Warning: Contains SPOILERS for the S.W.A.T. series finale. After an eight-year run, S.W.A.T. premiered its final two episodes on Friday, May 16. This marks the third time CBS has canceled the show, and it seems unlikely the network will reconsider its decision. However, not all hope is lost. The cast has launched a campaign to save S.W.A.T., and star Annie Ilonzeh has given an optimistic update. Nothing has been confirmed, but she shares that a streaming service may be interested in picking up the police procedural.
As it stands, season 8, episode 22, "Return to Base" serves as the series finale, and it brings the show to a heartfelt conclusion. The installment ends with Gamble deciding to stay on the team, and 20-Squad exiting headquarters to save the city. Ilonzeh reveals that the cast was aware of the cancellation when filming the final scene, making S.W.A.T.'s ending authentic and bittersweet.
I caught up with Annie Ilonzeh about Gamble's relationship with Hondo, what happened to Leon, hopes for S.W.A.T. season 9, and her upcoming horror film.
Ilonzeh Enjoys How Tough Hondo Is On Gamble In S.W.A.T.
"You can't really have resolution without massive obstacles, and I like that."
Hondo (Shemar Moore) talking to a member of his team in season 8, episode 8
ScreenRant: Gamble was in a tough spot with her brother. Do you think there was a right answer in that situation?
I think that Hondo was pretty harsh on her. How did it feel for her to hear this leader she looks up to saying, "I'm disappointed in you"?
Annie Ilonzeh: Hondo has that big brother, tough love vibe for sure. If the shoe was on the other foot—he doesn't do that with Gamble at all, and he certainly doesn't lead with empathy in the beginning. He's very tough, and I think he was disappointed with her.
But she's like, "I'm disappointed with you. Where are you? My family doesn't ride for me, and you are the leader of 20-Squad. Why aren't you riding for me too?" Yeah, I do think he was super tough, but I do like that. And I also will say there's kind of a nod that Shemar and I have personally, but also Gamble and Hondo have, where we're these two people of color, and we get it.
There's really an internal push-pull of, "The fact that you're not riding for me and there ain't a lot of us out here doing this together, that's very insulting." But it also works. You can't really have resolution without massive obstacles, and I like that. I like seeing that. Because then again, when you do see that scene at the very end, they come back together and have that moment.
It feels like they're stronger now for overcoming it.
Annie Ilonzeh: Yes, much stronger. And he divulges his breaking point and where he could have been better. And to see somebody like that in such a leadership role, maybe take the L or wave the white flag and say, "Here's where I could have done better," and learn from that situation is really cool. That's also just a good person.
Ilonzeh Wants To Know What Happens Between Gamble And Leon After The Finale
"We leave it on such a cliffhanger with that relationship. What went on after that?"
Annie Ilonzeh as Devin Gamble in SWAT
There wasn't much of a conclusion between Gamble and her brother. What do you think happened there?
Annie Ilonzeh: I am just as confused as the audience, literally. [Laughs] I'm like, "What happens?" We leave it on such a cliffhanger with that relationship. What went on after that? I'd like to see a family barbecue. Let's just kind of paint the scene here.
I'd love to see a really dope family barbecue. Everyone's getting along at first. Dad's there, brother's there, and then there is a blowout with Gamble and her brother. Leon and Gamble just get into it. I would love to see that. I think family mishaps and arguments are really interesting to watch.
Did you all get to keep the 20-Squad watches?
Ilonzeh Believes S.W.A.T. Still Has More Story To Tell
"When the fans watch the finale, they will absolutely agree, too, and know that there's more to do."
gamble and powell in swat s8e13
If this is the last of S.W.A.T., how satisfied are you with this ending? It sounds like you definitely want more.
Annie Ilonzeh: I am satisfied with how we could tell the story for the finale, and what the writers did, what we did as the actors, and what 20-Squad went through, but I am not satisfied with it ending just at season 8. There's much more story to tell.
There is much more life to be thrown into these characters. When the fans watch the finale, they will absolutely agree, too, and know that there's more to do. There are more lives to save. There's more 20-Squad. We're not done. This train is still kicking hardcore. I do cross my fingers for sure.
Do you have any upcoming projects?
Annie Ilonzeh: Yes. I have a movie called Run that's coming out in September. It is a scary movie, a horror film. To be on both sides of the camera, it's really fun to see the veil lifted and how the movie magic is really made. We shot this film in Big Bear in the Woods, and it was actually during S.W.A.T.
I was off a few episodes, and I was able to just go shoot this movie really fast, directed by Chris Stokes, who's one of my really good friends also, and we shot this horror film in the woods, and then there were fires that happened, so we literally had to escape and get out of dodge. It was wild. One minute, we're shooting the scene, and then the next minute, we just see these plumes of clouds, and they start to get closer and closer.
And then you start to see embers coming down, and you're smelling things burning and cars just flying by down the street, getting out, leaving, evacuating. And finally, we called it, and we were like, "We've got to go." We were trying to collect everything that we could to get out of there, and thank God we did. We put our lives on the line for this film, so people need to go see it. [Laughs]
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Inspired By The Television Series And The Feature Film
This action-packed series follows a specialized tactical unit in the Los Angeles Police Department, led by Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. The team tackles high-stakes crimes in the city while addressing issues of race, loyalty, and justice. The series is notable for its intense action sequences and the personal dramas of its members.
Check out our paired interview with Anna Enger Ritch and Annie Ilonzeh, as well.
