Contains spoilers for “S.W.A.T.” Season 8, Episode 22 — “Return to Base”

“What are we waiting for? Suit up. Let’s go save this city,” commands Hondo (Shemar Moore) as “S.W.A.T.” reaches its conclusion, and it couldn’t have ended on a better note for the show. Hondo issues this directive as his team of resilient law enforcement individuals prepares to offer assistance for a robbery case in progress. After an episode where the team’s base suffered substantial damage and one member almost departed, this signifies that the Twenty Squad’s operations will proceed smoothly beyond the final frame. This moment also serves as a fitting tribute to Hondo’s memorable catchphrase, which he has uttered numerous times throughout the show’s eight seasons.

In earlier episodes, Hondo has also used the phrase “Let’s roll,” which is a nod to the original Hondo, Steve Forrest’s catchphrase, often heard in the original “S.W.A.T.” series. This is just one of the instances where “S.W.A.T.” has paid homage to its predecessor, with one particular nod having been in plain sight for years.

A prominent homage that “S.W.A.T.” pays to its predecessor is through its theme song. The rousing, horn-driven tune is a slightly updated version of the original series’ theme, featuring a quicker tempo. The theme was created by Barry De Vorzon, who also composed “Nadia’s Theme,” which became the theme song for the enduring soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” among various other successful pop and theme songs.

While “S.W.A.T.” will now be permanently riding into the sunset, Paramount already has a sequel series greenlit and ready to roll. “S.W.A.T. Exiles” will feature Hondo training a whole new elite squad after being forcibly retired. Will it be as successful as its previous incarnations? After all, “S.W.A.T.” managed to survive cancelation once, during which Shemar Moore called CBS out (and he did it again when the show was canceled a second time).

As long as the show doesn’t turn into a soap opera, which Moore explicitly said he didn’t want to have happen, viewers might respond well to the new concept. And fans of the franchise will likely have a whole bunch of references to catch once it launches.