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

After being canceled once and then revived, “S.W.A.T.” eventually joined the roster of TV shows permanently canceled in 2025. However, its future remains open-ended by the conclusion of the series finale, “Return to Base.” Despite Devin Gamble (Annie Ilonzeh) contemplating leaving the squad due to her divided loyalties, and Hondo (Shemar Moore) contending with both a stalker and ex-Russian mercenaries threatening the team, the ending implies that things will continue as usual.

This open-ended finale allows “S.W.A.T.: Exiles,” the upcoming spin-off centered on Hondo, to seamlessly continue from where the main show concluded, despite the ruined headquarters. The fact that “Return to Base” leaves room for continuation and avoids a definitive conclusion is what enables “S.W.A.T.: Exiles.” Though it gives no indication of the challenges ahead, Hondo remains in his cool leader persona. He embodies the leadership that “Exiles” would demand, pushing the squad to excel and save lives. While things currently look promising for him, “Exiles” might present unforeseen obstacles.

In “S.W.A.T.: Exiles,” Hondo is forced into retirement from Twenty Squad after a mission disastrously fails. Left isolated and restless, he is drawn back into the fray as a mentor and trainer for a new cadre of S.W.A.T. officers. These recruits differ greatly from his previous disciplined team; they are youthful and hail from a different generation. Hondo faces the challenge of instilling his methods and bringing them up to his standards. The survival of the team he built and nurtured depends on his success in this mission.

The rest of the show hasn’t been cast so far, but Jason Ning will be the showrunner. This is yet another example of “S.W.A.T.” having nine lives. It was canceled at the end of Season 6, only to be revived through a combination of shrewd negotiation and fan support. It was renewed for Season 8 without being on the bubble, but CBS did not negotiate with Paramount for the right to produce Season 9, just one more reason why Shemar Moore called out CBS for canceling the show for a second time. That’s probably why Paramount is shopping “Exiles” around to streamers. That means it could end up on Netflix, a connection Shemar Moore was urging earlier in the year, or Paramount +. Fate will determine where it lands — and if audiences tune in.