S.W.A.T. slammed the door in the face of what remained of its original squad, but should they have done that?
Again, I’m not a S.W.A.T. diehard. I tuned into the first few seasons of the series, but ironically, with the cast shifts and so forth, it often begins to take a toll on me, seeing characters I love exit stage right.
Why? Because to me, S.W.A.T. was an ensemble series, and sometimes, if the ensemble shifts too much, a girl’s interest wanes.
However, it’s still a series that I’ll catch an installment or two here and there.
I’ve admitted that a series that scored three different renewals after deaths should probably call it quits. But I also know how much the general audience loves this series.
But they don’t love it solely because of Hondo, right? I’m not imagining that, am I?
Yeah, Shemar Moore is often a draw, and S.W.A.T. has been his baby since he departed Criminal Minds. He wanted to headline something on his own, and more power to him for that.
Moore is the type of actor who should be a headliner, and he’s put in the work for it.
But part of the reason why the response to S.W.A.T. Exiles has been mixed at best is because when people think of S.W.A.T., they think about the full ensemble.
It’s not a series where you only associate it with Hondo or Moore.
Shemar Moore is the leading figure, but we also know a lead is only as good as those around him.
S.W.A.T. has never been a series that would appeal to individuals for one character alone. When news broke that it faced another cancellation, and a typically vocal Moore accepted it, the surprise was palpable.
But once we learned about S.W.A.T. Exiles, it made all the sense in the world. And again, this isn’t about bashing Shemar Moore.
The man is ensuring that the entire crew who worked on S.W.A.T. over the years will also get to do the same on this spinoff. It’s impressive and noble in its own right.
But it sure as hell sucks for the rest of the cast, right?
It made me think about how painful it is when you spend nearly a decade pouring into creating a legacy, only to be cast aside.
David Lim and Jay Harrington have been part of S.W.A.T. since the beginning. They’re as instrumental in building the legacy of S.W.A.T. onscreen as Moore, right?
I’d argue that Deacon and Tan are every bit as embedded in the fabric of this reboot, so it makes sense that it will sting for both actors, like Lim, and viewers when spinoff news doesn’t look and sound like one anticipates.
It’s easy to understand why Lim feels as if the series cast him and others aside.
I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting,” Lim admitted. “It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show and for the impact it had on so many.
David Lim, Personal Instagram
S.W.A.T.’s very name references a team, a squad, and a unit. Each person who contributes to this unit brings something that makes them elite.
If one component fails in any capacity, the entire unit is at risk. It’s a series that has unquestionably always revolved around teamwork. The series is notably about a coveted ensemble.
It’s a stark contrast from Moore acknowledging that change is hard but referencing himself as the “Tom Brady” of S.W.A.T., something he deems more fact than arrogance or ego.
I’m not even here to parse through where that falls, but even if Shemar Moore was part of the allure of S.W.A.T., it’s like stating that Brady was somehow able to become Tom Brady without a team.
Moore has indeed earned his bones, putting three decades into a business that only relatively recently started giving him his due. If you weren’t a soap opera fan or part of certain communities or circles, many didn’t consider him mainstream until Criminal Minds and now S.W.A.T.
But it does make you wonder what happens when the legacy you build erases others.
Similarly, we may have the same conversations about Blue Bloods.
It would be nice to carry on with the series in some regard. It was one of CBS’s strongest series — a family drama and police procedural in one that beat the odds with a 14-season run.
Tom Selleck helmed it, but now, Boston Blue will fixate on Donnie Wahlberg. That may be enough to scratch the itch of those craving any Blue Bloods content.
However, there is a genuine and reasonable concern that the spinoff may lack the familial vibe that was instrumental to the original series’ success.
It wasn’t one person who made Blue Bloods such a hit. It was the Reagan family coming together around a dinner table as a touchstone, no matter what was happening with the other characters.
Perhaps other Blue Bloods members aren’t feeling the same sting about spinoff news as with S.W.A.T. CBS has spoken about a great deal of spinoffs for Blue Bloods, so perhaps that’s why.
Despite this comparison, S.W.A.T. relies more heavily on an ensemble format than Blue Bloods. Many may find that distinction sufficient to overlook the differences.
However, given the mixed reactions to S.W.A.T. Exiles and the apparent disappointment of at least some of the other series members, I am compelled to reflect on the turbulent nature of navigating an industry like television.
What happens when you’re exiled from a legacy you built? And will all of that cease to matter in favor of the next hit?
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