The successful return ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionsuggests that the upcomingNCIS: Tony & Zivawill also likely be a hit, despite the spinoff’s big format change from the flagship. The originalCriminal Mindspremiered in September 2005 andaired over 300 episodes, concluding its 15-season run in 2020.
Although it seemed thatCriminal Mindshad ended for good, the interest from many viewers inspired the showrunners to bring it back.Criminal Minds: Evolutionpremiered on the streaming service Paramount+ in November 2022.Criminal Minds: Evolutionfeatured several significant changes, including a darker tone, mature content, and a focus on one case per season.
LikeCriminal Minds, Paramount+ recently launchedNCIS: Tony & Ziva. The original series began back in 2003 and ran for over 21 seasons. The success of the show inspired the network to expand further bylaunching a spin-off titledNCIS: Tony & Ziva, focusing on fan-favoritecharacters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.
The new series continues where their last adventure left off, showing the couple raising their daughter, Tali. The show also features franchise newcomers, including Amita Suman, Julian Ovenden, Lara Rossi, Terence Maynard, and more.NCIS: Tony & Zivais set to premiere on July 29, 2025.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Won’t Use NCIS' Case-Of-The-Week Episodic Format
A Single Storyline Will Span The Entire Season
Originally,NCISbecame popular for its fast-paced storytelling. Each episode of the show featured a new case, allowing viewers to enjoy a fresh storyline every week. The latest spin-off,NCIS: Tony & Ziva, will not follow the case-of-the-week formula like the original series. Instead, it will focus on asingle storyline that unfolds throughout the entire season.
This significant change will create a more cohesive plot, with improved continuity and emotional depth. The show willhave a more cinematic feel, similar to watching a 10-hour film, which will enhance the character development andsuspense forNCIS: Tony & Zivaviewers.
ScreenRant: Obviously, there are huge changes when you go from a network show to a streaming series. John, I am curious, what did that allow you to do that maybe you wouldn’t have been able to do if you were still on network television?
John McNamara: “The first decision creatively that I made and talked to Cote and Michael about, and eventually talked to the studio about, is I felt really strongly that it had to be a single serialized story rather than a case of the week. And the reason was not to be all fancy or peak TV, but these characters required, I felt, a constant mounting, rising pressure on them that would not be relieved.
I love mystery, I love procedurals. And the thing is, at the end of the procedural, [it’s] the relief, right? You caught the murderer, the little girls were reunited with the parents, whatnot.
What was fun about structuring this, what the studio signed off on and these guys were so game for, was the end of each episode is the opposite of relief. It is like, ‘Oh, that was good.’ And then it will just go boom, cut to black.
I just felt strongly that to really explore the relationship in a way that would service both a thriller and a romance, it had to be one story. And, luckily, I didn’t get a lot of pushback on that. That was the biggest difference.”
Criminal Minds: Evolution Already Showed The Season-Long Arc Can Thrive
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Is Moving Towards More Captivating Storytelling
The new changes inNCIS: Tony & Zivamay seem risky at first, butCriminal Minds: Evolutionhas already shown that this shift will likely work in favor of the new spin-off. WhenCriminal Mindsreturned to the screens asCriminal Minds: Evolution, it moved away from thetraditional"case-of-the-week"format and adopted a season-wide storytelling approach.
The show’s new serialized structure allowed for adeeper focus on one villain and one mystery throughout the season, resulting in a more engaging ploteach season. Many viewers enjoyed watching character arcs evolve, cliffhangers resolve, and suspense build throughout the season. They thoroughly liked the new format.
NCIS Fans Will Get To See New Sides Of Tony & Ziva They Couldn’t Before
Tony & Ziva Are Expected To Undergo Character Development
The serialized format ofNCIS: Tony & Zivawill be compelling TV for several reasons. Focused solely on Tony and Ziva’s lives, the new formula will allow the director of the spin-off toexplore the characters in depth, developing long-term character arcs.
The spin-off will featureTony and Ziva operating outside U.S. law enforcement, potentially delving into morally complex areassuch as global threats, espionage, and more. The story is expected to be more personal and emotional than previous seasons, offering viewers a deeper connection to the characters. The new format is anticipated to elevate Tony and Ziva’s latest adventures on a grander scale.
NCISviewers will also be able to see a new side of Tony and Ziva in the upcoming spin-off. The couple will navigate their relationship while raising their 12-year-old daughter, Tali. They’ll face challenges as theyadjust to raising a teenagerand deal with the consequences of their past choices.
The spin-off is expected toshowcase Tony and Ziwa in a more emotionally vulnerable state, presenting them in a new light that many fans have never seen before. The main hook ofNCIS: Tony & Zivawill likely revolve around whether they achieve a happy or dramatic ending.
NCIS: Tony & Zivais set to premiere on Paramount+ on July 25, 2025.
