[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for S.W.A.T. Season 7 Episode 12 “Allegiance.”]
Is it simply us, or does it really feel like S.W.A.T. is taking us one step nearer with every episode to Deacon (Jay Harrington) returning to 20-Squad? And we’re counting these earlier than he formally retired, too!
Deacon pitches in to assist the staff within the season’s penultimate episode (which Harrington additionally directed), and it’s clear that he’s struggling to not be together with his staff. He admits he nonetheless finds himself waking up in the midst of the evening and grabbing his cellphone, satisfied he missed a name. He’s even taken to turning his cellphone off at evening, as he does close to the tip of this episode after admitting to his spouse Annie (Bre Blair), “I believe it may need been too quickly for me to return.”
The episode additionally sees Hondo (Shemar Moore) going through backlash from the general public after capturing a Black suspect (his weapon is discovered on the scene). As he steps exterior his home on the finish (and tries calling Deacon, solely to get his voicemail), he finds that somebody has written “GET OUT PIG” and “Promote Out” on the sidewalk.
Under, Harrington previews the Season 7 finale, talks about Deacon’s future, appears forward to Season 8 (“I’m completely satisfied to have just a little day off, however I’m truly very completely satisfied to get again to work quickly”), and extra.
Michael Yarish / 2024 CBS Leisure Inc.
The best way that Annie was watching Deacon may counsel she’s considering perhaps he ought to return to S.W.A.T. At this level, is he in any respect fascinated with that chance?
Jay Harrington: I believe behind his thoughts at all times. He did what he did as a result of he thought it was the proper factor for her and for household. And it’s what you begin to see in [Episode] 12 after which in 13, our finale, is that he’s bought reservations as anybody does once they retire, I’d think about. However you begin to see it play in her of perhaps we bought to essentially take a step again and look and that is who this man is and we’ll see what we are able to do.
Deacon is conscious Hondo is looking for the right combination however there’s a lot rigidity in 20-Squad proper now. How a lot is that weighing on Deacon, that perhaps he needs to be coming again due to that and he is aware of how a lot Hondo has relied on him?
And we noticed it in a pair episodes in the past that Larry Teng directed after we have been taking on the home of the doomsday preppers, the place I’ve this guilt of letting him down. Not solely did he discover out not how I wished, however I don’t need to make something tougher on him. So once I begin to see the strain with Alfaro [Niko Pepaj] and Tan [David Lim] and Powell [Anna Enger Ritch], it’s like, this will all be mounted if I simply was standing there giving them a harsh look of, hey, zip it. However that’s the place for me, this episode, I get to play just a little little bit of being unsure the place my place is and the way a lot I ought to say or can say as a result of I don’t work there anymore. I believe all of it actually comes collectively properly and the strain performs proper into the finale, the place that each one will come collectively. But additionally simply the scope of the story itself is actually huge and there’s so much happening.
Is Deacon chatting with anybody as he’s making a choice? There was nice caught with Hicks (Patrick St. Esprit) earlier this season. Is there extra of that within the finale?
With out going an excessive amount of into the finale about story, it’s an all arms on deck state of affairs within the metropolis of LA the place we discover a staff that’s been compromised principally. And we cleared this with Otis [Gallop], our tech advisor. Generally even once you’re retired, you may drop in and also you’re nonetheless eligible. It’s not been that lengthy, it’s not like I’ve misplaced a step, however I’m there to help, not similar to in [Episode] 12 the place I’m given some recommendation or telling them, I do know a man, however that is extra hands-on. Hicks has referred to as me at dwelling and mentioned, “Are you able to are available in at this time? We may actually use the assistance.” And it goes from there and also you’ll see Deacon’s struggles and it’s going to be a doozy.
Shemar advised me that nothing concerning the finale was modified after the uncancellation, and also you talked about preparing to return to work, means you’ll be in Season 8. So what are you able to say about the place the finale leaves Deacon? Has he decided?
Deacon has decided 100%, with household and with himself and himself. When he mentioned nothing’s modified, it’s true. The best way the writers crafted this whole 13 episodes was actually, actually attention-grabbing as a result of they didn’t need it to be—not simply because there’s an opportunity we may come again, however typically in reveals once they simply finish they usually tie all of it into this bow and it’s good, yeah, you need to try this not directly, however these guys, SWAT officers, they’re particular. In order that they actually wished the thought of, the present should go on and it’s a job that doesn’t go away and we don’t lose them. They crafted it very, very well, I believe.
What have you ever loved most about who Deacon is that this season?
I used to be speaking to [executive producer] Andy Dettmann earlier truly at this time about, they’ve actually given me such a powerful playbook through the years after which particularly this 12 months, the retirement angle, there’s so much to play with there, and you possibly can simply name on it in actual life. It’s nearly like, alright, properly this present’s over, we’re going to be in a way retiring. So I form of had all that to play with and the obligation to the job and to the staff was huge. But additionally my obligation at dwelling to spouse and youngsters was such an important parallel factor to play off of. There’s some battle there. So I get fortunate. I inform them yearly they actually write nice stuff for me
What are your hopes for Deacon in Season 8?
I hope that his staff can get their act collectively and I’m going to go away it to these guys what their concepts are, however I can safely say, I’m not going wherever. So it’ll be simply good to be again and see the place that takes us.
Have there been any conversations but about you directing once more in Season 8?
I’ve had conversations, sure, actually. It’s been lots of enjoyable. It’s a problem, however I actually get pleasure from it. I’ve so many pictures from the episode and so a lot of them are the crew proper there, and also you don’t see that aspect of it once you’re watching a present. You don’t see how a lot goes into it, however you’re organising a sequence and there’s 60 individuals behind you, and each one in all them is so good at what they do they usually work so laborious. You’ll be able to’t do it with out a unprecedented group of individuals behind you. And we’ve had principally the identical group for all these years. So it’s a problem, however I like doing it.
S.W.A.T., Fridays, 8/7c, CBS
