S.W.A.T. was not too long ago canceled for a 3rd time by CBS, and its finale is considered one of many hitting the 2025 TV schedule. Airing on Friday, Might 16, it looks as if this one will likely be sticking. Regardless of the ultimate two episodes airing back-to-back, it gained’t be a “huge sequence finale occasion” however will extra resemble non-conclusive finales that may nonetheless go away S.W.A.T. followers wanting extra, since 20-Squad will certainly proceed present. Now, after listening to one govt producer’s ideas concerning the finale, I’m most trying ahead to seeing 20-Squad as a household.
All through the procedural’s run, it’s all the time been clear that 20-Squad is a household, regardless of who comes or goes. It’s the primary cause why it took so lengthy for Hondo to seek out everlasting replacements for Road and Luca final season. And naturally, that will likely be evident as soon as once more in these remaining two episodes, extra so than ever earlier than, as govt producer Andrew Dettman tells TV Insider:
Heading into the finale, Hondo goes to be challenged to maintain the workforce collectively. He has all the time referred to and considered 20-Squad as a household, however now that notion will likely be examined like by no means earlier than.
What precisely which means is unknown, however something can occur. It’s apparent that it gained’t be simple for Hondo, particularly if this might imply that the squad is perhaps breaking apart once more or one thing else. Not solely will they be going up towards “probably the most formidable and well-trained opponents they’ve ever confronted,” however Hondo and the workforce will likely be studying extra about themselves and one another:
We attain new floor with nearly all the characters. Deacon [Jay Harrington] realizes what actually issues to him at SWAT. Tan [David Lim] considers a brand new profession path inside the LAPD. Powell [Anna Enger Ritch] and Alfaro [Niko Pepaj] cement their bonds of friendship. And Gamble [Annie Ilonzeh] makes a life-altering choice about her function with the workforce.
Despite the fact that it’s arduous to think about 20-Squad now not being 20-Squad, it seems like nearly everybody goes to start out a brand new chapter of their lives, whether or not that’s private or skilled. They’ve all gone via lots over time, and over the past season, but it surely looks as if not solely will they be readying themselves for one thing new, however they will even be leaning on one another.
Moreover, Hondo will even be studying about what it means to be chief from Hicks, but when anybody can hold the squad collectively, it’s Hondo. That being stated, what makes 20-Squad particular is that not solely are they a household on-screen, however off-screen as effectively:
It’s a mirrored image of how our solid and crew have turn into so extremely shut over the course of the present, and people relationships and affections really feel solely stronger understanding that we’re close to our finish. By shining a lightweight on the respect and dedication every of the characters have for one another, we’re giving a nod to our bigger household and the bonds we’ve made.
Irrespective of how S.W.A.T. ends and whether or not 20-Squad is all nonetheless collectively or they’re shifting on, they may actually nonetheless be a household, which makes the cancellation even more durable. After all, followers can all the time watch the present with a Netflix subscription or the current episodes with a Paramount+ subscription, however that’s simply not the identical.
If something, the squad will likely be going out with one final intense case, and it features a automobile stunt that Dettman teases “perhaps tops our already wonderful résumé” as Hondo and the workforce proceed to work collectively to make LA protected:
Even when we’re now not alongside for the journey, Hondo and 20-Squad will nonetheless be piling into [armored vehicle] Black Betty and making town protected.
If it’s not the household facet, S.W.A.T. is thought for pulling out some fairly intense stunts, whether or not that features a airplane, semi-truck, motorbike, or simply your common automobile. Hopefully this will likely be one for the spotlight reels.
It needs to be entertaining to see the way it all involves an finish when the S.W.A.T. finale airs on Friday at 9 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET on CBS.