Shemar Moore’s S.W.A.T. Spinoff Betrays Hondo’s Heartfelt Final Speech

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CBS ended the long-running series S.W.A.T., for the third and final time, after eight seasons. The decision was particularly tough following Hondo’s emotional farewell speech in the season 8 finale. It was a bitter pill to accept, especially considering the efforts by Sony and Shemar Moore to secure another season. Remarkably, S.W.A.T. season 9 was on the brink of happening, but ultimately, it was decided to proceed with a spin-off series instead.

It turned out that only Shemar Moore was being considered for the new series, S.W.A.T.: Exiles. What made the news even more disappointing was learning that the rest of the team, who make up the 20-Squad, were not informed about it until just before the announcement. Given Hondo’s speech to the entire 20-Squad in the S.W.A.T. season 8 finale, the entire situation now feels disingenuous and more like a betrayal than initially perceived.

S.W.A.T. Ends With Hondo’s Speech About How Important The Team Is

Hondo Could See A Team Without His Family

In the final episode of S.W.A.T. season 8, Deacon gathered everyone in a room and distributed watches as a symbol of their bond, stressing he considered them his family. Hondo expanded upon this sentiment, expressing that he couldn’t imagine being part of the team without each member by his side. This heartfelt exchange provided a touching conclusion to the series, not knowing at the time that the announcement for S.W.A.T.: Exiles was imminent.

Your presence has significantly shaped this team into what it is today. The same sentiment applies to everyone here; reflecting on our shared experiences and the challenges we’ve overcome together.

Initially, Hondo spoke to Deacon because they have been working together the longest among all team members. Although Tan is also an original member of the series, his history with Hondo isn’t as extensive as Deacon’s. Given that it was Deacon who initiated the conversation, it seemed logical for Hondo to initially address his right-hand man in this situation.

Previously, a speech by Tan also made an impact as he told Gamble that families never abandon each other. Hondo emphasized this further with “not when it counts,” making the announcement of the S.W.A.T. spinoff even more significant.

S.W.A.T. Exiles Disregards Hondo’s Speech About The Significance Of 20-Squad

Hondo Is Leading A New Team With Nobody Else Involved

The upcoming spinoff will unfold shortly following the end of the S.W.A.T. series, where Hondo finds himself compelled into retirement. However, his peace is short-lived as he gets summoned from retirement to spearhead a brand new S.W.A.T. squad. Interestingly, none of the original team members were initially going to be involved in this storyline, which was disappointing for Jay Harrington and David Lim. However, it appears that Sony may have reconsidered this decision regarding the spinoff titled S.W.A.T.: Exiles.

In a more casual and clear manner: It seems odd that Hondo would rejoin the SWAT team without any of his teammates, as he emphasized in the series finale that he couldn’t imagine being part of the team without Deacon, Tan, Miko, Gamble, and Powell by his side. It would make more sense if they brought a few members from his original team when Hondo returns to the SWAT team, as it would align with how important they were to him.

Why Moore’s S.W.A.T Exiles Has Been Controversial

The Original S.W.A.T. Cast Members Weren’t Part Of The Discussions

After CBS decided not to renew S.W.A.T., Moore and Sony started considering a spinoff idea. The rest of the cast were not involved in these discussions, but what made it more troublesome was that they weren’t adequately informed about the decision before the official announcement.

According to Harrington, Moore informed him via text message the day prior to the public announcement, and it seems like Lim was not treated with the same respect. Although there were whispers about Sony contemplating a S.W.A.T. spinoff, Harrington clarified to TVLine that this wasn’t true, and this statement appears to be Sony trying to salvage their reputation after the ensuing controversy.

Moore’s defense of the S.W.A.T. spinoff has left some questioning his statement comparing himself to “the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T.”, a remark which has caused discomfort among both the fanbase and original series cast members. The S.W.A.T. cast isn’t upset about the spinoff itself, but rather how it was announced, feeling that it could have been managed more delicately. It’s not surprising that individuals like Harrington and Lim are displeased with the situation.

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2025-06-06 23:18