SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for Friday’s episode of ‘S.W.A.T.’
In a poignant farewell, original ‘S.W.A.T.’ cast member Kenny Johnson said goodbye to the team in Friday’s episode, marking a significant moment for fans of the show. Promos leading up to the episode hinted at a devastating turn of events, suggesting that Johnson’s character, Officer Dominique Luca, was killed in action. This anticipation had fans on edge about the fate of the beloved character.
While Luca did face life-threatening injuries, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, the good news is that he survived the ordeal. However, in a heartbreaking twist, a follow-up call from a doctor revealed that he had suffered irreversible nerve damage from a shoulder wound, preventing him from passing the physical required to return to duty.
Though desk duty was an option, Luca chose to retire, leading to a heartfelt ceremony attended by his fellow teammates at headquarters.
Reflecting on the emotional send-off, Johnson shared his feelings with TVLine: “Oh God, man… Whew… [Chokes up] Just looking out at, like, Jay [Harrington] and Tan (played by David Lim), and Anna [Enger Ritch] and Odie (Otis Gallop as Sgt. Stevens)… The look that they had, because they know what this means. We’ve all been so close to each other for all this time, so every single time I eyed them it was tough because it’s Luca leaving, but for me, I’m losing these friends that I’ve bonded with for six years, every single day. There’s a parallel there, obviously, but you know when it’s a human experience and it’s very real, I could see that there was a struggle in there for those guys, and it hurt me. It was a goodbye, but an ‘I love you’ to everybody. It was wild, yeah.”
As Johnson departs the series, fans can take solace in the enduring impact of Luca’s character and the bonds forged over the years on set. The emotional weight of his exit resonates not only with the cast but also with viewers who have followed the journey of the 20-Squad.
