There is no clear indication whether or not Cote de Pablo is coming back as Ziva David in the upcoming NCIS season 18. Many wanted to see more of her, especially after her four-episode appearance in the previous installment. If ever she returns, it's interesting to see her working with some of the characters.
Although there are still uncertainties when it comes to Ziva's return in NCIS Season 18, it looks like producers are interested in having her back at some point in the series. There are a lot of stories left on her end, especially with the potential Ziva-Tony reunion.
But, beyond that, she could also be paired up with other established cast members. For instance, we could see a Ziva-Bishop pairing. Aside from their apparent connection in the episode "She," Bishop (Emily Wickersham) has been training under Odette now.
Perhaps, we could see them going undercover together, where it could test Bishop's skills, and Ziva mentors her. It is a great storyline involving two female characters working in the field on a mission, especially since wasn't always shown in the series.
Another character that could be paired up with Ziva is McGee. The two shared a moment when the former returned in the previous installment. So, it would be nice seeing them having more substantial interaction. They have a history since they worked closely together over the past years.
If Ziva does return in NCIS season 18, her reunion with McGee (Sean Murray) would be great. Aside from discussing something about work, they could also talk about other things. After all, McGee also had a bond with Tony (Michael Weatherly) and it gives them something more to talk about and catch up.
Lastly, de Pablo's character could team up with Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) -- and there are a lot of fun stories coming here. Both of them pushed each other's limits in the previous season. In fact, Ziva actually urged Torres to act on his feelings for Bishop.
Meanwhile, the official release date of NCIS season 18 is still unknown as of this writing. The fall premiere is feasible. However, one of the major challenges here is the current health crisis in California. Everything depends on the situation and filming could start when things get a little bit better.
Usually, CBS drops the new episodes in September, with some breaks in between, and then run until May. However, that schedule won't be followed this time around, given that the series has been off-air since April. There are a lot of things that need to be considered. So, NCIS season 18 is likely to arrive at a later date.
