Mega Buzz: Ziva's NCIS Exit, Arrow's New Villains, and a New Good Wife Lover

Every week, editors Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questions to mega_scoop@tvguide.com or tweet them at @Adam_Bryant and @NatalieAbrams.
So, how will NCISactually write Ziva's exit from the show? — Samantha
ADAM: Given that Ziva was one of three agents who resigned to protect Gibbs, it actually won't be that far-fetched. The season will open with a two-parter that features Colin Hanks returning to threaten Gibbs, prompting a team reunion. "Ziva is out in the ether and Tony has to go off and find her," executive producer Gary Glasbgerg says. "The second episode is really all about Tony and Ziva, and, I hope, delivers all the things the Tiva fans are going to want." Adds Michael Weatherly: "The will they/won't they is answered. Tony's going to be forced to face this Sword of Damocles that's been hanging over him since Season 3." That's Greek for "they're totally gonna do it," right?
Who are the two villains coming to Arrowthis season? —Casey
NATALIE: With Isabel Rochev, Sebastian Blood and Bronze Tiger being introduced — and Deadshot and Slade Wilson returning — the possibilities are endless! "Our two Big Bads of the year, we know what their endgame and master plan is," executive producer Marc Guggenheim says. "[They'll both] feel like they're acting from a righteous place. They will cross paths, and there's a Venn diagram in terms of their goals and in the diagram, there is overlap." Who do you put your money on?
What is coming up for Kalinda this season on The Good Wife? — Marie
ADAM: Kalinda's professional life will be strained when the truth comes out about Alicia and Cary's new venture. "Kalinda feels a little betrayed that she didn't know Alicia was leaving. There's a real tension there about the fact that Kalinda feels a little bit abandoned," executive producer Robert King says. She'll comfort herself in the arms of Juliet Rylance, who comes on to play a new love interest. "What we love is the idea that someone tries to pull Kalinda out of herself in a way," King says. Does that mean Kalinda will be outed?

How will Tyreese fit into the group on The Walking Dead this year? —Eric
NATALIE: Even though Tyreese has put himself on the line to help Rick & Co. before, we'll see that he's more of a gentle giant this year as he struggles with staying alive in the apocalypse. "You'll have an opportunity to witness this man wrestle with the rules of engagement around him and where he fits in that world and his own inner [demons]," Chad Coleman says. "To me, it feels like a firm belief in non-violent conflict resolution, but how does that fit in a claustrophobic world? I believe you'll see him tested and no one goes unscathed."

What can you tell me about the new season of Homeland? — Justin
ADAM: Don't expect the crazy roller coaster you got at the beginning of Season 2. Instead, Season 3 is a measured exploration of the aftereffects of the Langley attack on Carrie, Saul and the Brody family. It's fair to say that they'll all be unnerved — in different ways. Saul will have to choose between Carrie and the CIA, which is heartbreaking, and Dana will take drastic action that will reveal a new side of her character -- literally and figuratively.

How will they rescue Henry on Once Upon a Time? —Jennie
NATALIE: Snow White and Prince Charming will find themselves trying to set a good and noble example for their daughter Emma when they head to Neverland, lest she turn to other means to get Henry back. "If the Queen's got a better way to get Henry that may break the law, so be it. It's prison rules," says executive producer Adam Horowitz. That will be difficult for Snow, who is still struggling with her blackened heart. "This year, it's about finding the hope," he adds. "It's the hope that Snow White always brought to us. She's the light. I think she's going to see a lot of darkness and realize that the best thing she can do is return the light to not just her, but to get daughter and her husband."

What is coming up with Joel and Julia on Parenthoodthis season? Should I be worried for them? — Emily
ADAM: It certainly doesn't help that Joel and Julia will each become close with a member of the opposite sex (new guest stars Sonya Walger and David Denman, respectively). But there are deeper issues for the couple. Joel is on the top of the world professionally, while Julia is going the exact opposite direction. "She's really trying the stay-at-home thing, but she's... struggling with her own identity," Erika Christensen says. "[We] see her find some solace somewhere, and it looks like it's going to happen in a way that's also painful. She makes a male friend and that's awkward and can put a strain on a relationship."

Why isn't Penny going on the girls' trip on The Big Bang Theory?! —Kate
NATALIE: Don't feel sad that Penny won't be joining Amy and Bernadette on their road trip, which will end with the duo both bonding and wanting to kill each other. "She's at home with Sheldon missing Leonard and they're off at this science conference," executive producer Steve Molaro says. But Penny will find herself bonding with Sheldon, who, try as he might not to openly admit that he misses Leonard, he definitely struggles with his roomie and best friend being MIA. 

I'm excited for The Mentalist's new season. How soon will Jane and Lisbon catch Red John? — Gina
ADAM: Creator Bruno Heller confirms that viewers will know the true identity by the end of this calendar year. (November sweeps, anyone?) That means the early part of the season will be a highly serialized chase to narrow down the seven suspects. "We're not bumping off the suspects one by one," he says. "Some will meet an unhappy end, others will live to the denouement." But whether or not the real Red John ultimately lives to see another day will be a point of much debate between Jane and Lisbon. "All these years, Jane's always said, 'I'm going to kill that bastard,'" Heller says. "Lisbon's always said, 'I understand you want to do that, but I am the law.' Now that issue is not a theoretical one, it's a real one."

Any scoop on Matt and Rebekah on The Vampire Diaries or The Originals? I heart them together! —Maggie
NATALIE: While we won't rule out the opportunity for crossover episodes, Claire Holt seems pretty sure that the two are dunzo for now. "In the last episode, Matt told her, 'I have to keep my life vampire-free,' so she knew going into it that they would have a little fun, travel the world together and now she's ready to move on and take down more men in New Orleans," Holt says.
How will Casey continue to deal with Hallie's death when Chicago Fire returns? — Tony
ADAM: "He goes away on a sabbatical; he takes a little time out," Jesse Spencer tells us. "But he's going to come back with a new lease on life." Although there won't be a new love interest in Casey's life, he will open himself up to new people in a slightly surprising way. "He becomes a family man," Spencer says. "He's able to give something back to some kids. It's going to be an emotionally healing experience. The kids are going to help him, and it'll be a complicated, but nice, recovery."
Got any scoop on Dexter? — Rick
NATALIE: It could just be me, but I'm starting to worry that Harrison may end up killing Jaime. That's right, Dexter's son seems to be on the path to getting into the family business, so to speak. Sure, he's only 4, but he was — like Dexter — born in a pool of blood, so to speak. Meanwhile, that promo that shows what appears to be Dexter being caught is a little misleading. Nevertheless, Dexter will take a risk that could get him caught.
Adam's Mega Rave: It's weird that Brody won't appear in the early episodes of the new season of Homeland, but I applaud the decision if it means we get to see more of Mandy Patinkin's amazing, heartbreaking work.

Natalie's Mini Rant: Nora's death scene, where she melted a la Raiders of the Lost Ark, was worse than when Bill turned Lorena's head around during sex. Grody to the max, True Blood!

Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows? E-mail Adam and Natalie at mega_scoop@tvguide.com or drop us a line at Twitter.com/TVGuide

(Additional reporting by Robyn Ross and Kate Stanhope)