Of all the characters, perhaps it's Ziva (Cote De Pablo) whose future is most hanging in the balance when season 6 wrapped up. Last we checked, she had been captured and all but dead, left behind in her native Israel after having Gibbs (Mark Harmon) chose between her and Tony (Michael Weatherly). She was being tortured and beaten for info on NCIS, and we still have no idea who's behind it - either her Mossad-heading father or the terrorists Rifkin investigated?

According to some spoilers, Ziva will indeed be back, but she'll be a "changed woman" which isn't really hard to understand. Such change will most probably affect the dynamic of the team, especially the Tony and Ziva tandem. Most NCIS fans think the changed woman aspect of the spoiler may have something to do with the romantic aspect of things, meaning her experience in Tel Aviv might have ruined whatever she and Tony had.

Executive producer Shane Brennan offered this as a little peek: the two's relationship "will evolve rapidly" over the first three episodes so you better tune in.

As if that's not enough intrigue to rile NCIS fans up, Brennan teases: "You cannot miss the first minute of our season premiere. You'll think you know what's going on, but then you'll go, 'Am I seeing things? What just happened?!'"

Another intriguing photo has surfaced. On it, Tony is tied up in a chair, and not just any chair, the same one where Ziva was tied to in the final scene of last season. Before we start making any predictinos, Brennan teased, "If you think you know why DiNozzo is tied to a chair, be prepared for a shocking surprise."

In hopefully soothing conclusion to this NCIS season 7 preview: CBS previously confirmed that all the cast, including Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, David McCallum as Ducky, Pauley Perrette as Abby, and Rocky Carroll, will be back for season 7. September 22 - mark your calendars.


- Glenn Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide
(Image courtesy of CBS)