SEAL Team AJ Buckley Defends Max Thieriot’s Exit Scene Despite Backlash
Clay (played by Max Thieriot) and Sonny Quinn (AJ Buckley) shared an unparalleled friendship throughout the six seasons of SEAL Team so far, but it ended in heartbreak when the former was killed in shocking circumstances. Thieriot’s exit from the Paramount+ drama seemed inevitable given the demands and success of his new role on CBS’ new drama Fire Country, but viewers were still surprised by the way Clay exited. So sudden was his departure that it was met with a less-than-friendly reception.
Clay had just received a call from Ben (Joey Pollari), who was clearly out of sorts, and knew he had to intervene to prevent things from coming back to haunt him.
However, when he saw Ben about to tear apart an Army recruiting center, things took a turn for the worse.
Ben points the gun at his temple and threatens to kill himself, forcing the normally calm Clay to finally calm the situation and grab the gun.
Unbeknownst to Clay, however, a security guard has discovered the fight and when Clay turns around with the gun in his hand, the guard opens fire.
As the bullet hits Clay in the chest, he falls to the floor before the camera pans to reveal the SEAL Team’s most beloved player dead.
However, given Clay’s devotion to Bravo, unwavering loyalty and fearless conduct on the battlefield, many feel this is not the best way to write Thieriot off the series.
On Twitter, for example, fans have been left scratching their heads over the way he left, including @NwokeOma_, who wrote: “Clay’s death was brutal and the way he died was completely senseless.
“You’d think this was about him getting his own series in Fire Country, but it wasn’t, which makes it all the more upsetting. #sealteam may have lost a fan in me.”
And SEAL Team fan @DanTaraba agreed: “The worst part is that Clay died at home, not on the front. A tough soldier denied the death of a hero. #SEALTeam.”
While @sylangell threatened to boycott the show over these scenes: “I will not watch this series again after Clay’s death. I hope the fanfic is smarter and not for the same #SEALTeam.” (sic) Despite the divided reaction, star Sonny Buckley shared his sympathy for showrunner Spencer Hudnut and defended his choice.
“But I think Spencer did a good job,” Buckley defended to TVLine. “And he did the best he could under the circumstances that he was given.”
Hudnut also previously explained why Thieriot left in such a way in a separate interview with the publication.
He said: “Yes, it was shocking and horrible and it was an accident, but to me, what really matters is that Clay, in my mind, died a hero.
