SWAT has experienced many setbacks, but season 8 is on the way and the unfortunate aspect of the new episodes is that one significant change will irrefutably affect Shemar Moore’s character, Hondo. The police procedural is based on the 1975 show of the same name, with Moore headlining the cast since season 1. However, CBS canceled SWAT before its season 6 finale, and it wouldn’t be the first time. The network un-canceled the show just to renew it for a seventh and final season, but now SWAT is returning for season 8, and it’s unclear whether it will be its last.

Moore is expected to reprise his role as Hondo in the cast of SWAT season 8 alongside Jay Harrington as David Kay, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Robert Hicks, Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Bowell, and Niko Pepaj as Miguel Alfaro. Fans might notice that some important main characters are missing from the list. Jim Street, Dominique Luca, and Jack Mumford won’t return. Additionally, the character closest to Hondo won’t be around much either in SWAT season 8.

SWAT Can’t Sustain Hondo & Nichelle’s Marriage Without Rochelle Aytes

Aytes Is Exiting SWAT In Season 8

Rochelle Aytes has been cast as Mary Morstan in Watson, an upcoming CBS medical drama inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. Since Aytes is a series regular in the new show (which is rumored to premiere on CBS in January 2025), the actress has exited SWAT​​​​​​. Consequently, many are worried about the fate of her character, Nichelle Carmichael, and her relationship with Hondo in SWAT season 8. According to TVLine, though, fans haven’t seen the last of Nichelle.

Aytes will reportedly reprise her role as Nichelle “within the first eight episodes or so.” So, the actress is likely to appear in one episode to explain her future absence in SWAT season 8. Also, the producers are adamant that Hondo and Nichelle will remain happily married even after Aytes is gone. The fictional couple’s relationship will just primarily exist offscreen going forward. Despite the promise, it’s going to be difficult for the writers and producers to sustain this arrangement as the episodes go on, especially if SWAT runs for many more seasons.

SWAT Will Eventually Have To Write Nichelle Out, And That’s Bad For Hondo

The Couple Might Have To Split

The police procedural series can only make so many excuses as to why Nichelle is nowhere to be found before it becomes unbelievable. It’s quite odd for Nichelle to disappear in the first place, after all. If CBS continues renewing SWAT and Watson performs well, the writers and producers must write Nichelle out of the show.

There are only so many ways that characters can be written out of TV shows. They could die, move away, etc. However, in Nichelle’s case, the most likely option is that she and Hondo get a divorce, which would be devastating for Shemar Moore’s character. Hopefully, that won’t be the case, but SWAT doesn’t have many options to work with following Rochelle Aytes’ exit.