‘NCIS’ Season 13: Emily Wickersham Believes Bishop’s Reception Has ‘Gotten More Positive’ Since Joining Series? [VIDEO]
Back in the beginning of Season 11 of NCIS, viewers said goodbye to Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) and later on they were introduced to Eleanor "Ellie" Bishop (Emily Wickersham) who would be joining the NCIS team to fill the void left by de Pablo's departure from the series.
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This wasn't even the first time a female agent has been replaced on this CBS series. When NCIS first began airing in 2003, Sasha Alexander portrayed Special Agent Caitlin "Kate" Todd. Alexander's character was eventually killed off and replaced by Ziva David. A warm reception followed with Alexander's departure, but with the casting of Wickersham, many fans of the show have been less welcoming.
Back in February, longtime cast member Pauley Perrette, the portrayer of Abby Sciuto, defended Wickersham on Twitter since many felt the need to share their displeasure of Bishop joining the NCIS team—they all want David back.
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Wickersham has never really discussed the lack of welcoming she has received before, but while recently talking to Entertainment Weekly she opened up about coming onto the show as de Pablo left.
"I know that people are very attached to the Ziva character and always were and always will be, which I get," Wickersham said, explaining, "You get invested in these shows and you get very invested in the character. And Ziva is such a wonderful character - and Cote did such a great job with her."
The actress also revealed she knew coming on that fans of the series were initially "very skeptical" of her character, yet she has also noticed that more and more viewers are embracing Bishop as they did with David and even Todd.
"But as I've been here and as the seasons have gone by, I have just seen more and more positive reactions to Bishop, especially as we get to know her more and we see more and more faults in her," Wickersham said, adding, "I know there are people who still don't like her, and I think that's always going to be the case, but for the most part, it's gotten more positive."
NCIS airs on Tuesdays on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.
