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SWAT TV spot confirms Deacon's return in season 8 and hints at a familiar face joining 20 Squad

By Sabrina Reed

“Allegiance” – When a crew of violent eco-terrorists abducts the teenage son of an energy company executive, SWAT must untangle the kidnappers’ twisted motives before carrying out a high-stakes rescue mission. Meanwhile, Hondo’s involvement in a shooting draws outrage from the very community he’s dedicated his career to protecting. And, as Deacon is called on to help with the escalating crisis, he’s forced to confront nagging doubts about his retirement, on S.W.A.T.
“Allegiance” – When a crew of violent eco-terrorists abducts the teenage son of an energy company executive, SWAT must untangle the kidnappers’ twisted motives before carrying out a high-stakes rescue mission. Meanwhile, Hondo’s involvement in a shooting draws outrage from the very community he’s dedicated his career to protecting. And, as Deacon is called on to help with the escalating crisis, he’s forced to confront nagging doubts about his retirement, on S.W.A.T. /
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CBS is starting to settle comfortably into its summer hiatus for its scripted series but that doesn't mean we won't have news to share about its roster over the coming weeks and months. While the network is pivoting to more unscripted fare, the road to Fall TV 2024 is going to be paved with season updates and news we've been waiting for. We can also count on teasers that'll leave us speculating about what's going to be happening on our favorite shows.

One such promo has already been released for SWAT. The procedural has used up two of its nine lives but it's still here, kicking, and ready to give fans another thrill ride. Season 8, however, is going to look and feel a bit different since the show lost two key players in season 7, which was thought to be its last run. Street and Luca were written out, and showrunner Andrew Dettman confirmed that he doesn't see Kenny Johnson or Alex Russell returning as series regulars in the upcoming season.

News has also broken that Rochelle Aytes won't be returning as a series regular either. The producers are hoping to have the actress recur as Nichelle Carmichael but that could prove difficult as she's been tapped to play Dr. Mary Morstan in CBS' new medical mystery drama Watson opposite Morris Chestnut. If she can appear in SWAT season 8, it'll be in a limited capacity.

In spite of these casting exits, there is some good news to share. Jay Harrington will be sticking around as David "Deacon" Kay. His character had a retirement arc in season 7 but that was walked back in the finale thanks to he, and his wife Annie, finding the solution to their childcare issues through her sister moving in. Dettman confirmed in an interview with TVLine, that the plan was never to have Deacon leave permanently.

"Yeah, he was always going to be there. We knew Jay [Harrington] would be around. That was the one thing where I questioned myself a bit, the storyline of him retiring and coming back. I was a little worried after losing Street and Luca, that even faking that we were losing Deacon would turn people off. I’m hoping it didn’t, and I don’t think it did. So, yeah, Deacon’s back and is part of the team going forward."

A teaser for the upcoming season has also cemented Harrington's return and seems to hint at a certain FBI agent joining the team. Check it out below!

Jackie Vasquez could be joining 20 Squad in SWAT season 8

Update: June 7, 2024 - Jessica Camacho has been cast as a lead in the Prime Video series Countdown which will likely impede her ability to continue in the role of Vasquez. However, it's possible that we could be in for a recast if the SWAT writers move forward with having the character join 20 Squad.

As you can see, all the way to the left is Jessica Camacho, who plays Jacqueline "Jackie" Vasquez on SWAT. First introduced in season 6, episode 3, "Woah Black Betty," she's made a handful of significant appearances on the procedural. Vasquez is currently a fed but she used to be LAPD, coming up in the ranks around the same time as Hondo. They even applied to the S.W.A.T. academy at the same time but, despite her credentials, she was denied entry. This was before S.W.A.T. admitted female officers.

It would be a full circle storyline for Vasquez to finally be able to live out her dream of being an official member of S.W.A.T. There's been no announcement that Camacho has been promoted to a series regular but Dettman's words on a narrative choice for Vasquez in what they thought would be the series finale, points in the direction of where they're going.

"When she first came in there was a whole history that she was at odds with Hicks. Before Chris Alonso became a woman on SWAT, Jackie tried and Hicks bounced her because at the time there were no other women. He has progressed to where he is now. Planning that it may have been our [series] finale to bring that around to make her a full fledged member of the team and realize that dream she had way back when felt right. That’s why rather than have her throw on a FBI jacket, she wears an LAPD jacket. She got to be LAPD SWAT for real in the end."

Plus 20 Squad does have a spot to fill and it'll be up to Hondo to pick who's joining the team. We'll keep you posted as more news comes in. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote!

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