**The Dramatic Departure of Cote de Pablo**
NCIS star David McCallum recently voiced his feelings of “frustration and anger” after Cote de Pablo’s sudden decision to leave the show. McCallum, who portrays Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard on the popular series, expressed his surprise at de Pablo’s departure in the midst of the show’s 11th season. He described his emotions as a mixture of frustration and anger at the unexpected turn of events. The abrupt exit of the Ziva David actress left McCallum questioning how someone so vital to an international show could simply walk away, leaving the cast and crew in a bind.
**Challenges Behind the Scenes**
McCallum shed light on the challenges faced by the NCIS team in the wake of de Pablo’s departure. The veteran actor revealed that the writers had to overhaul the scripts for the first five episodes of season 11 to accommodate the abrupt change. The pressure was on for the entire crew to quickly adapt to the unforeseen circumstances and deliver a coherent storyline to the viewers. Despite the daunting task ahead, the NCIS team managed to pull through and navigate the uncharted territory with finesse.
**Cote de Pablo’s Tough Decision**
For de Pablo, the decision to leave NCIS was no easy feat.
She emphasized that it was a choice made after much contemplation and weighed heavily on her. The actress expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a successful show but knew deep down that it was time to move on to new challenges. Although her departure left a void in the cast, de Pablo’s resolve to pursue other endeavors ultimately propelled her towards a new chapter in her career.