“It seems to be how we do it. They can’t keep us down,” says S.W.A.T. star Jay Harrington, sharing his thoughts on the show’s unexpected second uncancellation within a year.
Harrington directed the penultimate episode of what was initially thought to be the final season. Titled “Allegiance,” airing May 10, the episode follows the team as they race against time to save a kidnapped teenager from eco-terrorists. Meanwhile, Hondo (Shemar Moore) grapples with the fallout from a shooting that challenges his standing in the community he’s sworn to protect.
The Excitement of Uncancelation
Harrington describes the moment he learned about the show’s renewal, which came just days before finishing filming. “Shemar called me the night before, saying, ‘It’s looking good, but let’s keep our fingers crossed.’ The next day, during a meeting with executives, they thanked us for our work and then Shemar announced, ‘Let’s do 22 more.’ It was an incredible moment.”
Directorial Vision and Nostalgia
As Harrington prepared to direct the episode, he aimed to create a nostalgic experience. “Knowing it could be our second-to-last episode, I wanted to incorporate callbacks to the pilot,” he explains. “I had moments in the script that echoed visuals from our first episode, which I hope longtime fans will appreciate.”
In “Allegiance,” the episode opens with urgency as Deacon and Annie (Bre Blair) are having dinner with Hondo and Nichelle (Rochelle Aytes) when a S.W.A.T. call interrupts their evening. “Deacon’s in this transitional phase of retirement, trying to figure out where he fits in now,” Harrington notes.
Hondo’s Inner Turmoil
Harrington delves into the emotional weight carried by Hondo throughout the episode. “Hondo is dealing with the implications of the shooting while also grappling with the loss of his teammates,” he reveals. The stakes are heightened by the ticking clock as they attempt to locate the kidnapped boy, adding pressure to an already tense situation.
Harrington describes a pivotal scene where he and Shemar capture the essence of Hondo’s struggle. “I wanted to create distance between us on camera to reflect Hondo’s isolation. It was a fun challenge, and it turned out great.”
A Complex Relationship with Retirement
Though Deacon is officially retired, he still finds himself drawn back into the action, grappling with mixed emotions about his departure from the team. “He witnesses conflicts among the current squad members, which evokes feelings of being a fish out of water,” Harrington says. “Despite retiring, Deacon still feels the pull of the job, and fans will see how that plays out in the final episodes.”
As the series approaches its climax, Harrington is optimistic about the future of S.W.A.T. and the unresolved arcs for characters like Deacon. “I’m not going anywhere. We have two more episodes to wrap things up, and I think fans are going to love it.”
With a blend of nostalgia and fresh challenges, the upcoming episodes promise to deliver an emotional farewell to the characters fans have grown to love.
