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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The returning NCIS agent is Vera Strickland, played by Roma Maffia. She debuted in Season 11’s “Under the Radar” on October 8, 2013, and returned in Season 23’s “Now And Then” on November 11, 2025—more than twelve years later. The Ziva connection is chronological: Vera’s first episode aired one week after the Ziva-focused “Past, Present, and Future.” The available episode listings do not establish a direct story link between Vera and Ziva’s exit.
Who is the returning NCIS agent?
Vera Strickland is a retired NCIS special agent portrayed by Roma Maffia. CBS identifies her as a guest character in “Under the Radar,” the third episode of Season 11, which aired October 8, 2013. Her return came in Season 23, Episode 5, “Now And Then,” dated November 11, 2025.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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NCIS: Complete Seasons 1-16 - Dvd | $237.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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NCIS: Seasons 1-4 | $20.38 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![NCIS: Seasons 13-16 [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519VwYL6PXL._SL160_.jpg)
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NCIS: Seasons 13-16 [DVD] | $28.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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NCIS: Seasons 17-21 | $42.19 | Buy on Amazon |
What happens in Vera’s return episode?
In CBS’s synopsis for “Now And Then,” a prison break leads the team to reopen the case of a naval officer’s death. Gibbs and Franks investigated the original case in the 1990s, and the team enlists retired agent Vera Strickland to help. CBS’s episode listing describes the case setup.
CinemaBlend’s coverage of the episode adds that Vera knew the escaped inmate was innocent, helped him, and sought closure as the reopened investigation revealed the truth. That detail comes from secondary reporting, rather than CBS’s synopsis. In an interview with CinemaBlend, Maffia described returning as easy and said the script let her step back into the character as though no time had passed.
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- NCIS: Complete Seasons 1-16 - Dvd
How is Vera’s return related to Ziva’s exit?
The connection established by the episode chronology is proximity, not a confirmed shared storyline. “Past, Present, and Future,” Season 11’s Ziva-focused episode, aired October 1, 2013; Vera’s debut followed on October 8. CBS’s Season 11 guide lists the episodes on consecutive weeks.
CBS News reported in 2013 that CBS respected Cote de Pablo’s decision to leave and thanked her for eight years playing Ziva David. That departure context helps explain why Vera’s debut is described as coming after Ziva’s exit, but the cited episode listings do not say Vera was introduced because of Ziva or that the characters’ stories were directly connected. CBS News’s report on de Pablo’s departure covers the announcement.
Rank #2
- Genre: TV Action & Adventure
- Number of Discs: 24
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 4128
- Rating: NR
Vera Strickland’s NCIS episodes at a glance
| Appearance | Episode | Season and episode | Air date | Story role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debut | “Under the Radar” | Season 11, Episode 3 | October 8, 2013 | Guest appearance as NCIS Special Agent Vera Strickland |
| Return | “Now And Then” | Season 23, Episode 5 | November 11, 2025 | Retired agent enlisted to help with a reopened naval officer death case |
Dates and episode details are from CBS’s Season 11 and Season 23 episode listings. For current episode-guide or viewing options, consult CBS’s NCIS page; availability can vary by location.
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Rank #4
Rank #3
- Genre: TV Action & Adventure
- Number of Discs: 24
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Rating: NR
- Number of Movies: 0
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