Parents' Guide to

S.W.A.T.

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Boilerplate police procedural has violence, kids in danger.

TV CBS Drama 2017
S.W.A.T. Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 21 parent reviews

Disappointed1
Disappointed1 Adult
January 9, 2019
age 14+

Swat

I'm so sick of this sex agenda on TV; the threesome now. REALLY. It's one thing to have rights but shoving this agenda on everyone especially children is WRONG. What happened to family values.
3 people found this helpful.
Hondoisracist
Hondoisracist Adult
July 29, 2020
age 18+

Hondo is Racist

Basically every episode Hondo ( Shemar Moore) has to make everything about race like chill! Why do you literally have to walk around with your chest out acting like every white person is out to get you? Literally got Deacons job because you are black stop acting like you are so oppressed. If Shemar Moore would get over himself the show would be a lot better. Just hate the race baiting so sick of it. And I like Chris but again she’s pushing her feminist all men think I’m helpless bull crap it’s just old come out to 2020 turn off cnn. Not everyone is racist and I served with a lot of badass women overseas that I trust with my life and a lot of guys that were cowards just chill with the political agenda.
2 people found this helpful.
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Loosely based on the 2003 feature film of the same name (itself inspired by a TV show from the 1970s), S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, whose new job is heading a specialized tactical unit of the LAPD. He's a former Marine who's served honorably as an officer but now comes under fire from colleagues who aren't sure he can make the grade. Hondo's elite unit includes David "Deacon" Kay (Jay Harrington), an experienced S.W.A.T. officer who's committed to his work but feels like he should have gotten Hondo's job; Christina Alonso (Lina Esco), a hard-boiled K9 trainer; and Dominique Luca (Kenny Johnson), an expert driver who's new to the unit and has some brash ways that fellow officers don't always appreciate. Leading the unit is Jessica Cortez (Stephanie Sigman), L.A. Metro captain who's a dynamo at work -- and Hondo's main squeeze when she's not on the clock. Los Angeles is a pretty dangerous place. But with these men and women on the job, crime does not pay.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (21 ):
Kids say (8 ):

Shemar Moore is magnetic, strong-jawed, and compelling, but he's marooned in this blah by-the-numbers police drama. You know what you'll see here, because you've already seen it: lots of serious dudes in uniform with jacked arms, chain link fences slowly sliding shut, sweaty criminals with suspicious facial hair who loom over piteously crying damsels, twirling their mustaches in utter villainy. Don't worry, ma'am, the S.W.A.T. team is coming, riding a big hunk of machinery so big, bad, and American that those bad guys will just throw up their hands and give up.

There are consolations. There's the previously mentioned Moore, the chemistry he has with love interest (and boss) Jessica, the many female and non-white faces matter-of-factly doing business in the S.W.A.T. command center and on the street. But it's not enough. There are better crime-and-investigation dramas to spend your spare time on.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about shows they've seen that are similar to S.W.A.T. How is this show like those shows? How is it different?

  • Why are law enforcement units such an enduring setting for TV dramas? Why does it make for interesting television?

  • Do you often watch shows with a lot of physical altercations and violence? Should children be allowed to watch? At what age? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

TV Details

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