"Prior to season 6, I would have classified myself as a Tony/Ziva fan ... but with the way the two characters were written through season 6 (especially Ziva's outright criminal behavior in the last four eps), I find it hard to believe that they can return to being FRIENDS, let alone get involved in a romantic relationship. Of course, I'm also evidently in the minority in that I pretty much loathed this season (out of the 25 episodes aired, I only *really* liked 3) and no real plans to actually watch the new show live. I'll DVR the eps and get around to watching them (maybe) when I'm bored or something. And based on the few spoilers coming out, I'm less excited than ever before (especially since I never had any real desire to see the Tony/Ziva thing be more than subtext or at least a tertiary part of the show.)

That said, there are just as many insanely aggressive Other Shippers/Anti-shippers out there who can be just as vitriolic and downright mean as some TIVA people (Lord, I hate that cutesy name.) I think there are simply more of the aggressive Tony/Ziva people than the others (simple law of averages), hence it seems to non-Tony/Ziva people that ALL Tony/Ziva people are raving lunatics. In my experience, EVERY group, whether it's a religion or a political party or a group of particular shippers, is defined by its most vocal minority. Fans comes from Fanatics, after all."

"The question you really have to ask yourself: Is the show better if DiNozzo loses that chauvanistic, womanizing side, that so many of the jokes come from? If you like nice Tony, then he and Ziva should hook up. Remember when he and Jeanne were dating? I really liked Jeanne, but if he and Ziva were that way, would you get tired of it? I like Ziva being a total badass, and Tony being a chauvanistic buffoon, but can also be a good guy some of the time. If Tony was nice all the time, would we still like him as much? The fact that he suprises us with his acts of kindness and caring, endears him to us, because we know he is capable of being a better person, so we are rooting for him, but if he turns smitten, nice guy, then we lose that thing we have been rooting for, the same way we lose the idea of Tony+Ziva hooking up, once they actually do, then what is there to root for with Tony? NCIS is a crime drama, not Grey's Anatomy, where they are always doing everything they can to keep it a soap opera, it is a cheap way to get ratings, and I hope NCIS never becomes that type of show. Because that is what happens once main characters start dating."

"You might be being too hard on Ziva. I really doubt Ziva knew how bad Rivkin was, and after his death she wasn't thinking straight. If someone you know dies, would it really be surprising if your initial reaction isn't one of sound reason? Haven't you ever said anything cruel to a friend, even if you didn't mean it? Also I bet Ziva feels very duped right now. She talked a lot about trust, and she is probably asking herself how she could have trusted Rivkin. She wasn't listening to her gut, and she knows it. It is likely she is being far harder on herself than she is being on Tony. Tony knows this, which is why he continues trying to explain. He expects it to get through to her eventually, and he wants her to be clear that he was only trying to help. "

"Do you really think she was trying to have him transferred? "

"S4: Why Ziva and not Gibbs? "

"As was previously mentioned, 'Moonlighting' lost something after David and Maddie finally got together. 'Cheers' initially gained something and then lost it after Sam and Diane got together. 'Mork and Mindy' lost it when those two got together (and Jonathan Winters was their child -- seriously).

I don't want to see NCIS 'jump the shark' (as it were) to have Tony and Ziva get together solely for the TIVA-obsessed fans.

Remember that JAG lasted ten seasons with Harm and Mac finally deciding to get married at the very end, and then we never knew who sacrificed their career for the other (decided by a coin toss which was left unfinished).

Let's hope that NCIS also makes it to 10 seasons -- something that Donald B. was hoping for at its inception.
"

"*Applauds Mulchahy*...WELL said...perhaps not the bit about Jeanne...she lied to Tony about who her father really was. "