Chasing Ghosts (NCIS)

"Chasing Ghosts" was written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews and directed by Arvin Brown. "Ziva's need for closure takes over", Mirante-Matthews said about the episode.^[2] The only way for Ziva to find closure is by finding Ilan Bodnar, the one responsible for the death of her father. "Her hunt starts now", Mirante-Matthews continued.^[2]

The episode also included a woman's search for her missing husband, which, according to Mirante-Matthews, "[balanced] Ziva's search for Bodnar [against the woman's]".^[2]

Alan Dale reprised his role as Tom Morrow, now a chief in the Homeland Senior Division. His last appearance on NCIS was in the season 3 episode "Kill Ari (Part I)", where he resigned as NCIS director.

"Chasing Ghosts" was seen by 17.22 million live viewers following its broadcast on April 9, 2013, with a 2.7/8 share among adults aged 18 to 49.^[1] A rating point represents one percent of the total number of television sets in American households, and a share means the percentage of television sets in use tuned to the program. In total viewers, "Chasing Ghosts" easily won NCIS and CBS the night. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles drew second and was seen by 14.10 million viewers.^[1] Compared to the last episode "Squall", "Chasing Ghosts" was down in viewers and adults 18–49.^[3]

Douglas Wolfe from TV Fanatic gave the episode 4.5/5 and stated that "this was one of those installments where the last 10 minutes were the most compelling. [...] Finally we saw most of the NCIS gang find a way to support Ziva's hunt for Bodnar."^[4]