‘It Was Really, Truly Magical’: Cote De Pablo And Sean Murray Explain Why NCIS Season 3 Means So Much To Them

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‘It Was Really, Truly Magical’: Cote De Pablo And Sean Murray Explain Why NCIS Season 3 Means So Much To Them

As a dedicated NCIS fan with over two decades of watching under my belt, I can confidently say that Season 3 stands out as a shining gem in the series’ illustrious history. Having followed the show since its humble beginnings as a JAG spinoff, witnessing Cote de Pablo’s debut as Ziva David and Sean Murray’s transformation into Timothy McGee was nothing short of magical.

For more than two decades, NCIS has been gracing our screens with its presence, and Season 22 is set to debut soon on the 2024 television lineup. Throughout this time, numerous actors have joined and left, but two iconic figures who are synonymous with the CBS drama series are Sean Murray, who remains a key player, and Cote de Pablo, who played a major role from Season 3 to the start of Season 11. As the show has evolved significantly since its inception as a spinoff from JAG, De Pablo and Murray recently shared their memories and discussed why Season 3 held such significance for them.

Why Cote De Pablo Is So Appreciative Of NCIS Season 3

It’s possible you could be pondering over why Cote de Pablo holds Season 3 in such a special place, given that it was her first appearance as Ziva David. You’d be spot on! During an interview on Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, the actress shared more than just this fact; she also expressed the joy of working alongside the cast and crew, describing the experience as truly remarkable, using these words instead.

Season 3 has a special place in my heart. First of all, of course, it was my first season. But Season 3 was like a magical time for me. It was really, truly magical. And there were times when I used to stand and I used to say, ‘Don’t tell the CBS people, but I would have done this for free.’ Like I would go home and I would say, ‘I can’t believe I get paid.’ It’s a true statement. Later seasons, I was like, ‘Wait a minute,’ but Season 3 was just like when you’re just like falling in love with all of it, and it was just so magical and the things were just happening so organically. And I would watch all of these characters come to life and us digging and finding these wonderful moments.

Cote de Pablo’s journey on NCIS didn’t begin without some initial hiccups; she initially perceived Michael Weatherly as trying to undermine her audition, but the misunderstanding was later resolved. Once aboard as Ziva, she was pleasantly surprised by the seamless progress during her first season. Despite a less-than-ideal departure from the show, it’s fortunate that she didn’t completely part ways with NCIS, making appearances at the end of Season 16 finale and recurring in Season 17. Now, they are collaborating again on a spinoff series, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which will be exclusively streamed with a Paramount+ subscription.

Why Sean Murray Looks Back At NCIS Season 3 So Fondly

Sean Murray, who made his appearance in the seventh episode of NCIS’s first season and continued as a recurring character for the rest of that season, was given the opportunity to return for Season 2. With the arrival of Ziva, Timothy McGee’s status as the “rookie” or “probie” became obsolete. Murray found working on NCIS during its first two seasons enjoyable, but he believes that Season 3 is when the show truly began to develop and evolve its characters, as he put it.

Season 3 stood out uniquely, as it mirrored the first two seasons in a way that we were still defining ourselves and honing our abilities. Characters began taking shape and evolving during this period. Simultaneously, we recognized that our strong suit was not in the procedural aspect but rather in the characters themselves. This realization shifted the focus, making the procedural more of a secondary concern. Instead, it was all about the characters. Additionally, as my character developed alongside the production, so did I feel my own character grow. As Tony moved forward, this provided an opening for McGee to take on greater responsibilities.

Towards the end of the podcast episode, de Pablo inquired about whether NCIS ever felt like a family to Murray from the start, or if it developed over time. Murray replied, stating that it was during Season 3 when he began to experience NCIS as a family.

Once you came, it became noticeably more like a family gathering. I assure you, it wasn’t just because you’re here, my word on that is as solid as a rock. As for Sasha Alexander, I adore her deeply. My statement doesn’t imply any disregard towards her, and I believe the closeness we experienced was simply a product of our shared experiences at the time.

I’m thankful that he didn’t criticize Sasha Alexander, given her character, Caitlin Todd, was written off in the Season 2 finale. It’s worth noting that NCIS wasn’t as popular as it is now during Seasons 1 and 2, but ironing out the early issues helped keep the show on air and make it one of CBS’s most successful procedural series. Michael Weatherly also mentioned that Season 3 introduced Lauren Holly’s Jenny Shepard, whose relationship with Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs added excitement to that season. However, unlike Cote de Pablo, Holly only stayed for a few seasons on NCIS, and her character, Jenny, was killed off in the penultimate episode of Season 5.

On October 14th, Monday, the 22nd season of NCIS starts airing. Following this, we’ll see a spin-off titled NCIS: Origins, focusing on a younger Gibbs character. Keep an eye out for the release date of NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+, and remember that NCIS: Sydney is back for another season too!

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2024-08-17 17:07