SEAL Team: Jamie McShane and Rudy Dobrev Join the Cast for Season 3
CBS’s military action-drama SEAL Team returned for its third season with high-stakes missions and deeper character developments. But one of the most exciting elements of Season 3 was the addition of Jamie McShane and Rudy Dobrev to the cast. These seasoned actors brought new energy, conflict, and complexity to the show’s narrative, adding layers that fans didn’t see coming.
In this in-depth article, we’ll explore who these actors are, which roles they play on SEAL Team, how their characters impact the Bravo Team dynamic, and what fans thought about these key additions.
Who Are Jamie McShane and Rudy Dobrev?
Jamie McShane: The Character Actor With Grit
Jamie McShane is no stranger to intense, emotionally driven roles. With a long list of credits in television and film, he’s best known for his work in:
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Sons of Anarchy
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Bloodline
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Southland
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Bosch
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The Lincoln Lawyer
McShane has built a reputation as a versatile character actor who brings depth and realism to every role he takes. His intense demeanor and commanding screen presence made him a perfect fit for a military drama like SEAL Team.
Rudy Dobrev: A Rising Star in the Action Genre
Rudy Dobrev, on the other hand, is a rising talent. Though less of a household name, he has steadily built up a following through roles in action-driven shows and indie dramas. He brings youthful energy and a fresh face to the SEAL Team universe.
While his previous credits are more low-key, SEAL Team marks a significant career step that showcased his skills in both physical action and nuanced emotional scenes.
What Roles Do They Play in SEAL Team Season 3?
Jamie McShane as Captain Lindell
Jamie McShane joined SEAL Team Season 3 as Captain Greyson Lindell, a high-ranking Navy officer who becomes a central figure in the show’s narrative. Lindell’s role is complex: he is tasked with overseeing Bravo Team operations and ensuring that missions are carried out within strict protocol, often putting him at odds with Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz) and the rest of Bravo.
Captain Lindell’s traits include:
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Strict adherence to military procedure
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Leadership with a focus on long-term structure
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Minimal tolerance for off-the-books decision-making
This immediately introduces tension with Jason, who frequently operates based on instinct and field decisions rather than orders from above. Lindell’s presence represents bureaucracy vs. battlefield instinct, a major theme throughout Season 3.
Rudy Dobrev as Viktor Skelton
Rudy Dobrev portrays Viktor Skelton, a foreign intelligence contact and former special operative with a murky past. His character is introduced during a critical overseas arc that sees Bravo Team working closely with international forces.
Skelton is mysterious, charismatic, and unpredictable. His background in Eastern European black ops gives him an edge, and his insider knowledge of underground arms networks and insurgent groups becomes essential to Bravo’s success in a few missions.
Key elements of his character:
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Ambiguous loyalties
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Tactical expertise
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A shadowy past that clashes with U.S. military ethics
Skelton challenges the team’s perception of trust, making him a wildcard who becomes both an ally and a threat depending on the situation.
How These Characters Impact Season 3’s Storyline
A New Layer of Conflict
The addition of Captain Lindell and Viktor Skelton expands SEAL Team beyond its original framework. The show had already started moving away from purely episodic storytelling by Season 2, and Season 3 continues that evolution with serialized arcs and deeper political intrigue.
Captain Lindell’s role introduces:
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Internal military politics
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Questions about team leadership
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Tension between long-term planning and mission improvisation
Meanwhile, Skelton’s involvement forces Bravo Team to navigate unfamiliar terrain in terms of international alliances and intelligence sharing.
Bravo Team Faces Internal and External Pressure
Captain Lindell’s presence triggers several internal confrontations. Jason Hayes, who has always led his team by example in the field, finds himself undermined or second-guessed. This creates friction, especially during emotionally charged missions involving Ray Perry and Sonny Quinn.
On the other hand, Skelton’s knowledge becomes invaluable during the team’s time in Serbia and Eastern Europe, but his presence also leads to major trust issues. His motives aren’t always clear, and this makes the team uneasy — especially Clay Spenser, who is naturally skeptical and analytical.
Key Episodes Featuring McShane and Dobrev
Captain Lindell – Notable Episodes
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Episode 3.05 – “All Along the Watchtower: Part 1”
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Captain Lindell begins asserting more control over Bravo operations.
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Episode 3.06 – “All Along the Watchtower: Part 2”
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Tensions between Lindell and Jason Hayes escalate during a critical mission.
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Episode 3.09 – “Kill or Cure”
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Lindell’s decisions affect the team’s access to intelligence and resources.
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Viktor Skelton – Notable Episodes
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Episode 3.10 – “Unbecoming an Officer”
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Skelton’s first appearance. Clay and Ray express concern over his background.
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Episode 3.12 – “Fog of War”
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Skelton’s intel helps Bravo narrowly avoid a deadly ambush.
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Episode 3.13 – “Objects in Mirror”
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A deeper dive into his past reveals secrets that shift the mission’s direction.
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Behind the Scenes: Why These Additions Mattered
Casting Choices
The producers of SEAL Team made strategic casting decisions by bringing in McShane and Dobrev. McShane’s gravitas as a seasoned actor created authority without overplaying it. Meanwhile, Dobrev’s ambiguity kept audiences guessing — friend or foe?
Showrunner Spencer Hudnut said in interviews that the goal of Season 3 was to expand the narrative universe and create characters that could challenge Bravo Team’s cohesion and stability. These two did just that.
Fan and Critical Reception
Fans were divided at first, particularly about Captain Lindell. Some viewed him as an antagonist to Jason, while others appreciated the added realism of military hierarchy.
Critics noted:
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Jamie McShane added “moral realism and tension that grounded Season 3.”
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Rudy Dobrev provided “a compelling shadow character who plays by a different rulebook.”
On Reddit and Twitter, fans debated whether Skelton could be trusted — a testament to Dobrev’s nuanced performance.
SEAL Team Season 3 Themes Elevated by New Cast
The addition of Jamie McShane and Rudy Dobrev helped emphasize Season 3’s major themes:
Leadership Under Pressure
Lindell’s contrast with Jason forced viewers to ask: What makes a good leader — instinct or discipline?
Loyalty vs. Strategy
Skelton’s role questions how far Bravo Team is willing to go to win, and whether aligning with questionable allies is ever justified.
Evolution of Warfare
Season 3 explores modern combat not just through action but through the politics, red tape, and psychological toll behind every mission.
Where Are They Now?
Jamie McShane
After SEAL Team, McShane continued to land major roles. He appeared in:
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The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix)
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CSI: Vegas
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Wednesday (Netflix’s Addams Family series)
His ability to portray morally complex authority figures continues to keep him in high demand.
Rudy Dobrev
Dobrev’s performance earned him praise and opened doors in both TV and film. He has since appeared in several international productions and action-driven indie projects. His quiet charisma and physical presence hint at a promising future in the action-thriller space.
Final Thoughts: Season 3’s Stronger, Smarter Direction
Season 3 of SEAL Team marked a turning point for the series — one where the action remained intense, but the emotional and strategic layers deepened significantly. The addition of Jamie McShane as Captain Lindell and Rudy Dobrev as Viktor Skelton played a key role in that transformation.
Whether loved or hated, these characters pushed Bravo Team — and viewers — out of their comfort zone, making for a season that’s still remembered as one of the show’s most dynamic and layered.
As SEAL Team continues to evolve, Season 3 stands as proof that smart casting and complex characters can elevate a show from good to unforgettable.
