[s17e10] The North Pole May 2026

The episode provides critical answers to long-standing fan questions while setting up future storylines:

: Mark Harmon, Cote de Pablo, Emily Wickersham, Wilmer Valderrama, and Jack Fisher as Phineas.

: The mission results in the death of Ziva's longtime friend and contact, Adam Eshel , who is found badly beaten and eventually dies from his injuries. Before passing, Adam provides a cryptic clue that leads Gibbs to the truth about Sarah's identity. Character Relevations & Arcs

: The episode ends on a somber note as Gibbs is forced to kill Sarah (the real Sahar) to save Ziva. This leaves Gibbs with the heartbreaking task of telling Phineas that his mother—the woman Gibbs had come to trust—was a terrorist. Episode Details Air Date : December 17, 2019. Directed by : James Whitmore Jr..

: In a shocking revelation, the real Sahar is revealed to be Sarah , Gibbs' neighbor and the mother of his young friend, Phineas.

Watch the teaser for this pivotal episode to see the first glimpses of Ziva's high-stakes return: NCIS Season 17 - Ziva Returns - video Dailymotion Dailymotion• Sep 23, 2019 NCIS recap: Season 17, episode 10: 'The North Pole'