S07.E01: The Promise

[DanaK]

Quote

The team heads to Mexico to escort a fugitive back to the States when things go awry and Hondo has to save an old witness tied to the case, in the season seven premiere of S.W.A.T., Friday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+

 

[DanaK]

Pretty action packed. And is Powell dead?

[Danielg342]

I have to start with a rant about how this show treats Latino characters.

I cannot think of one instance where the show has had a well developed Latino character, and I can only think of very few instances (if that) where the show has had Latino characters who were not portrayed as "bad guys" or bad in some way.

Christina Alonso was a main cast member for five seasons and her character went everywhere and got nowhere.

The best Alexis Cabrera is known for is getting confused for the show's newest (?) permanent cast member, Zoe Powell.

Marcos was interesting as the gang member who had a sense of morals and responsibility, but he also had a real heel turn last season.

Then there was Rigoberto Sanchez, who was absolutely shady and was only there so we could hate him so Hondo could get his comeuppance.

Which leaves the rest of the characters who have all been, literally, criminals.

I suppose there's that Mexican captain, but I doubt she'll be developed much, if at all.

So when the Mexican police officer- whose name escapes me right now, but not that it really matters- wound up turning on Powell and choked her (maybe?) to death, I could do nothing except roll my eyes.

Yet another Latino bad guy. Sigh.

S.W.A.T. deserves a lot of plaudits for how they've navigated issues pertaining to African Americans and has been incredibly trailblazing for African American TV shows, this being the first "mainstream" TV show with an African American lead that was actually aimed at everyone.

...but, just because the show has been great at race relations and race issues on one end doesn't mean it can't be criticized for how it handles race on another end, and how it consistently treats Latino characters leaves a lot to be desired.

To be fair, the Mexican officer's heel turn wasn't all that's wrong with this episode.

However, the episode's many other problems- its predictability, its usage of a quick pace to feign urgency, the plot holes, among others- have been there before in many other episodes, so they're not worth expanding upon too much.

(I mean, did you really think, on a show where the cops are always presented as "the good guys" that Pia's vigilante tendencies wouldn't be shown as anything but stupid? I really got "Saint Hondo" vibes when Pia was dealing with Hondo in this episode)

...but, in an already terrible episode, the Mexican officer's heel turn, a predictable and cringe worthy moment, just put the proverbial icing on the cake of this turd.

[Snazzy Daisy]

No Deac. No Luca. No Tan. No Street.

S07 premiere sucks!!! 😣

[KeithJ]

Isn’t it the US Marshals’ job to escort extradited prisoners back to the US?

And what’s with the long public perp walk out the front door?  The police station doesn’t have a back door where transport can drive right up to the door?

Edited February 18 by KeithJ

[Danielg342]

17 minutes ago, KeithJ said:

And what’s with the long public perp walk out the front door?  The police station doesn’t have a back door where transport can drive right up to the door?

I believe the police in the episode said they wanted to make a public spectacle about it so that the public knew they had apprehended the criminal, though I don't know if it would make that much of a difference.

[Attatude]

Powell can’t be dead but it sure looked like she was.  The officer’s name is Gabriel.  They are only going to have 13 episodes this season and next week will be a continuation of last night’s show, which means only two of the main characters and a dead or alive Powell.

[Xantar]

Once again I totally forgot that Powell’s name is not Pao. The actress being of partial Asian descent doesn’t help. But at least we have another female regular. I don’t know why the writers are trying to make us think they would actually fridge the newest addition to the cast.
 

I didn’t see Kenny Johnson in the credits. Kind of unceremonious how they dropped him. Then again he was missing for so much of last season that I guess it was inevitable.

Does EVERY premiere on CBS have to be a two-parter this season?

[JH Lipton]

3 hours ago, Xantar said:

I don’t know why the writers are trying to make us think they would actually fridge the newest addition to the cast.

They have fridged several women, notably Erika Rogers.  Lyndie Greenwood was on the show for a handful of episodes as a semi-main charactor before the shot and killed Erika.  This show has always done wrong by its female cast (remember when Nichelle actually had a personality?)  I wouldn't be at all surprised if Powell is really dead -- would Gabriel be dumb enough not to make sure?

That "fight" was so stupid -- I'm sure that SWAT members are taught how to break chokeholds!

[mythoughtis]

Isn’t this the second time they’ve opened a season with a two part episode with Hondo in Mexico separated from his team?  He’s LA SWAT not a Marshal.   

[transitfan]

On 2/21/2024 at 9:44 PM, mythoughtis said:

Isn’t this the second time they’ve opened a season with a two part episode with Hondo in Mexico separated from his team?  He’s LA SWAT not a Marshal.   

True, but the first time (IIRC), Hondo was in Mexico on personal time, unrelated to a case.