New details about S.W.A.T. season 8 reveal the status of a departing character, in addition to what it means for their relationship with Shemar Moore’s Hondo. The Shawn Ryan-created action drama series, which follows Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore) and his unit, recently announced that Rochelle Aytes will not return as a series regular for S.W.A.T. season 8. The actor, who plays Hondo’s wife Nichelle Carmichael, is joining the upcoming Sherlock-connected CBS drama Watson in the meantime.
In an update from TVLine, it’s mentioned that Nichelle and Hondo will still be very happily married when the CBS show returns on Friday, October 18. It’s stated that the plan is for Aytes to make an appearance within roughly the first few episodes or so. This confirms a previous report that said the plan is for Aytes to still recur as needed, despite her involvement with Watson.
The Latest Update Continues Nichelle Carmichael’s Long History On S.W.A.T.
The Character First Appeared During Season 3
Aytes first appeared during S.W.A.T. season 3 and has been a part of well over 40 episodes. The character was introduced as a worker at the local community center and positioned as a potential love interest for Hondo. That relationship has since blossomed. S.W.A.T. season 5 featured a significant storyline for the pair, as Nichelle gets pregnant with Hondo’s first child. Their daughter, Vivian, was later born.
As of S.W.A.T. season 7, Hondo and Nichelle are married. Nichelle’s storyline has also grown as, outside her marriage to Hondo, she becomes a police performance auditor with the Office of the Inspector General. With so much going on in her life, it would be odd to have her exit so suddenly; the only other option would be to kill Nichelle, which is far from ideal. The latest update is confirmation that Aytes, who also previously played Moore’s love interest on Criminal Minds, will still have a presence on the show.
What’s Rochelle Aytes’ New Sherlock Show About?
Watson Is Going Solo
Watson will see The Resident alum Morrison Chestnut in the titular role, with the show set one year after the death of Sherlock Holmes. Described as a contemporary story, the series follows Dr. John Watson as he resumes his medical career. He’s the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. However, his life with Holmes is not quite finished with him. In particular, official summaries have teased that Moriarty will still be present, and facing off with Watson.
Several upcoming movies and TV show adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes novels will take different approaches and put new spins on the same story.
Aytes will play Dr. Mary Morstan, one of the best surgeons on the East Coast who serves as the director of Watson’s hospital. It also just so happens that she is his ex-wife. It’s been said that while she does respect Watson, Morstan tends to disagree with his approach to medicine. Aytes joins a cast that also includes Peter Mark Kendall and Ritchie Coster, who play twin doctors.
Expected to premiere in early 2025 as a midseason title, Watson is created by Craig Sweeny, a writer and producer on the Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu drama Elementary, another Sherlock Holmes-adjacent show that ran for seven seasons on CBS. It’s a relief to know that Aytes’ new role will still give her a chance to appear occasionally on S.W.A.T. as Nichelle Carmichael.
