SEAL Team Missed the Perfect Way to Keep Clay Alive in Season 7 (Even Though Max Thieriot Left)
SEAL Team killing Clay Spenser (Max Thieriot) squandered the perfect way to keep the beloved character a part of the show’s storyline in season 7. SEAL Team Season 6 was difficult for many viewers to watch because, despite some good moments, it was also plagued by poor creative decisions. Much of that can be attributed to the way the show handled Thieriot’s departure, putting Clay in a number of horrifying situations before his finale.
Rather than one development ruining Clay’s arc, the entire season was responsible for setting up such a bland goodbye that led to Clay’s death. However, the show could have fixed this by keeping Clay alive and being a part of the SEAL Team season 7 storyline. Even if Thieriot left due to his commitment to Fire Country, there was still a chance that Clay’s role in season 7 would have brought something new to the series, just off-screen.
Clay’s final storyline began in SEAL Team season 6, episode 1, with the episode revealing that his leg had been amputated after the attack on Bravo Team at the end of the previous season. Understandably, his career was forever changed as he could no longer deploy with Bravo Team. Instead, he took a backseat and got used to being a father and spending more time at home afterwards. There were some good things in these storylines, but overall, Clay deserved better.
It seems like the writers didn’t know how much time they had with Thieriot in SEAL Team Season 6 and rushed to piece together one final storyline, only to realize they had him for longer.
It seems like the writers didn’t know how much time they had with Thieriot in SEAL Team Season 6 and rushed to piece together one final storyline, only to realize they had him for longer. It would have been much more satisfying if Clay had recovered from the ambush and had a happy ending with Stella. He had been through so much by that point that he would have been relieved to have a little break from the dangers of the job. Sadly, the show killed him off just as things got interesting for him.
Clay has a big heart and is always willing to help people, so volunteering at Ray’s (Neil Brown Jr.) veterans center is a compelling way to fill his time. Clay grew increasingly lonely away from his team, and the center brought him into contact with many people he could help. The Veterans Center has become a hub for those who served their country and needed support, so it’s a shame that the show used such a powerful story to set up Clay’s downfall.
Clay had to have his leg amputated, lost his career, and knew his father was battling terminal cancer, so he deserved some happiness. Instead, he tried to stop Ben (Joey Pollari) from shooting himself, which brought out the humanity in Clay. He was shot and killed when security arrived because he was holding Ben’s gun. In the wake of his untimely death, Clay slowly accepted the idea of leaving town with Stella to start over, something he initially wasn’t keen on because it would distance him from his friends.
Given Thieriot’s commitment to Fire Country, it’s possible the writers killed Clay off because they didn’t feel they could explain his absence from major storylines. Many long-running shows are forced to say goodbye to their original stars and find creative ways to explain their absences. With a little thought, SEAL Team could have kept Clay alive and given him updates on his life that viewers would relate to. SEAL Team has thrived on character connections since the series’ debut, so Clay would still be in touch with his old team.
While it’s out of character for him to be absent from some major moments, it could be explained by the fact that he’s taking on a new job that demands all of his time. With SEAL Team season 7 spanning 10 episodes, it wouldn’t be hard to explain why Clay would be absent. Hearing about his life through other characters would have been much more satisfying than SEAL Team’s final direction, which left a sour taste in viewers’ mouths due to the disappointing handling of Thieriot’s passing.
