SWAT Episode 18
Previously on SWAT…
Last weeks episode we witnessed an intense hostage situation with SWAT’s own Captain Cortez, aka Jess, and Police Commissioner Plank. With the rest of the team and police force’s help, they were able to get themselves out of there in one piece. This week there’s an active shooter on the loose but Hondo is miles away.
Let’s get into the show…
Patrol Day
“Back to our roots. Patrol Day” – Deacon
“Tracing calls” – Chris
“Black and Whites” – Tan
“Hitting the front lines” – Luca
“Wearing polyester pants” – Street
Rolling out in their beat uniforms, the team is heading out for patrol. Jess gives out the orders for the day and throws a monkey wrench in their food truck plans. The team is split up across town for the day. Chris is with Mumford, Tan and Street are hitting patrol to look for a suspect in a crime while Luca and Deacon are stuck at the precinct, and Hondo has the day off.
Already not your typical SWAT day.
Mumford and Chris respond to a shots fired call at a local health center. Apparently a guy went in and shot a doctor in the arm along with killing her patient. The shooter is shown buying a different gun from the same guy who sold him his first one. After testing out the new rifle, the shooter turns the gun and kills the guy, probably to avoid the hefty fee on top of being a bit psycho.
“Doesn’t sound like the end of trouble” – Mumford
“Sounds like the start.” – Chris
Illegal guns, dead guy, and Zack on the loose, not looking good for SWAT.
Mumford and Chris respond to another call involving Zack. This time he’s going after his ex-beau, Joy. He stirs up a world of trouble waving and shooting the rifle off, making people run around in fear. Chris spots Zack running out of a door and goes after him while Mumford tries to find Joy. After catching up to Zack, Chris tries to get the jump on him but he ultimately overpowers her, kicks her butt, and escapes.
I don’t know what hurts more, her ribs or her ego.
“Then you knuckle up and go get that son-of-a-bitch” – Hondo
“Roger that boss” – Chris
Even though they are itching to get out with an active shooter on the streets, Deacon and Luca are killing it with the community outreach program. They are really getting through to the kids that need the guidance more than ever.
Creepy AF
Zack is still on the loose with his rifle. He’s telling a street vendor about a little boy that was stranded at the bus stop across the street. The little boy ran away from home because his mom was mean. Zack continues to say that the little boy was there all alone and not one person offered him help, food, or water. Zack pays the man for the food he ordered and then the vendor asks what happened to the little boy. He tells him that he became a man but not before he hurt a lot of people on the bus.
It’s all tied up folks
Finally Deacon and Luca get to gear up and get involved in the shooter situation. The team are in bound bounds when they find out the bus Zack is on is heading towards a transit center.
Swat moves in on the bus with the drivers help. This time Chris had the jump on Zack and took him down single handedly. Probably to prove, to everyone, that she doesn’t need back-up.
Hondo’s Day Off
In the midst of the team handling an active shooter on the loose, Hondo shows up to a house and a woman answers the door. At first, I thought this was an ex-girlfriend, judging from the banter. Turns out she’s just his sister, or half-sister.
Once inside, it appears that someone is or was in the middle of moving. Hondo’s sister, Briana, has been taking care of their dad and she was supposed to be packing. He went there to help move their dad into her house in LA but he refuses to leave.
Hondo’s dad is giving every excuse under the sun not to move. He’s also in denial about his health and previous relationship.
His dad is clearly sick and Hondo is just as stubborn as he is.
This episode is taking a deep dive into Hondo’s private life and past.
Catching up with an old flame before his SWAT days, she helps Hondo realize the other side of things with his dad. She’s going/went through the same thing with hers so she sheds some light on the process.
After reminiscing with Genise, Hondo head back to the house where his dad is still fighting Briana to stay on his own. He tells his dad to wake up and realize he’s not okay, he needs help. Even though his dad abandoned him years ago, Hondo refuses to leave him behind.
A cold hard slap to the face.
Final thoughts
It was interesting seeing a different side of Hondo and dive deep into his family. But I do wish a show like this didn’t get so personal. For once, I want a show keeping the emotions and heartfelt stories within the action. I know connecting with characters on all kinds of emotional levels makes for better TV but come on, we have enough of that. I thought it would be different this time CBS.
Next time, on SWAT:
“Chris is down, we need a medic.” – Hondo
As always, S.W.A.T. airs every Thursday at 10/9c on CBS…see you next week!