[Warning: The next comprises spoilers from Wednesday’s episode of S.W.A.T., “Stigma.” Learn at your personal threat!]
Hondo’s (Shemar Moore) crew on S.W.A.T. goes by means of lots in each episode, however Wednesday’s particular hour of the CBS drama took a while to judge how a lot of an emotional and psychological toll their life-saving work takes on their psyches.
All the pieces kicks off with a seek for Buck (Louis Ferriera), who has been in a downward spiral after screwing up with the personal safety agency he is working for. When he stopps returning telephone calls, each Hondo and Avenue (Alex Russell) head out to search for their mentor. The search evolves right into a full-on mission once they uncover that Buck is likely to be planning to take his personal life.
Within the midst of looking for Buck earlier than he does one thing he cannot take again, the crew additionally has to take down a pair of gunmen trying to arrange their subsequent theft. Whereas monitoring the second suspect, they uncover that he fatally shot a girl making an attempt to guard her small youngster, a one-year previous who was additionally shot within the face. Discovering the 2 collectively was an excessive amount of for the crew to take, even with out factoring within the stress over Buck.
Deacon (Jay Harrington) ultimately finds Buck alone, holding a gun at his favourite fishing spot. He had undoubtedly ready to kill himself, however Deacon, together with Hondo and Avenue, discuss him out of it and persuade him to get some actual assist.
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All through the episode, the viewers sees every of the S.W.A.T. crew members verify in with an LAPD psychiatrist to assist them course of all the pieces they’d been by means of that day. For these scenes, every particular person spoke on to digital camera, giving the viewers an unflinching have a look at how the day’s occasions impacts every particular person. Every of them focus on the significance of not displaying concern whereas on the job, but in addition how that may be taxing on their private lives — particularly if they do not have an individual who can deal with speaking concerning the ugly and heartbreaking issues they see each day.
The episode was designed to carry consciousness to the truth that cops and regulation enforcement are considerably extra prone to cope with despair and suicidal ideas than civilians. By shining a lightweight on the problem, and demonstrating that it is okay to ask for assist — the episode is titled “Stigma” — S.W.A.T. hopes to carry compassion and empathy to a gaggle of people who find themselves educated to cover their emotions with a purpose to shield others.
It was completely a extra private episode than we’re used to seeing from the procedural and illuminated some holes within the system the place cops can fall by means of the cracks if they do not have somebody actively looking for them. Whereas Buck did not undergo along with his plan, there may be nonetheless an extended street forward for his restoration — however S.W.A.T. put in a number of effort to indicate that there’s nonetheless hope, even when all appears misplaced.
The solid filmed a PSA for finish of the episode that invited anybody fighting despair or suicidal ideas to name the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or go to http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
S.W.A.T. continues Wednesdays at 10/9c on CBS.
Shemar Moore, SWAT