Just one year after wrapping its successful, eight-season tenure on CBS, the high-octane procedural universe of “S.W.A.T.” is expanding to a new television home. Shemar Moore reprises his iconic role as the stoic yet deeply righteous Sergeant II Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr. in the new Starz spinoff series, “S.W.A.T. Exiles.” Created by Jason Nig, the network’s latest action-drama is set two years after the emotional conclusion of the original series, finding Hondo in a profoundly different chapter of his life and career.
When viewers catch up with him, Hondo is divorced, living alone, and completely estranged from the badge he wore with pride for decades. His exit from the Los Angeles Police Department followed a catastrophic, botched raid that tragically ended with the death of one of his young squad members—an incident that left emotional scars and abruptly derailed his career. Instead of leading tactical teams through high-risk operations, he is currently scraping by as a reluctant, highly paid bodyguard for some of Los Angeles’ most insufferable billionaire tech entrepreneurs.
That mundane and bitter existence is upended when LAPD Commander Robert Hicks, with actor Patrick St. Esprit reprising his familiar role, re-enters Hondo’s life. Hicks offers him an unexpected lifeline: the chance to return to active duty to command a brand-new tactical unit. Deeply resentful of the department that forced him into premature retirement, Hondo begrudgingly accepts the position. However, it does not take long for the seasoned leader to realize that this sudden reinstatement may not be a genuine second chance, but rather a politically motivated setup designed for him to fail.
Functioning as a solid sequel to the well-liked procedural, “S.W.A.T. Exiles” utilizes many of the classic storytelling devices and adrenaline-pumping beats that made the original CBS series a massive ratings success. Yet, armed with a brand-new generation of recruits and a handful of compelling, overarching storylines, the Starz series quickly proves that it has enough narrative muscle to stand entirely on its own.
The 10-episode first season opens on an ordinary, quiet day in Los Angeles, immediately establishing Hondo’s isolated state of mind through a glimpse of his desolate, empty home. Aside from a pile of neglected dirty dishes and a kitchen calendar covered entirely in colorful doodles drawn by his young daughter, there are few signs of life in the house. He operates largely on autopilot, carrying a heavy burden of bitterness regarding his past exile and working out his profound anguish through endless, punishing sets of push-ups.
As days blend seamlessly into one another, Hondo ultimately decides he cannot pass up the chance to suit up again when Hicks extends the olive branch. Yet, almost as soon as he steps foot inside his newly designated headquarters, Hondo recognizes that the assignment is fraught with political undertones. It becomes glaringly obvious that the LAPD is wrestling with a severe image problem and has trotted him out once more as a public relations shield. To complicate matters further, the notoriously short-tempered tactical leader has been saddled with an unpredictable Gen Z team that proves exceptionally difficult to corral.
This newly formed unit, designated as the 44 Squad and aptly nicknamed the Exiles by Hondo himself, brings together a diverse and complicated mix of personalities. Among them is Sammy Bishop, played by Lucy Barrett, a firearms expert and social media star who horrified Hondo early on by having zero qualms about live-streaming from inside tactical headquarters. Adain Bradley stars as Malik Henderson, a Marine veteran and devoted husband and father who appears best suited for the rigorous demands of the job, especially after Hondo appoints him as the unit’s Scout, or point person for missions. Despite his dedication, Malik is harboring dark secrets and skeletons in his own closet.
The roster also features Ethan Cole, played by Freddy Miyares, a neurodivergent tech savant whose hyper-awareness allows him to pick up on critical details that most people completely overlook. Zyra Gorecki takes on the role of Cassidy Han, an intense, highly disciplined operative who is fiercely determined not to let her prosthetic leg define her capabilities, though her naturally reserved demeanor makes her a constant mystery to her colleagues. The eclectic recruits are rounded out by Jude Callan, played by Ronen Rubinstein, who portrays a charming, cocky bad boy with unexpected layers of depth.
In the early episodes, Hondo is forced to flex his rusty leadership skills while attempting to mold this ragtag crew into a cohesive, dependable unit. Despite leaning into the familiar procedural formula—with weekly cases involving gun smugglers, cartel assassins, and high-stakes kidnappings—the show remains topical enough to keep contemporary viewers engaged. The narrative gains additional traction when Hondo uncovers evidence that his team is being actively undermined, suspecting that someone within the department is feeding confidential information directly to the mayor’s office in an effort to orchestrate his permanent downfall. This overarching conspiracy spans the entirety of the first season, though the eventual identity of the mole is handled with unexpected nuance.
Rather than remaining strictly bound to a formulaic action-drama template, “S.W.A.T. Exiles” occasionally takes bold narrative risks. A standout example is the season’s fourth episode, titled “Get Clear,” which serves as a creative high point for the early run. Instead of putting the team through yet another standard field mission, the episode centers on Hondo and his officers being called before the Force Review Board to testify about the prior, botched assignment that led to his downfall.
By cutting fluidly back and forth between the present-day interrogation and flashbacks of the past, the episode allows each member of the unit to reflect on a tense hostage situation turned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that went completely off the rails. The sequence of events ultimately culminated in an unarmed civilian being shot dead directly by Hondo’s hand. While the officers are forced to publicly recall the traumatic incident, Hondo simultaneously uses the tense proceeding to quietly investigate who the internal mole is and how best to neutralize the threat.
When all is said and done, “S.W.A.T. Exiles” does not reinvent the action-drama genre, nor does it completely overhaul the successful blueprint laid down by its predecessor. However, Moore remains commanding, grounded, and thoroughly earnest as he steps comfortably back into Hondo’s tactical boots. This time around, his mission is not just about neutralizing criminal threats, but about shepherding a new generation of officers who are similarly struggling to navigate the ghosts of their pasts and the complexities of their personal lives.
Starz appears to have strong confidence in the franchise’s future, as “S.W.A.T. Exiles” has already been officially greenlit for a second season ahead of its premiere.
“S.W.A.T. Exiles” debuts Sept. 25 on Starz, with the remaining episodes of its debut season airing weekly on Fridays.
