‘S.W.A.T.’ Series Finale Will Leave Hondo Facing a ‘Ghost From His Past’: An ‘Old Rivalry Reignites’

It’s the end of the line for the beloved series S.W.A.T. on CBS after the network announced the show would officially be coming to an end after season 8. Luckily for fans, the series will go out with a bang in a two-hour series finale to air with back-to-back episodes at a special time on the network in the coming weeks.

CBS shared a look at what’s to come in part 1 of the S.W.A.T. series finale in a press release on Friday, March 21. The first part of the series finale is titled “Ride or Die” and it looks like Hondo and his comrades have a mission with an exciting plot and some familiar faces from the past.

“When an auto carrier truck gets hijacked by a high-speed crew, Hondo encounters a ghost from his past – a violent car thief thought to be long-dead,” the synopsis of part 1 of the series finale says. “As the brutal road warriors tear across L.A. in pursuit of a mysterious $60 million car, Hondo’s old rivalry reignites, and he’s forced to confront a long-held fear. Also, Gamble is thrust into a personal crisis when her brother, Leon, becomes tangled in the investigation, putting Gamble’s SWAT future in jeopardy, in the first part of the two-hour series finale of S.W.A.T.”

In part two of the finale, titled “Return to Base,” “The SWAT team undertakes its final mission when a violent crew of ex-pat Russian mercenaries holds Los Angeles hostage after planting hundreds of hidden explosives across the city in a bid to extort the release of their brutal leader, Dmitri Rykov. When Rykov is brought to SWAT for safekeeping, SWAT HQ comes under attack, forcing Hondo and 20-Squad to fight for their very survival, in the second part of the two-hour series finale of S.W.A.T.”

The special back-to-back episodes will air on Friday, May 16, at 9:00 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

S.W.A.T. fans were devastated to learn that CBS was officially pulling the plug on the Shemar Moore-led action drama. The show was previously canceled and uncanceled twice before, but this time, it seems like the decision is final.

“We are canceled again. It sucks. It’s sad. Had to give a speech today on set to the crew,” Shemar, 54, said in an Instagram video reacting to the news on March 7.

“Uncanceled, canceled, uncanceled twice, two years in a row, Now I don’t know my history, but how many shows get to say that?” the Criminal Minds alum added. “I’m going to say none or I’m going to say that we’re close to one of the none. But we did that and we are so proud.”

He admitted that he was still holding out hope that the show would be picked up by another network or streaming service.

“NBC, Fox, ABC: Hey, you want to come flirt with me? You’re invited to the barbecue. Pick your favorite restaurant. I will pay the bill,” Shemar said in the clip.

But no matter what happens, Shemar said he is grateful for the opportunity and is currently enjoying his life as a dad to daughter Frankie, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Jesiree Dizon.

“I’m excited about my new chapter. Right now, I’m just going to chase around my little baby girl, my little daughter, but then I’ll get back on the saddle, put my cape on and go be Shemar Franklin Moore,” the Young and the Restless actor said. “But hey, us over here at S.W.A.T., we say thank you, but we ain’t done handling our business. So holler at us.”