SWAT Episode 15
A dead confidential informant, armored car/truck robbery, and still hazing Street. SWAT IS BACK PEOPLE! Yes, it’s been three whole weeks since the last episode. Congrats to the NCAA Final Four, BUT I need my weekly fix of Hondo and the team, I’m sure you do too. Let’s get into it…
Armored Car or Truck?
This week’s episode starts off with a bang, okay well technically two. An armored car (truck) is being watched over by two guards outside of, what looks to be, a convenience store. You just know something is about to go down when the camera moves and switches back and forth rapidly between a bunch of different people.
The suspense is building and then it occurs to you, someone is actually going to be crazy enough to try and steal from the armored car. They show a lot of people coming out, going in, and walking by the store.
Who is it? Who’s it going to be?
Then suddenly, three of the people shown approach the guard exiting the store with cash bags and the one protecting the rest of the loot. One of the criminals pulls out an electronic (EMP) jammer and stops the guard in the driver’s seat from fleeing. The two guards standing outside are at a crossroads, stay put and survive or do their job and protect the cash.
The three robbers collect all of the bags from the truck and start to head out of the parking lot. One of the guards decides to play the hero and ends up taking a bullet. Naturally, the other guard follows and suffers the same fate.
I lift things up and put them down…
Hondo is, literally, pumping some iron when he is approached by one of his CI’s, Craig, at the gym with a tip pertaining to the robberies. The informant gives him some very useful information which Hondo and the team use to their advantage. They end up raiding the store where the robbers were connected to in laundering their money.
Side note: The team is still hazing Street and I love every second of it, mainly because he takes it with grace and a smile.
Hondo: Fill the gaps…
Street: STAY LIQUID! Are you serious? You guys took time out of your day to plan that?
What’s up with Chris? Erika, the only female in her class of the next SWAT academy, approaches Chris for some pointers on improving her shooting skills and Chris turns her down. I guess she doesn’t want to play favorites, but still, that was cold.
Dale’s Check Cashing
After arresting the man involved in the laundering, Hondo gets a bad call. Craig was killed because he got too curious. Better believe he will get to the bottom of it. No one messes with Hondo and the people he cares about.
Mean Machine
Dale, the owner of the store where the money was being laundered gives up the guy that brings him the stolen cash. Machine.
I know what you’re thinking, what the hell kind of name is Machine?
Moving on..
Machine admits to picking up the bags of stolen money without ever seeing the criminals. Pretty smart, until it’s not. Turns out, the crew that Machine is working with are the ones responsible for Craig’s death. He just got too close to figuring out who they were.
Meanwhile…
Jess is concerned about the team and the FBI agent they’re working with, Abby DuBois. She seems out of focus and stares off into space a heck of a lot. Naturally, Jess approaches Hicks and expresses her concerns, he tells her to trust her gut and watch the teams back.
Elsewhere…
Turns out, one of “the pit crew” members, Devin, is wary about Machine and his ability to keep his mouth shut. Of course the leader of the pack, Emmit thinks he outsmarted the cops and tells him to relax. It’s okay Devin, we know why you’re nervous. Hondo catches everyone, especially the ones who hurt his friends.
Sneaky, Sneaky
After interrogating Machine, Jess catches a hint and looks into the security footage again. Turns out the crew stakes out the trucks months before robbing them. The video reveals the crew getting into position just minutes before the truck arrives. There’s only one problem, the truck wasn’t arriving at its usual time.
So how could they know when the truck would be there? You guessed it, GPS trackers. Turns out the armored truck company outsources their maintenance for the trucks. The crew paid off one of the mechanics to hide the trackers within the engines so they couldn’t be affected by the EMP jammer. Okay, I’ll give it to them, that’s pretty smart.
“I guess what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas this time.” – Luca
Once the team figures out their next move, they decide going undercover is their best move. Only Jess doesn’t agree with Agent DuBois. She’s accusing the FBI agent of being addicted to painkillers after a previous injury and Dubois is not having it. Against her better judgment, Jess allows the team to move forward with the plan.
Go get your shine-box…
Chris expresses her concerns about females making SWAT to Jess and Luca, AND Street. She feels that since the department is pushing to put more females in SWAT divisions, they will let just about anyone through just to meet the quota. So is she really concerned about her fellow female candidates’ abilities to serve and protect or the departments’ judgment?
Do you remember she wanted help with her non-dominant hand marksmanship? – Chris
Oh yeah, right before you told her to get her shine-box and pound pavement? – Street
Someone’s gotta be the hero
Moving ahead with the undercover-op, the team is in position with Luca acting as a guard, Hondo and Tan are in the back of the truck with the rest of the team in follow-cars. Sticking to the planned route and collecting all cash from locations, the team waits to see if someone makes a move.
With a dazed and confused Agent Dubois at the helm, the follow cars end up stuck in heavy traffic due to a construction detour. Her oversight of looking at the wrong construction schedule for that day forces the team into a sticky situation and Jess taking over the operation.
Luca and the armored vehicle approach the next planned stop for collection. They end up in a similar parking lot as the last robbery. Luca is able to identify three of the four suspects but Jess stops Hondo and Tan from moving in for the arrest, fearing the fourth man would get away.
Joey had one job, stay in the truck. Okay, he had three jobs, act natural and do what they say. Did Joey listen? No, he tried to be the hero and ends up putting himself in a hostage situation.
Unaware of Hondo and Tan in the back of the truck, the suspects take Joey inside the car and try escaping. With swift thinking and years of ninja skills, Hondo comes up with a plan, as usual. He ends up on top of the truck waiting for the criminals to exit the vehicle, but once again their plan goes awry.
Was it just me or did everyone else enjoy watching Hondo hold on for dear life on top of the armored truck (car)? I just keep wondering how they get themselves out of every sticky situation.
The follow-cars are out of the traffic and on their way to Hondo and Tan’s location. Street pulling some Dale Earnhardt moves gets them to the truck and stops them from getting away. Tan throws some tear gas into the cab of the truck and the criminals jump out. The leader, and Devin’s older brother, takes Joey hostage. Not so fast Emmit. Hondo pulls the old SWAT ninja trick and stops him. Another notch on the old utility belt for the team.
He always keeps his promises…
Hondo kept his word to Craig in helping support his family. He has Craig’s daughter sign a CI agreement with the FBI so she can get a percentage of the money they recover from the robberies. Much needed money for her to continue her education and get the help she needs for her Dementia ridden grandmother. Somehow Hondo always manages to keep his promises and take the bad guys off the streets.
Free the nipple
Chris approaches Erika and tells her that Street will be helping her at the range. She also let’s her know about being the only female candidate in her academy class as well. Chris tells her it’s more than proving to yourself that you’re good enough to be on SWAT, but that she has to prove it to everyone else too. The male leaders in the SWAT division look down on their female counterparts like they aren’t good enough and it’s up to them to show them different. It’s up to them to change things.
Season 2..?
Yup! S.W.A.T. has officially been picked up for season two! That means more of Hondo, the rest of the team hazing Street, and me giving you the weekly breakdown and my 2 cents on each episode. Send me your thoughts or say hi on Twitter and Instagram!
As always, S.W.A.T. airs every Thursday at 10/9c on CBS…see you next week!
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