User Reviews

"Another ambush... another coldblooded assassination. Why?"

"Because of their color. Not because they are black or white or brown. Because they are blue."

Diving into the S.W.A.T. TV series for the first time, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I kind of assumed it would be a somewhat cheap, silly cop show that plays it safe.

I was frankly kind of shocked to realize it's a very well shot, mostly well-acted, and somewhat violent procedural. It has that gloriously grainy 70's cinematography, with just about every shot filmed with wide angle lenses. The show feels larger than life - in a good way.

This first episode does a good job establishing the team we will be following throughout the next two seasons - most notably the tough as nails Lieutenant Dan "Hondo" Harrelson.

The action beats are solid, and the plot, though simple, is effective in quickly creating sympathy and respect for these fictional men in blue.

(Also, I was shocked to see a very young Annette O'Toole show up in this episode! I wonder what other guest stars await?)

On to episode two!

Episode one of "S.W.A.T." is not exactly the first episode. Shortly before the series debuted, a two-hour pilot episode aired on the TV show "The Rookies"--making "S.W.A.T." a spin-off series. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to see this pilot, as only the first two seasons of "The Rookies" are on DVD and this two-hour show debuted later in the series. So, for now, this is the closest you can get to a premier episode.

Because it's the first episode (of sorts), the show is mostly about the assembling of a S.W.A.T. team and the crime is secondary. The show begins with a police car being ambushed and Officer Street (Robert Urich) and his partner are pinned down by three maniacs. The partner is killed and the three manage to get away--for now. In this mess, the leader of the S.W.A.T. team, Lt. Harrelson (Steve Forrest) sees Street in action and impressed--and later invites him to apply for a job with his team. Much of the rest of the show concerns the selection process and boot camp. Now this part of the show really made me laugh, as only three guys were going to be chosen for the team and EVERY TIME THE CAMERA SHOWED STREET, the other two future members of the team (Luca and McCabe) were standing next to him and usually were talking to him!! Talk about no suspense at all as to who the three guys will be!!

As for the ambushers, they are led by the very familiar character actor Geoffrey Lewis. Eventually, the team is able to locate and dispatch the baddies. The ending is very violent BUT despite folks being shot at point-blank range with M-16s, there is absolutely no blood! I could see why some thought the show was too violent, but compared to modern TV and especially movies, it was a bit tame. Interesting and worth seeing....and to laugh at the three guys in training who are ALWAYS together like the Three Stooges!

Other reviewer covered it well, but the part where they say Street (Robert Urich character) was seen by Lt. Harrelson (Steve Forrest) in action, well, I didn't see it. He got shot at and pulled his dead partner to safety and then "S. W. A. T." (in the "van") came, we didn't see anything out of the ordinary or what any police officer wouldn't do for his partner.