After years at the center of SEAL Team, David Boreanaz has seen every kind of reaction imaginable—but the latest wave of audience response has been especially intense. As Jason Hayes, his performance continues to divide viewers, and Boreanaz isn’t shying away from the conversation.
Some fans argue that Jason has become darker, more stubborn, and harder to root for in recent seasons. Others, however, praise the character as one of the most emotionally honest portrayals of a modern warfighter on television. According to Boreanaz, that split reaction is exactly the point.
“Jason was never meant to be comfortable or easy to like,” Boreanaz has explained. “He carries years of trauma, loss, and responsibility. That changes a person—and pretending otherwise would be dishonest.”
Online discussions have only intensified, with viewers debating whether Jason’s decisions are heroic or self-destructive. For many longtime fans, this complexity is what makes the character compelling. They see Jason Hayes not as a flawless leader, but as a man struggling to hold himself together while still leading Bravo Team into life-or-death missions.
Boreanaz acknowledges the criticism, but says he doesn’t approach the role trying to please everyone. Instead, he focuses on portraying the psychological cost of war, even when it makes Jason uncomfortable to watch.
💥 Love him or hate him, audiences can’t ignore him. The ongoing debate surrounding Jason Hayes proves that David Boreanaz’s performance still hits a nerve—and that SEAL Team continues to resonate because it refuses to offer easy answers.
