NCIS: Tony & Ziva Season 1 ended with an explosive finale filled with unexpected twists and turns. Showrunner John McNamara has offered insights into the role of the mysterious 9.4 program as well as about the characters’ choices in a new interview. He also opened up about the possibility of a second season.
John McNamara breaks down the 9.4 program in NCIS: Tony & Ziva Season 1 finale
The first season of NCIS: Tony & Ziva ended with an action-packed and emotional finale. After high-stakes season that included false accusations and betrayals, Tony and Ziva joined forces to defeat Jonah and rescue their daughter, Tali.
Showrunner John McNamara has shared new thoughts about the ending of Season 1. Talking about the creation of the 9.4 program, he explained that the system of never intended to be inherently good or evil.
McNamara said in an interview with Parade, “9.4 is just a tool. It all depends on who’s using it.” Drawing from both research and imagination, McNamara explained, “And because 9.4 is designed to be offensive, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if its defenses were not that great?’”
This inspired the introduction of Lazar, a brilliant programmer who discovers a “backdoor” within the system. It ultimately allows the Tony and Ziva’s team to exploit its weakness. The episode also saw an unexpected twist when Martine, previously working with Jonah, switched sides to help Tony and Ziva. McNamara described her as a “survivor.” He said, “I think she was really being straight with Jonah, and Jonah was not being straight with her. So, she’s going to f— his s— up, as we say.”
Looking ahead, McNamara expressed appreciation for the ensemble cast and hinted at the potential for a second season. He said, “I have no idea if it’s going to get a second season. I’ve not heard anything. But I think that that’s a strong kind of batting lineup of actors.”
The showrunner also revealed that the series drew inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. He said, “I think everyone who tries to create romantic suspense owes a debt to Hitchcock. Because he did it, I think, better than anyone.”
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
