NCIS: Tony & Ziva is the newest addition to the already vast NCIS universe.
The show has brought back some fan-favorite characters from the original series, while also introducing some new and intriguing personalities.
The show revolves around the titular couple and their daughter, who are forced to flee their home in Europe after being threatened by dangerous people. In a recent episode of the action drama, the couple sought refuge at Ziva’s therapist’s home.
Audiences were then surprised to see James Lance making a cameo in NCIS: Tony & Ziva, and many were left wondering if the veteran actor had actually made an appearance in the show. The answer is yes, James Lance played a guest role in the series as Ziva’s therapist’s boyfriend.
James Lance’s role in NCIS: Tony & Ziva

James Lance appears in NCIS: Tony & Ziva Episode 7, Dark Mirror, which aired on Paramount+ on October 2, 2025. He plays Archie, the boyfriend of Ziva’s therapist. When Tony and Ziva return to Paris to investigate the conspiracy that has framed them, they hide in the therapist’s apartment.
While the therapist is not at home, Archie welcomes the couple and unexpectedly becomes a part of their journey. He is a child psychologist whose calm and empathetic nature helps Tony talk about his feelings. He uses a play-style therapy technique, which he often uses with his child patients, to make Tony express his long-buried emotions.
This marks a turning point in Tony’s character arc as he finally begins to open up. The therapy eventually helps him reconnect with Ziva on a deeper level. The two become vulnerable with each other and get intimate after years.
Meanwhile, Archie also helps in protecting the couple. When Interpol agent Jonah raids the apartment, Archie engages with him while Tony remains hidden in the house. Jonah eventually goes back, and Tony and Ziva sigh in relief, all thanks to Archie. Hence, James Lance has a small role in NCIS: Tony & Ziva, but the character has had a lasting impact on their relationship and journey.
What else has James Lance starred in?
James Lance is a renowned actor who has appeared in several movies and TV shows before NCIS: Tony & Ziva. He is well recognized for playing Trent Crimm in the Apple TV+ sports comedy series Ted Lasso, for which he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Lance has been a part of the industry since the 1990s and has also starred as Tom Warren in Moving Wallpaper, Timebomb in No Heroics, Jamie Front in Absolute Power, and Lachlan Glendenning / Barney Glendenning in The Book Group. Apart from that, the actor has made episodic appearances in Fate: The Winx Saga, Midsomer Murders, Black Mirror, The Impressionists, and Second Thoughts.
His movie credits include The Salt Path, The Bookshop, The Look of Love, Northern Soul, Marie Antoinette, and The Search for John Gissing. Apart from Emmys, Lance has also received nominations at the Online Film & Television Association and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva is streaming on Paramount+.