SWAT is winding down the clock. The police drama has managed to avoid the fate of an early cancelation twice, but it looks as though the third time will prove to be the one that sticks. The network behind SWAT will unveil the first half of its two-part finale on May 16, and fans have been eager to theorize what will happen to their favorite characters.
Chief among these characters are Chris Alonso (Lina Esco) and Jim Street (Alex Russell). Fans have been waiting for this couple to tie the knot, and given the lack of screen time they have left, a series finale wedding seems like a logical inference to draw. Mine as well go out on an emotional high note, right? Well, not exactly.
There will no marriages in SWAT's finale
SWAT showrunner Andrew Detterman shot down the idea of a Chris and Street wedding taking place during a recent interview with TV Line. He clarified that no such event will take place, and the couple will remain just that, a couple, by the time the credits roll on the final episode. It's a disappointing turn in some ways, given how emotionally satisfying it would have been to see Chris and Street married.
Detterman's reasoning, however, is valid. The showrunner told the outlet that he does not want to deliver any rousing sendoffs or emotional end points, because as far as he's concerned, the lives of the SWAT characters will continue long after the show is over. And the design of the two-part finale is going to honor this intention.
"Even if we’re no longer airing each week, we want the viewers to feel that Hondo and 20-Squad will go on," Detterman asserted. "That 20-Squad will always be out there taking down the bad guys and protecting the city of L.A." This is not the first time the showrunner has made his intentions with the finale clear.
Andrew Detterman wants to focus on the action
After SWAT's third cancellation, Detterman told TV Line that he has learned to prepare for the worst, and fashion season finales that work on multiple levels. The upcoming finale will be no different. "We designed the season finale keeping in mind that it could be the series finale," he noted. "And wanting to go out on a high note either way. we’re not buttoning anything up."
Bittersweet as the decision may be, we fully understand why Detterman and company would prefer to close out SWAT in this manner. Besides, if the show does miraculously get picked up for another year, then there will be more story to tell.