If you’re like most NCIS fans, you’re definitely not happy to see Cote de Pablo go. (Just as a recap to anyone who did not know, Cote de Pablo decided she did not want to do the show anymore and her character Ziva David will come to a close in season 11, according to USMagazine.com)

However, according to Entertainment Weekly’s Sandra Gonzalez, Executive Producer Gary Glasberg still has a good feeling about next season.

In his interview with Gonzalez ,Glasberg explains he was “saddened” by de Pablo’s decision.

“It’s the last thing we planned on,” he said.

Nevertheless he added, “At the end of the day, I’m really happy with what we came up with. Everyone has to watch the first two episodes.”

Glasberg said that because of the utterly unexpected twist, some changes—actually a lot of changes—had to be made.

”I literally had to lock myself away and everything I was planning on had to be blown out and I had to start all over again,” he says of the news, which came after plans for the season had already begun. “Again, it’s not what we had hoped for. This family — this NCIS family that exists between [the characters] — is so special and so unique, and this was Cote’s decision and we have to respect that … but some really fantastic work is going to come out of what occurred. We have some really terrific stuff planned for the year.”

Glasberg added the second episode will pretty much center on Ziva. “I promise the viewers will not be disappointed — especially the Tiva fans, as we say. I hope it’s everything they want it to be,” he continued.

“I want some of it to be a surprise, but I think people will be pleased at the end of the day with where it’s left both emotionally and psychologically — and not only for Tony, but Gibbs, Abby, and everybody,” said Glasberg. “That’s a big part of what I was taking into consideration — really understanding how the people and the fans are so connected to our characters. You really have to honor that.”