Shemar Moore leads S.W.A.T. as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr., the tough, commanding team leader who is fearless in his drive for justice by tracking down violent criminals in Los Angeles.

While the CBS show had been saved from cancelation a couple of times before, strike three came down, thus likely ending the show for good this time around. With only a handful of episodes left in S.W.A.T. season 8 strong as Hondo and his unit continue to tackle high-stakes crimes like hostage situations, gang violence, and drug traffickers.

S.W.A.T Season 8 Has 7 More Episodes Left

The Final Countdown Is On For The CBS Drama

S.W.A.T. has seven more episodes left in season 8, leaving room for the show to heighten the obstacles for Hondo and his crew as they take down criminals and investigate complex cases. The latest episode, "Hostages," finds Sergeant Hondo and the S.W.A.T. team going undercover as hostages as they manage an anti-terror sting operation at a bus station to sniff out a terrorist. However, the situation becomes increasingly complicated as the unit finds themselves taking on a group of felons who take over the station, holding civilians and other police officers in captivity.

During this intense case, there's also tension brewing between S.W.A.T. Commander Robert Hicks and Deputy Chief Bennett as they contemplate over how to handle the bus station situation. Their argument unveils Bennett's determination to remove Hicks as S.W.A.T. Commander due to their continuous differences in tactical strategies. New episodes of S.W.A.T. return in April with the episodes "Hail Mary," "The Enemy Within," and "Exploited," along with two unnamed episodes at the start of May.

The plots regarding these next episodes of S.W.A.T. are unknown. However, the conflict between Hicks and Bennett will surely last towards the end of the show to determine how their disputes will be handled and impact the rest of the unit. As for Hondo, he's gone through several personal relationships and made enemies over the course of the show, and this final season intends to encapsulate Hondo's journey as a S.W.A.T. team leader. Despite Hondo's wife Nichelle Carmichael not returning in season 8, she could make a guest appearance in the last episodes.

When Is S.W.A.T.'s Series Finale, And What Will It Be About?

This May Truly Be The End Of S.W.A.T. For Good

The series finale of S.W.A.T. will consist of two episodes and is set to air on May 16. The first part, "Ride or Die," involves Hondo confronting an old nemesis from his past who was believed to be deceased but is alive. This enemy is a brutal car thief leading a crew of road warriors who hijack an auto-carrier truck and go around L.A. to find a mysterious car worth $60 million. Officer Devin Gamble is also on the case since her brother Leon is involved, placing Gamble's future with S.W.A.T. in turmoil.

The second part of the finale, "Return to Base," involves the S.W.A.T. team's final mission. The unit goes up against a ruthless army of Russian mercenaries who wreak havoc on L.A. by planting hundreds of explosives around the City of Angels to get back their leader, Dmitri Rykov. S.W.A.T. holds Rykov in their headquarters for safekeeping, but not long before Rykov's army wages war on Hondo and his unit, forcing the S.W.A.T. team to engage in a battle for survival.

What To Expect From The Remainder Of S.W.A.T.'s Run

S.W.A.T. Can Finish Strong By Providing Closure To Its Characters

While it seems like S.W.A.T. is the type of police action drama that can keep going thanks to Moore's commanding performance as Hondo and the development of his unit, it seems unlikely that the show can be revived for a third time (unless a streaming service like Netflix can revive S.W.A.T. again). However, the subplots for the series finale will test Hondo both on a personal level as he faces an old enemy and his stature as a leader as the unit battles a relentless army on their home base.

CBS revived S.W.A.T. twice from cancelation, first in May 2023 after season 6, and again in April 2024 after season 7.

Along with Hondo's future as S.W.A.T. leader and his marriage to Nicole, the future of his unit also holds several questions. This includes Gamble and how Leon's involvement with a carjacking crew will impact her S.W.A.T. career and her relationship with her brother. The conflicting dynamic between Commander Hicks and Deputy Bennett will also loom large regarding whether they will settle their differences at work or if one of them will eventually be out of a job. S.W.A.T. seeks to end on a high note after a lengthy run.

Source: TVLine

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New episodes of S.W.A.T. will return on April 4th, and the series finale will air on May 16 on CBS.