Critics and fans alike praised Cote de Pablo for her performance in the "Shiva" arc, citing it as some of the series' best acting.
Season Premiere: The team hunts Harper Dearing after the Navy Yard bombing.
This season solidified Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer) as a series regular after nine years on the show. Every Major NCIS Guest Star Ever - TV Guide NCIS - Season 10
The season leaned heavily into character backstories, featuring notable appearances by Anthony DiNozzo Sr. (Robert Wagner) and the introduction of Admiral John McGee (Jamey Sheridan), Timothy McGee's estranged father.
The mid-season double-header, " Shabbat Shalom " and " Shiva ," is the emotional core of the year. The assassination of Ziva’s father, Eli David, and Director Vance’s wife, Jackie, sent the team into a season-long spiral of vengeance. Critics and fans alike praised Cote de Pablo
The season saw record-breaking viewership, maintaining an average of per episode. Viewership (Millions) "Extreme Prejudice"
Season 10 of is widely regarded as a pinnacle for the series, serving as the year it officially became the most-watched program on U.S. television, even surpassing Sunday Night Football . Spanning 24 episodes from September 2012 to May 2013, the season shifted from its standard procedural roots into high-stakes, serialized drama that permanently altered the team's landscape. Key Narrative Pillars Every Major NCIS Guest Star Ever - TV
Part 2 of the Mossad arc; set an for the series. 22.86 "Damned If You Do"