What a tumultuous ride fans of the CBS drama “S.W.A.T.” have been on these last few weeks. First, the show was awaiting renewal news. Then came the cancellation notice, followed by a last-minute renewal days later, consisting of a shortened seventh and final season with just 13 episodes ordered. Now the show has joined Netflix, where it can grow an even wider audience.
As of yesterday, May 17, fans of the Shemar Moore-led series were able to begin streaming all 106 episodes from the first five seasons on the world’s biggest streaming service, with Season 6 episodes set to join the platform later this fall, according to a tweet by series creator Shawn Ryan, who also executive produces the series.
In addition to Netflix, “S.W.A.T.” is also available to stream on Hulu and Paramount+, the latter of which has rights to the current season only while the former streams the first three seasons. The Netflix deal, which closed just over a month ago and predates CBS/Sony negotiations over Season 7, allows fans to watch the first five seasons on one platform for the first time.
On the show, Moore stars as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Hondo strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds.
The series also stars Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle, Hondo’s girlfriend, operator of a South LA community center.
The sixth season finale of “S.W.A.T.” is set to air on Friday, May 19 on CBS. The episode, entitled “Legacy,” which is part two of a two-part season finale, finds the team working with the DEA and their iron-jawed leader, Mack Boyle (guest star Timothy Hutton), to stop a ruthless cartel boss waging war on the streets of Los Angeles as he exacts revenge on those who killed his son.
In announcing its fall schedule for the 2023-2024 broadcast television season, CBS revealed the show would remain in its current Friday at 8:00 p.m. time period, with the expectation that the Writers Strike will be over by that time.