S.W.A.T. fans are grappling with an emotional end to the beloved action-drama series as CBS gears up to broadcast the show’s two-hour series finale.
The announcement comes after months of speculation regarding the show’s future, which had seen it face cancellation and revival in recent seasons. Originally canceled after Season 6 in May 2023, fervent fans rallied to bring back the series, leading to its renewal for a seventh and then an eighth season in the fall of 2024. However, CBS officially confirmed on March 6, 2025, that the upcoming May finale would mark the end of the line for S.W.A.T.
As anticipation builds for the finale, the network has teased its content, releasing a synopsis for the first part titled “Ride or Die.” In this installment, the series protagonist Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, portrayed by Shemar Moore, faces off against a violent car thief thought to be dead, igniting old rivalries and forcing him to confront long-held fears. The plot thickens as Gamble, another key character, finds herself in a personal crisis when her brother becomes embroiled in the investigation.
Part two of the finale, named “Return to Base,” ramps up the tension when a group of ex-pat Russian mercenaries lays siege to Los Angeles, threatening the city with hidden explosives in a bid to free their leader, Dmitri Rykov. As Rykov is placed under SWAT’s protection, the stakes rise dramatically when SWAT’s headquarters comes under attack, challenging the team to secure their survival.
The special back-to-back episodes will air on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. ET on CBS and will be available for streaming on Paramount+. The slot proves significant, considering the show’s long-standing legacy that has captivated audiences through its dynastic rise and tribulations.
Reflecting on the end of the series, Moore expressed a mix of gratitude and disappointment. In a heart-wrenching video posted shortly after the cancellation announcement, he conveyed his heartbreak to fans and the cast, stating, “S.W.A.T., here we are, season eight, three weeks away from the finale, we are canceled again. It sucks. It’s sad.” Shemar also humorously recalled the odd trajectory the show had faced, being “uncanceled twice, two years in a row,” emphasizing the unusual nature of the program’s journey.
Fans have been vocal in their disappointment, with many expressing a desire for the show to continue. “No!!! Netflix come through, we need more seasons!” one fan wrote, underscoring how the streaming service currently holds the earlier seasons. Others have wished the crew and cast well on their upcoming endeavors, hinting at a collective hope the series could either find a new home or be revived beyond its CBS finale.
Despite the struggles surrounding S.W.A.T.'s fate, discussions about potential fan campaigns are already surfacing on social media platforms. Moore shared a screenshot of a Forbes article alluding to such efforts, proclaiming, “you want to come flirt with me? You’re invited to the barbecue. Pick your favorite restaurant. I will pay the bill,” soliciting support and rallying a community of followers to help push for the show’s revival.
The final season of S.W.A.T. and its culmination into a gripping two-part series finale encapsulate not just the high-octane action fans crave but also illustrate how deeply connected audiences have become to the characters over the years. It is a reaffirmation of the show’s cultural significance, showcasing ongoing themes of loyalty, service, and friendship, with a narrative arc that comes to a dramatic close.
As the countdown continues to the finale, one can only wonder how fans will react to the tightly scripted episodes that promise to provide closure for beloved characters and a resolve to ongoing storylines. Whether S.W.A.T. may rise again in a different form remains to be seen, but for now, audiences are preparing to embrace the final chapters of a series that has been a staple in their lives for nearly a decade.
