After 8 seasons on CBS, the action crime drama S.W.A.T. was canceled once again by the network. Fans of the series might have grown used to such bad tidings. After all, it’s the third time that the series has been announced to be in its “final” season, but that doesn’t make the news any less disappointing. There are a couple of episodes left for fans to say their (maybe?) goodbyes, and in the series’ absence, Paramount+'s military drama SEAL Team could help to ease those parting pangs.
Starring David Boreanaz, SEAL Team follows an elite group of US Navy SEALs as they travel the world and take on a series of dangerous missions. Following their professional strategies and personal sacrifices, the series is a combination of action procedural and military drama that fans of S.W.A.T. should enjoy. Seal Team is a thrilling and complex adrenaline rush. Set in the world of elite soldiers, the series that found a second life on streaming could be just the thing that S.W.A.T. fans need.
'SEAL Team' Is an Exciting and Relevant Military Drama
SEAL Team received a positive 85% audience score on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. Fans called the series “show-stopping,” “one of the best,” and “a must-watch” thanks to its incredible action and wonderful cast. With characters who struggle and evolve, viewers found the series to be highly realistic and an important view of military life. While some noted that the writing could be a bit repetitive, fans pointed out that the show represented a different sort of drama than what is usually found on TV. Viewers found this series a stand-out thanks to the action and adrenaline of the tense battle scenes as well as the more subtle and intimate look at the personal and mental struggles of active-duty military.
Boreanaz (Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) stars as Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Jason Hayes. As in all the actor’s previous works, he is endlessly engaging with his portrayal of a battle-worn but committed soldier. A natural leader who is highly respected, Boreanaz’s Hayes is a compelling protagonist. The figure is loosely inspired by real-life Navy SEAL Mark Owen, who was part of the operation to find Osama bin Laden. Owen, real name Matt Bissonnette, also served as writer and Executive Producer and used some of his real-life experiences to flesh out the character.
'Seal Team' Found a Second Life on Streaming via Paramount+
SEAL Team premiered in 2017 on CBS, running for four seasons on the network before being moved to the streaming service Paramount+ in its fifth season. Though Seal Team had positive reviews from audiences, the five seasons on CBS experienced a persistent and steep decline in viewership season after season. When the series premiered, SEAL Team had an average of almost 10 million viewers. By the fifth season, the series, which had lost an average of 4 million viewers, was shifted to Paramount+. Though fans were disappointed with the move (a number expressed dissatisfaction with the necessity of signing on for a streaming subscription to watch a show they were familiar with), when SEAL Team debuted on Paramount+, it was the most-watched series on the streamer.
Fans who followed Seal Team to Paramount+ noted that the show’s move allowed the series to be less restrained in the dialogue and more inventive in crafting the script. Viewers found that the grittiness of the change with the addition of non-network-approved language (f-bombs galore) led to the series overall feeling more realistic. This, however, can only be a boon.
Since its premiere, fans have enjoyed the series’ dedication to the intricacies of military life. For its part, the series has staffed former military operators to include their real-life experience to create authenticity. With former Navy SEALs in the writing room and a crew almost entirely composed of veterans, SEAL Team heavily fostered the military community, leading to a more complex experience onscreen.
Alongside Boreanaz, SEAL Team also stars Max Thieriot (Fire Country), Neil Brown Jr. (The Walking Dead), Jessica Pare (Mad Men), A.J. Buckley (CSI: New York), and Toni Trucks (Grimm). SEAL Team was originally rated TV-14 during its CBS run (Seasons 1-4). However, its move to streaming on Paramount+ led to more mature language and sexual content, which gave the following seasons (Seasons 5-7) an elevated rating of TV-MA.
While the sting of S.W.A.T.’s (once again) cancelation may not entirely go away for its devoted fans, perhaps a seven-season journey with the talented cast and adventures that can be found in SEAL Team will help ease the pain. All seven seasons of SEAL Team are available for streaming now on Paramount+. The final two episodes of S.W.A.T. are scheduled to air starting April 5.
