Exploring The Complicated Relationship Between Eli David and Ziva: What Happened To Eli David on NCIS?
The Intriguing Portrayal of Eli David on NCIS
Eli David’s Impact on Ziva: A Complex Father-Daughter Relationship
The Legacy of Eli David on NCIS: What the Future Holds
Anyone who has watched television over the past few decades has probably seen Michael Nouri in something before. He’s appeared on pulse-pounding dramas like “Damages” and “Yellowstone” and soap operas such as “All My Children” and “The Young and the Restless.” He’s an exceptionally versatile performer, but his portrayal of Eli David is certainly one of the more memorable roles in his career. Eli is absolutely ruthless toward Ziva for much of his time on the series, even attempting to frame her for a crime to get her to leave the NCIS for Mossad — but to no avail.
It’s certainly a complex father-daughter relationship, and that made for engaging television. A few years before Eli was finally killed off, Cote de Pablo gave an interview to Spoiler TV in 2010 about the idea of getting audiences to understand this flawed man: “These characters are able to justify [their actions] because they come from a country that’s at war,” she said. “You learn to sympathize with [Ziva’s] dad, who’s played so beautifully by Michael Nouri.” Following Eli’s death, Ziva sets out on a revenge mission to get back at her father’s killer, Ilan Bodnar (Oded Fehr), who’s finally dispatched with on Season 10, Episode 22, “Revenge.”
Eli informs Ziva’s character a lot, and more about the ramifications of their relationship could be explored in the new “NCIS” series following Ziva and Tony (Michael Weatherly). Perhaps Eli will end up leaving the couple with more problems to contend with, even in death.