NCIS: Tony & Ziva

NCIS: Tony & Ziva was largely welcomed by critics as a refreshing, nostalgia-fueled departure from the traditional police procedural format. Moving the characters off CBS onto Paramount+ allowed the series to adopt a serialized spy-thriller style, complete with high-stakes action, international settings, and a slightly higher TV-MA maturity rating.

Reviewers widely celebrated the returning lead actors, Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, praising their enduring banter and effortless romantic chemistry. Outlets noted that shifting beyond episodic cases allowed the show to focus on character depth and dynamic storytelling, with several critics deeming it one of the strongest entries in the entire franchise.

However, reception was not without dissent. A few critics were far less forgiving, panning the narrative as feeling akin to bad fan fiction and arguing that the lead actors appeared to be coasting on autopilot. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority agreed the spinoff delivered a delightfully entertaining experience tailored specifically for longtime fans.