS: LA), female agents have been expendable. I was wondering if you'd heard anything about the Ziva character being phased out.
Matt Roush: I'm sure that's not the case. The story as the series was building toward its season climax happened to focus heavily on Gibbs, who is after all the franchise. Ziva is an indispensable part of that ensemble, though, and while it's true women aren't faring particularly well on some of the CBS procedurals next season, and
NCIS' own track record is a bit spotty, I wouldn't lose any sleep over her immediate future.