Performer of the Week: Cote de Pablo
A new feature in which we spotlight the past week’s shining star
THE EPISODE | “Shabbat Shalom”
THE AIRDATE | January 8, 2013
RELATED | Matt’s Inside Line: Get Scoop on NCIS‘ Ziva and the Tragic Aftermath
THE PERFORMANCE | Just as Ziva knew that her father, given his long tenure with the Mossad, was living on the razor’s edge, many of us as viewers knew that something was afoot as Eli’s latest visit neared. Nonetheless, just like Ziva, we were shocked and shattered by the what, and the how.
Capping an hour that explored the many colors of this complicated father-daughter relationship — including the NCIS agent’s disappointment to learn that the episode’s murder victim died at his hand — Ziva tried to share Shabbat dinner with him at the Vances’, but had her fill of his words before having one bite of food. As she then stepped outside to cool off, hot bullets came flying at the Vance home. After hunting down the shooter, Ziva raced inside to check on her father, but the look on Tony’s face telegraphed the worst of news. As Ziva set her own eyes upon Eli’s lifeless body, de Pablo’s expression instantly morphed from professional resolve into horror into, as she cradled his head in her arms, the weeping visage of a little girl who’d lost her abba. There was no holding back for de Pablo as the actress let her alter ego’s emotions, and tears, flow, whispering a Hebrew prayer into her late father’s ear. WATCH IT HERE:
RELATED | Tuesday Ratings: NCIS Hits a Season High
HONORABLE MENTION | Once Upon a Time‘s Lana Parrilla, who in the ABC drama’s winter premiere successfully ran the gamut from heartbreaking (as Regina helplessly failed to prove herself to son Henry) to wise-cracking to, in the flashbacks, the most menacing of all.
Which performance knocked your socks off this past week?
All of her deepest, darkest fears about how her father would meet his end came true.
I rarely tear up at TV shows, but those few moments of her breaking down had me sobbing along with her. Truly an outstanding job by Cote!
Highly deserved with this honor =)
How is that Scandal has yet to have performer of the week, are you guys watching?
Just what I was thinking! I was sure you were going to pick Huck from Scandal this week.
I totally agree, for some reason they are totally ignoring Scandal and it has had some great moments so far this season
I cannot believe any person could have been any better than Cote. Her Ziva was a masterpiece. I watched her over and over and over. I have not seen many women who could hold a candle to her in looks. To me she was my Angel (I am 95 butI still have a brilliant memory) Ziva, I am going to miss you more than you can ever believe. I shall wait for whatever it is that lured you away. I was NOT a Tony fan at all. His ego was treacherous, snooping, taking others’ ideas and sending them to Jethro Gibbs as his own. I am sure I, under the right circumstances, would have been another Jethro in the War. I could have been a sniper and enjoyed it. Arthur Burke Sr
Totally deserving!!!!
Matt, I TOTALLY agree with you. I was blown away with pride by Cote’s performance. I’ve always loved Ziva for her many, many complexities. She has always been my favorite character among an already fantastic cast, and is the one I owe credit for drawing me in as a vested fan. I could identify with her the most. It has been a intriguing, fascinating journey watching Ziva David find her place, her value, and her identity in the world of NCIS. I cannot wait to see what’s in store next for this wonderful character. Kudos to you, Ms. DePablo; every accolade you receive from your hard work in the near future will be well-deserved. :)
My picks were same as yours. I probably would have reversed them with Lana up top but Cote was really spectacular.
Cote freaking blew me away with her performance, not just in that scene when she returns and sees her father dead, but throughout the entire episode. An amazing performance. Rocky Carroll was also brilliant. That ending was wow.
I cried all through the ending like crazy, for me the most heartbreaking moment was when she yells abba & the praying in hebrew wow fantastic !!!!
Totally agree. Days later, her poignant scream of “Abba” still haunts me T_T Cote deserves all the awards
I was hoping to see her pic before I clicked on the link. Good choice ! An incredible performance and I doubt many of us will be able to get “Abba!” out of our minds any time soon
Cote de Pablo was awesome! I cried! OMG she was amazing in that scene!
Although Cote did a fantastic job, I definitely would have picked Lana as first choice. She had such a brilliant range in the latest episode – going from snarky yet vaguely happy to heartbroken in SB, playing Cora-as-Regina Regina, going from “regretful” to crazy in FTL… Her ‘final words’ speech was absolutely amazing, and was done on a green screen. Very talented.
I loved Lana’s performance on Sunday! I totally forgot about the “Cora as Regina” part of it. Good catch! This only furthers my belief that she is raising the bar on what could otherwise be a very campy show. Love her work as the evil queen!
CdP’s cry of Abba will be remembered long into the future. Then the muttering of Hebrew prayers as she cradled his body.
TOTALLY AGREE
Completely agree. Cote did an excellent job in this episode and all the praise she is getting for it is well deserved. That scene at the end and the word Abba are stuck in my head and I can’t get it out.
she is so talented , beautiful, nice actress, she achivied with her performance in this epi to go trough screen and emotive NCIS viewers, , she made me cry like baby , when she screamed ABBA!!! this is heartbreaking scream, this comes her soul and heart, she is really wonderful actress and thanks so much tvline for giving her some recognition to cote de pablo and NCIS cast and crew… tha they deserves more…
I hope cote de pablo follows brilliant as now, she deserves it and more
thanks TEAM TVLINE
That scene broke my heart… If Cote de Pablo doesn’t get an Emmy Nom then they can shove it because that was an amazing piece of acting!
I agree
So completely true!
Sorry – that will never happen. NCIS doesn’t get any Emmy love.
Could not agree more. Such a powerful performance. Excellent pick!
This woman never fails to disappoint! Her acting in this episode was phenomenal and she definitely deserves the mention.
i’m sorry, did you just say “NEVER FAILS TO DISAPPOINT” ?
Cote’s performance was astounding, touching and heartbreaking. Perfect. Well done, TVLine, Lana Parrilla does deserve an honourable mention. Her acting is just crazy amazing. Both very powerful women on screen.
Bravo!!! best performance by here ever and that is saying something!!! She sold this made me cry and feel like I was their and shared her sadness! Brilliant acting 5 stars our of 5 :)
I agree whole hartedly. Her best performance thus far for awhile now.The girl’s got the skill,hope we see it more in future.
That performance was outstanding and Emmy worthy by Cote de Pablo. I will never forget that last scene.
Cote was amazing.
Cote deserved this 100%. As soon as she yelled, “Abba!” my heart broke for Ziva and I cried along with her. Cote is a fantastic actress and hardly gets recognized for it.
Cote broke my heart. What a fantastic actress. I can not wait to see her revenge mode now. She plays the up and down emotions of Ziva so well.
Agree wholeheartedly. That was one of the best acting jobs I have ever seen on tv by Cote De Pablo. All I could say after watching was wow. What an actress.