I Hope Max Thieriot Returns for SEAL Team’s Final Season, But I Understand This EP Doesn’t Make a Whole Lot of Sense
Paramount+’s military drama SEAL Team officially ended on October 6 after seven seasons, and it was as emotional as ever. The show wrapped up stories and took several Bravos in different and unexpected directions. Overall, though, without giving away any spoilers, it was definitely a great way to end the show. While SEAL Team’s final season was great, I can’t help but hope that Max Thieriot miraculously finds his way back, but I understand why that didn’t happen.
After playing Clay Spenser for the first six seasons, Max Thieriot left the show in the middle of season 6 due to his obligations to Fire Country, which he both starred in and co-created. Ultimately, SEAL Team killed Clay off, but I was hoping he would return in a flashback or dream sequence in the final episodes. However, executive producer Spencer Hudnut told TV Insider why that wasn’t even an option, explaining: Really, keeping Max from finishing his work in Season 6 was so difficult that I wasn’t even going to open that can of worms.
Fire Country has only gotten more popular since it debuted in 2022, and with Thieriot starring in the show and serving as an executive producer, his hands were tied. So I understand the purpose of the SEAL Team EP. At the very least, it was nice that he was able to wrap up Clay’s story before he officially left a few years ago.
It’s hard to work on two shows at once, especially when they’re both pretty tough. Not to mention the fact that Fire Country is becoming a franchise, with a spinoff in the works starring Morena Baccarin and another possibly in the works starring Jared Padalecki. So, honestly, I can’t blame Hudnut for not even wanting to try and include Thieriot in the final season.
Even though Thieriot may not return after leaving, Clay is still a very important part of the story. Bravo is still grieving, especially A.J. Buckley’s Sonny, who has promised to take care of his family. Alona Tal, who plays Clay’s wife Stella, also pops up occasionally after Clay’s death and helps bring peace to both Jason and Sonny, especially in this final season. On that point, Hudnut says: Clay exists. Clay will haunt the season for sure. I mean, he clearly inspired Sonny [A.J. Buckley] in a lot of ways, and he haunts Ray on a number of levels. And I think we honor Clay in the ending through Stella [Alona Tal] and through Sonny’s actions. I think even in death, Clay really helped Sonny become the best version of himself. And so, to me, that’s enough.
Even though Thieriot isn’t returning to the show, there are still a lot of ways they could have included his character. So, that’s exactly what they did, and I enjoyed watching it.
Even though he didn’t appear in the final season of SEAL Team, fans will still see a lot of Thieriot in the upcoming third season of Fire Country. CBS’s firefighter drama returns Friday, October 18 at 9 p.m. ET as part of its 2024 television schedule, and between a helicopter crash, Bode and Gabriela’s complicated relationship, and a new ex-convict joining the mix, there’s a lot to look forward to.
