Commander Hicks’ (Patrick St. Esprit) job has been at risk throughout S.W.A.T. season 8, and it has taken until just a handful of episodes before the end to see how everything would play out. After just resigning from his position as Commander, S.W.A.T. season 8, episode 19 saw Deputy Chief Bennett (Merrin Dungey) realize her mistake. While it’s great to see Hicks back where he belongs, it’s a dispresctful storyline for an original and beloved member of the series.
This isn’t to say that he shouldn’t have had this type of storyline. It’s not the first time S.W.A.T. has put his job on the line, and done right, it could have been an excellent arc for the final season of S.W.A.T. However, Hicks’ comments in the most recent episode went against the man we have come to know, and the ending didn’t make a lot of sense with that in mind.
Hicks' Return in S.W.A.T. Season 8, Episode 19 Explained
Hicks Proved He’s The Best Commander for S.W.A.T.
During S.W.A.T. season 8, episode 19, the entire team had to handle a prison escape. Hicks jumped in to help Hondo and the team get to the bottom of the plans, capture the fugitives, and figure out the fraud that Deputy Chief Bennett’s husband had been pulling for so many years. He even gave Bennett the chance to bring her own husband in so that he could continue to help 20-Squad deal with the more immediate threat, showing that he wasn’t holding any grudges for his forced resignation.
As Bennett didn’t bring her husband in within the hour, Hicks went to see what had happened. That’s when he found the last fugitive at the house, holding both Bennett and her husband at gunpoint. Hicks remained professional, finding a way to save Bennett and her husband’s lives while keeping himself and the streets safe. Bennett realized the mistake she had made when going up against Hicks, and she made it clear that she would resign, and she would tear up Hicks’ resignation if he was willing to remain as Commander.
SWAT Sets Up Hicks' Best Ending But At The Expense Of His Character Arc
Hicks’ Words To Hondo Cheapened The Decision
While it’s great to see Hicks back in charge, there was a conversation between him and Hondo (Shemar Moore) before Bennett shared that she would resign. Hondo wanted Hicks to fight for his position, because Hicks had been able to show Bennett the type of cop that he is. However, Hicks didn’t want to do that, stating that he was tired of all the tit-for-tat games.
Considering Hicks had put up such a fight to protect himself S.W.A.T. season 8, episode 18, it didn’t make sense that he would just give up at this point. Hicks had everything he needed to secure his position as Commander. Not only did he prove that he was right about his suspicions about Bennett’s husband, but he also proved he would put duty before personal vendetta.
Accepting his job back when Bennett offered it made it clear that this was something he wanted. So, he should have put up a fight, or he should have at least allowed Hondo to fight for him. The whole conversation with Hondo cheapens Hicks’ arc from the beginning of S.W.A.T. to the end.
How SWAT Should Have Tackled Hicks' Final Arc
Hicks’ Job On The Line Could Have Been Handled Better
When this storyline was first developed, there were hopes for S.W.A.T. season 9, as Deputy Chief Bennett’s plans to bring fresh blood into the leadership could have paid off with another season of S.W.A.T. As CBS canceled the series, it was clear that bigger storylines wouldn’t work out. Still, had this whole storyline been brought in much sooner, it could have played out well with some tension for the final season.
Bennett could have pushed through the reforms and forced Hicks to resign in the midseason finale. That would have allowed the series to spend some time on seeing Hicks and Hondo fight against the decisions, especially Hondo as Bennett tried to bring in someone else to act as Commander of S.W.A.T. More time outside his job could have made Hicks’ decision to not fight back more believable, as he got used to the retirement life. He could have then been pulled back in to save Bennett’s life, showing her that he deserves the job.
With it taking just one episode for Hicks to get his job back, it became a disappointing storyline. At the same time, his sudden decision not to play the tit-for-tat game didn’t make sense for his final big arc in S.W.A.T. Even if it wasn’t the final season, it would have still been a lackluster storyline with how quickly it was resolved.
