CBS’ S.W.A.T. wrapped its eight-season run with a two-part finale—Season 8, Episodes 21 and 22, titled “Ride or Die” and “Return to Base”—that ties off key character arcs while ending on a forward-looking “the job continues” note.
Part 1: “Ride or Die” puts Gamble’s loyalty—and family—on the line
The first hour centers on Officer Devin Gamble (Annie Ilonzeh) as her brother Leon becomes entangled in a string of vehicle thefts led by Torque Vaughn, pushing Hondo to question where Gamble’s loyalties sit when family and the badge collide.
At the same time, Deacon faces a separate threat when a woman he previously helped—later revealed as an unwanted pursuer—escalates her behavior, forcing him to treat the situation as more than a nuisance.
Part 2: “Return to Base” turns SWAT HQ into the battleground
The final hour shifts into high stakes as Red Sword, a group of Russian mercenaries, uses drone tech to plant devices around Los Angeles and demands the release of Dmitri Rykov, who is in CIA custody for a planned prisoner exchange.
Hondo clashes with CIA case officer Briggs over control of Rykov, but when the threat escalates, Hondo brings Rykov back to SWAT HQ—only to realize Red Sword isn’t trying to rescue him; they’re trying to stop him from talking.
The operation that follows heavily damages headquarters, but the team regains control, Hondo recaptures Rykov, and the CIA exchange proceeds—bringing the immediate crisis to a close.
Where everyone lands at the end
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Gamble: After saying she needs to leave to avoid choosing between family and the job, she ultimately stays—a decision reinforced after she helps save Hondo during the HQ raid.
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A short time jump shows the team trying to get back to normal, with Tan taking a new liaison role connected to city leadership as the unit rebuilds.
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Deacon’s goodbye gift: In the closing scene, Deacon gathers the squad and hands out watches as a symbol of their time together, before the team answers another call.
The final beat is intentionally simple and sentimental: with HQ still being repaired, Hondo tells the team, “Gear up. Let’s go save this city.”
Where to watch
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S.W.A.T.* is streaming on Paramount+, per Entertainment Weekly.
One more wrinkle: it may not be the last time you see Hondo
While the CBS series ended, Sony later announced a continuation in the form of a spinoff, S.W.A.T. Exiles, with Shemar Moore returning as Hondo.
