: In a shocking revelation, the real Sahar is revealed to be Sarah , Gibbs' neighbor and the mother of his young friend, Phineas.
The core conflict revolves around Ziva's attempt to neutralize the terrorist threat posed by . While the team previously believed Sahar had been eliminated, "The North Pole" reveals that the woman killed earlier in the season was merely a decoy. [S17E10] The North Pole
: It is confirmed that Tony DiNozzo has known Ziva was alive for some time, having tracked her down in Cairo shortly after his departure from the team. : In a shocking revelation, the real Sahar
: Bishop (Emily Wickersham) is tested by Odette , Ziva's landlady and former CIA contact. After Bishop refuses to compromise her ethics for a mysterious drive, Odette reveals it was a test and offers her "specialized training," hinting at Bishop's future shift into a more covert role. : It is confirmed that Tony DiNozzo has
The episode provides critical answers to long-standing fan questions while setting up future storylines:
: Mark Harmon, Cote de Pablo, Emily Wickersham, Wilmer Valderrama, and Jack Fisher as Phineas.