Ziva David - Cultural Significance

Cultural Significance

The character of Ziva has been praised in several news and opinion articles for its positive portrayal of an Israeli. One critic discussed the significance of Ziva as an Israeli character on American/Western television: "NCIS...has the rare distinction of being the only mainstream network show (we are aware of) with an Israeli as one of the main characters...In a network television landscape where it is difficult to find many unashamedly Jewish characters (let alone an Israeli) we have a soft spot for Ziva David." The same critic also claimed that her character is more reminiscent of a classic character in an early Israeli kibbutz drama, rather than a typical Israeli of the current day: "In early kibbutz dramas, Ziva's character would have been a Zionist heroine." Another described the character as a major draw for the show and wrote: "Linguistic difficulties aside, Ziva is the show’s most stable and dependable character, as steadfast as Harmon’s Gibbs. Upon her arrival in Washington, D.C., Ziva proves her loyalty time and again, first saving the life of her future mentor Gibbs by shooting her murderous half-brother who was threatening him. That selfless, endearing act is representative of the kind of behavior that Ziva later exhibits over the seasons as she bends over backward to defend her teammates amid, and in spite of, the jokes her foreigner status frequently elicits. Ziva’s portrayer, Cote de Pablo, is not Israeli, nor is she Jewish. Though the Catholic-born Chilean actress’ pronunciation of the name of her character’s home country leaves something to be desired, she does capture a certain Israeli toughness and no-nonsense attitude."

An article in The Jerusalem Post wrote of the character: "She's quite possibly the only Jewish regular on American TV who's unapologetic, complex-free, and not comically dysfunctional. She's surely the only full-time Israeli character on any mainstream network hit drama. Indeed, NCIS's Ziva is probably the only positive Israeli sort on the screen anywhere. Sexy, brave, accomplished (fluent in 10 languages, even if she can't get her English idioms quite right), she's without an image handicap (save for her daredevil driving). She's definitely one with whom typical Israelis can proudly identify – mostly because Ziva is proud of being Israeli." The article went on to describe NCIS as "the most Israeli-friendly series in television history."

One reviewer commented that she was "a surprisingly convincing Israeli agent, given that she is played by a Chilean-born singer from a Catholic family, Cote de Pablo."

On the subject of female characters on live action television shows, one commentator said of the portrayal "With her credible combination (by prime-time standards) of physical domination and quiet cool, Ziva David is one of the most appealing of a growing group of female action heroes who are infiltrating cop shows, spy shows, science-fiction shows and other genres where men once did the lion's share of the enforcing." Another wrote that the character appeals to conservative Americans: "David represents those aspects of the Israeli character that most appeal to middle America: She’s disciplined, self-reliant, good with guns, and skilled in hand-to-hand combat."

On Mossad agents in American films/television, another wrote "Israeli agents on American screens present more extreme pictures of the general types and dilemmas...Ex-Mossad agent Ziva David – whose father, of course, is head of Mossad and who has joined the U.S. Navy criminal investigation branch to liberate herself from her past – is a one-woman army, full of secrets. She is the most positive recurring Israeli character on American television."