Tony & Ziva Episode 4 Meaningfully Uses DiNozzo’s Family Ring
Warning: SPOILERS for NCIS: Tony & Ziva episode 4, “Wedding Crashers.”
There have been plenty of fun Easter eggs in NCIS: Tony & Ziva thus far, but episode 4 just brought back a symbolic item from the original series in a highly impactful way. The episode largely focuses on advancing NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s story through numerous intriguing plot developments, but one in particular should stick out to long-time NCIS fans.
As NCIS: Tony & Ziva episode 4 implies in its very title, “Wedding Crashers” finally brings the story back to the undercover operation shown briefly in the series premiere. While the episode makes time to provide great moments for just about every character, one meaningful flashback brilliantly ties the spinoff back to the broader NCIS franchise with just one prop.
Tony Used The DiNozzo Family Ring To Propose To Ziva
Sadly, It Doesn’t Happen In The Present-Day Storyline
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo in NCIS: Tony & Ziva
Continuing the spinoff’s motif of using intermittent scenes to fill the gaps in Tony and Ziva’s NCIS relationship timeline, Tony & Ziva episode 4 flashes back to a night in 2020 when Tony makes an unplanned proposal. The scene occurs at a crucial moment in Ziva’s character arc, when she realizes just how much her PTSD has been affecting Tali.
Ziva’s PTSD in NCIS: Tony & Ziva has been a recurring theme. This time, she admits that her biggest fear is Tali growing up with a detached parent the way both she and Tony did. To ease her mind, Tony offers her the DiNozzo family ring as a symbol of engagement, assuring her Tali will never be without committed guardians.
Why The DiNozzo Family Ring Is Important To The Flagship & Tony’s Story
Tony’s Father Symbolizes Ziva’s Major Concern For Their Future
DiNozzo Sr. has had plenty of detractors among the NCIS fandom, but the earliest and most passionate was Tony himself. But after a long, troubled relationship, Tony’s father gives him the family signet ring for Christmas in NCIS season 10. It’s supposed to be handed down to the next DiNozzo on their 21st birthday, but Senior had bucked the tradition.
As Tony explains when proposing, he sees the ring as a representation of his spendthrift father’s commitment issues. Giving the ring to Ziva indicates that Tony’s ready to truly give the best parts of himself to someone else. Moreover, he trusts Ziva to do the same, even if neither of them had role models to show them how.
Because the spinoff is so family-focused, a DiNozzo Sr. cameo in NCIS: Tony & Ziva arguably could have made the scene even stronger. However, given Ziva’s fears, Tony breaking the ring’s tradition in a more positive way than Senior did shows his true evolution. He’s learned from both his father’s mistakes and his own, and he’s ready to move forward.
Ziva’s still wishy-washy about rekindling things, and Tony just got out of a throuple that he barely even realized he was in. But fans were promised that NCIS: Tony & Ziva would finally pay off the long-brewing romance eventually. Tony’s symbolic gesture of commitment sparks hope that the spinoff may just get there well before it finishes its run.
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