SEAL Team – Powerful, Thrilling, and Emotional

SEAL Team has no right to be this good. After six seasons of combat, personal loss, and triumph – this show should be on its last legs. Instead, it feels like it’s just getting started.

When SEAL Team first premiered, it was easy to assume it would be laden with American jingoism featuring the superheroics of its most elite special operators. But, as I wrote here almost six years ago, it didn’t. It showed heroism’s darker side and the costs associated with glory. It was refreshing. Yes, the action sequences were exciting, but it was the humanity of the piece that kept viewers tuning in, not the explosions.

In 2021, CBS made a decision that was controversial with some fans, and moved the show to Paramount Plus, its streaming service. The show was doing well in the ratings, but the commentary at the time was centered around driving eyeballs to the nascent streamer.

One concern that didn’t materialize is that the content of the show would suffer – it hasn’t. In fact, it could be argued, that production value increased after the move. More locations, deeper conflict – yes, the show did scale down its core cast, but it has not been shy in bringing familiar faces back as recurring special guests.

It’s added to the show’s narrative immensely.

The only complaint is that Season Six was only 10 episodes – common amongst streamers, but a far cry from the 22 a network show would air.

While Season Six only lasted 10 episodes, they were incredible – a sweeping narrative that crisscrossed the globe and opened a window into the effects of war on war fighters. Frankly, it was hard to predict where the season would lead, given how heavily it leaned into the progressive injuries of its characters – as once they are revealed, they couldn’t continue in a combat capacity.

But how SEAL Team sought to resolve the issue was nothing short of inspiring.

I watched episodes nine and 10 back-to-back and I’ll be honest – I sobbed progressively throughout both episodes.

Led by David Boreanaz (Jason Hayes), whose depth has been plumbed extensively by its writers, A.J. Buckley (Sonny Quinn) whose life is turned upside down by tragedy, and Neil Brown Jr. (Ray Perry) whose redemptive arc, and multi-dimensional family man/warfighter arc is the soul of the show.

It would be so easy for a show like SEAL Team to lazily offer saviour tropes and call it a day.

But it doesn’t.

There are more stories to tell; more battles to fight. They just need the opportunity.

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Featured image courtesy of CBS

SEAL Team is available to stream on Paramount Plus