Although CBS hasn’t renewedS.W.A.T.for season 9 yet, the distinct possibility of the show continuing spells trouble for Hondo and one of his current glaring issues. Ahead of the season 8 premiere, CBS announced that Rochelle Aytes, who has played Nichelle Carmichael in the police procedural action-drama since season 3, wouldn’t return as a series regular and would have a recurring role instead. The actress wascast in the new CBS showWatson, limiting her availability. However,Aytes has yet to appear inS.W.A.T.season 8 and likely won’t due to her busy schedule.
New episodes ofS.W.A.T.air on Fridays at 10 pm ET on CBS. Season 8 contains 22 episodes.
S.W.A.T.season 8 hasn’t done much to explain Nichelle’s absence.She is still very much around and a part of Hondo’s life in the episodes, but Aytes' character doesn’t appear in any scenes. Instead, Hondo and Nichelle’s home life happens offscreen. They remain married and are raising their daughter, Vivienne. However, most ofS.W.A.T.season 8’s storyrevolves around matters that don’t concern Hondo’s relationship with Nichelle. If the series is to continue with a ninth season, though, the writers will be forced to actually address why Nichelle is missing.
SWAT Season 9 Getting Renewed Means It Needs A Definitive Solution For Hondo & Nichelle’s Situation
Rochelle Aytes Left SWAT During Season 8
According toDeadline,CBS will likely make a decision aboutS.W.A.T.’s future sometime in the spring of 2025.Until then, season 9 is simply a possibility, not a certainty. The police procedural action-drama seemingly has nine lives, though, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the show were to continue beyond season 8. If it does, that’s bad news for Hondo and Nichelle’s story.S.W.A.T.season 9means that the writers will have to explain Nichelle’s absence as having her exist offscreen isn’t sustainable long term.
Annie Ilonzeh
Devin Gamble
S.W.A.T.can’t just keep saying Nichelle is around when there is no physical proofof her presence. She is an important character to the series and Hondo, and it will eventually be difficult for viewers to accept the show’s current excuse for her absence. It’s bad enough forHondo’s story that Nichelle is missing inS.W.A.T.season 8, meaning it will only get worse if CBS greenlights a ninth season.
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SWAT Season 9’s Renewal May Force Hondo & Nichelle’s Split
The Show Can’t Continue Ignoring Nichelle’s Absence
AS.W.A.T.season 9 renewal (and aWatsonseason 2 renewal, which is likely) suggestsHondo and Nichelle’s relationship is in danger.Aytes won’t be able to return to the show ifWatsoncontinues, andS.W.A.T.can’t go on without explaining exactly where Nichelle is in a potential ninth season. So, the writers might take the easy route and break Hondo and Nichelle up. Or, worse, they will kill off Aytes' character. Whatever the case,the chance ofS.W.A.T.season 9is exciting, but not for Hondo and Nichelle’s future.
