S.W.A.T.is continuing with a Hondo spinoff, but its confusing premise highlights Sony’s mistake. AfterCBS canceledS.W.A.T.for the third and final time, Sony looked to continue the story by shopping it elsewhere. When that didn’t happen,S.W.A.T. Exileswas created with Shemar Moore set to lead the project. It functions as a spinoff, as he’s the only original character set to return, at least thus far.
Despite its cancelation,S.W.A.T.actually had a decent viewership and a passionate fan-base. Because of this, it made sense that Sony wanted to continue the project, especially since Moore was clear about his intentions to remain in the role. As exciting as it is to see the S.W.A.T. franchise expand and thrive with Hondo at the forefront, the way that it has been executed thus far has been quite chaotic.
What We Know About Shemar Moore’s S.W.A.T. Spinoff With Hondo
Just days after theS.W.A.T.series finale, Sony shared the news that a spinoff starring Shemar Moore was in the works. He would reprise the role of Hondo, but none of the other cast members from the original series would return. Instead,Hondo would usher in a new generation of S.W.A.T. officers, and at first, that didn’t seem too bad.
S.W.A.T.season 8ended with Hondo still leading 20-Squad, and there were no signs that his future with the team was at risk. Yet, in theS.W.A.T.spinoff, he is going to be coming out of retirement. We don’t even need to look at the concerns surrounding other cast members not even being involved in the creation process to say that this rushed idea is a mistake.
Hondo’s S.WA.T. Spinoff Premise Doesn’t Make Sense After The Season 8 Finale
There Would Be No Reason To Pull Hondo Out Of Retirement
However, the part of the premise that makes no sense is that Hondo is coming out of retirement, which opens up many questions after watching theS.W.A.T.series finale. After all, Hondo wasn’t even considering retirement at the end of the flagship series, and there were no threats to his career.There doesn’t seem to be a mandatory retirement age for S.W.A.T. officers,so it isn’t age-related. Already, this idea makes little sense because Hondo will always do what he can to protect the people of Los Angeles while mostly following the rules.
After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson (played by Shemar Moore) is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.
The premiere of the spinoff goes into a few more details about Hondo’s retirement, and it isn’t something that he’s chosen. Something has forced him into it, and yet, S.W.A.T. turns to him to help with the new team. It doesn’t make any sense that the police department would ask someone they have forced into retirement to come back, as there would be a lot of paperwork to fill out, and surely there are plenty of people still serving who could do the job.
As soon as he sees the generational divide, he’d likely laugh and leave S.W.A.T. to figure out their own problem, while also questioning where all the veteran officers are now.
It sets up a problematic storyline, asHondo will likely have some hang-ups about his forced retirement.There would be no incentive for him to return to the force, considering he was forced out, especially when it’s just to train a new team. As soon as he sees the generational divide, he’d likely laugh and leave S.W.A.T. to figure out their own problem, while also questioning where all the veteran officers are now.
Sony Admits That They Rushed Hondo’s S.W.A.T. Spinoff (& Its Premise Proves That)
S.W.A.T. Exiles Was Created To Keep The Crew In Work
Katherine Pope, the Sony Pictures TV Studios prexy, explained toVarietythat there had always been a plan to bring a spinoff, loosely titledS.W.A.T. Academy.Astalks forS.W.A.T.season 9 failed, Sony grouped together to fast-track the spinoff idea, but it turned intoExilesinstead. In a way, the rushed job was needed to make sure the 200+ people in Los Angeles remained in work, but there is ahuge risk considering there isn’t a network attached to the project yet.
We knew the power of the brand and the power of the team, and then we started thinking about the need to keep our crew, the need to keep our stages, our desire to keep the show in L.A. with everything going on in our city and in our business. That just provided a bit of urgency to the whole thing. We thought about it, talked about the team, talked about the creative. I give it to Keith and Ravi for saying, “let’s just keep going. Let’s roll into it, and we’ll find great partners, and we’ll find the right home for it. But let’s not delay If that means keeping our crew together, keeping this show’s heart intact. Let’s just do it.” And so that’s it. It’s all happened so fast.
On top of that is the rushed premise, which took just weeks to come together, with the L.A. Screenings as the deadline for this project to come together. Pope shared that a“great premise”was all that was needed, but we’re quick to point out the flaws in it. It’s clear that the ending forS.W.A.T.was completely disregarded in the rush, leading to nothing for Hondo making sense.
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S.W.A.T. (2017): This crime-action series follows a locally born S.W.A.T. lieutenant in Los Angeles who must navigate his loyalties between the streets and his duty to commanding a highly-trained unit responsible for resolving challenging crimes. The series explores themes of allegiance, justice, and responsibility within law enforcement.
