After almost a year of absence, “SWAT” returns tonight on TF1 with the continuation of its new season 5. Jay Harrington, who plays Sergeant Deacon Kay, confides in these new episodes and the success of the series.
French SWAT fans will finally be able to discover the rest of season 5 of their favorite detective series.
In February 2022, TF1 had offered the first two episodes of season 5 in the wake of season 4, which paid tribute to Clint Eastwood’s films and saw Hondo (Shemar Moore) take refuge in Mexico with a view to making the update on his life and his future after being removed from his post. Without suspecting that he was going, in spite of himself, to trigger a storm and find himself in opposition to the local mafia.
However, the channel did not go further in the broadcast of this fifth unpublished batch – which was then still being broadcast across the Atlantic on CBS – and we had to wait until Tuesday January 4 to discover the rest of the adventures of the officers. SWAT
On the occasion of the big return of the series on TF1, AlloCiné was able to talk with Jay Harrington, the interpreter of Sergeant David “Deacon” Kay, who came back for us on the success of SWAT, which celebrates its 100th episode during this season 5, and told us a little more about what awaits his character in the episodes to come.
AlloCiné: At the end of season 4, Hondo was dismissed from SWAT and his future in the police remained up in the air. What can we expect from season 5 which finally arrives in France on TF1?
Jay Harrington: With the absence of Hondo, who has gone away from Los Angeles to relax, it comes back to the idea that Deacon should be the leader of the team. This is what emanated from my character at the very beginning of the series. But unfortunately for him, a new character, Rodrigo Sanchez (David DeSantos), enters and is appointed to lead the team. He’s someone who tends to take people the wrong way. This creates tension within the group.
There is a new dynamic in the first part of Season 5 because of Sanchez and these changes. Especially since, when Hondo eventually returns, he has a choice to make: will he do his job and abide by the rules? Or will he confront Sanchez and do everything to get his job back? What is certain is that all the characters will unite and will understand that what makes them strong is precisely their team spirit.
Deacon is the only character in the series to have children and a family life. Can we hope to see a little more of his private life on screen?
We mainly see his wife, Annie (Bre Blair), who plays a significant role in these new episodes. And she and Deacon frequently talk about the kids. But we don’t see it on the screen because of the Covid. The production preferred to preserve them from the shooting. We will have to wait for season 6 to see them on the screen again.
The 16th episode of season 5 is also the 100th of the series. Can we expect a special episode?
This is an episode that mainly revolves around the character of Shemar Moore. But since some episodes of the series are not broadcast in the order of production and it was known that the final season arrived shortly after, we avoided making it too eventful an episode.
But what was very special was what happened behind the scenes during the filming. We organized a nice party to celebrate this important milestone.
Few series manage to exceed the milestone of 100 episodes. What is your view on the success of the series around the world and on these first six years spent in the shoes of Deacon?
I find it hard to realize. I find it crazy that we are still on the air, in a period when there are so many series and so many different ways to consume them. But it’s great, of course. Despite the competition from streaming in particular, we are still here, we are shooting our sixth season. I think it’s proof that SWAT is a quality show, which really means something to the viewers who follow it week after week.
Obviously, the detective genre is very popular, we all know that. But that can’t be enough to explain the success of the series. I really think that the public became attached to this group of characters, to this team led by Hondo. If we were just kicking down doors and arresting bad guys, the success wouldn’t be the same. The strength of SWAT, in my opinion, is its heroes and everything they go through. In work as well as in their private life.
CBS Jay Harrington surrounded by Shemar Moore and Kenny Johnson in SWAT
SWAT is also one of the series that seems most rooted in its time and in current events. Many societal issues have been discussed in the series. Season 4 dealt extensively with the Black Lives Matter movement and racism within the police. Is it a source of pride for you as an actor and an American citizen?
Sure. I know you are going to find out about season 5, but in the sixth season, which is currently airing in the United States, we have an episode that talks about the situation in Ukraine. Locally, of course, in Los Angeles, through a war-affected Ukrainian congregation.
Without falling into something completely committed, we deal with these issues because they exist and are part of the daily life of the police. The last few years have been interesting for law enforcement. So we try to reflect all that with respect.
Do you have a favorite episode in season 5?
I really like the ninth episode of season 5. It’s an episode that is mainly focused on Deacon and Chris, played by Lina Esco. My character has a security company and he asks Chris to help him with an assignment that, on paper, looks pretty simple. They have to drive a client to Las Vegas. But along the way, the mission turns into a nightmare, and Deacon and Chris find themselves in serious danger.
I loved shooting this episode that you will see in a few weeks in France. This is an episode packed with suspense and action.
Find three new episodes of SWAT every Tuesday at 9:10 p.m. on TF1.