S.W.A.T. Exiles episode 2 put a new puzzle at the center of the series: why Ethan will not let anyone open one door in his apartment. Showrunner Jason Ning explained the setup, and the fast-building chemistry between Hondo and his new boss, to TVLine.
S.W.A.T. Exiles Episode 2: What Is Behind Ethan’s Door?
In the episode, which aired Oct. 2 on Starz, Ethan invites his fellow recruits to his apartment but forbids one of them from opening a certain door. The recruit backs off, and the contents stay a mystery.
“It is a bit of a mystery box, and we do get to see it at some point,” Ning told TVLine. He said the door’s secret pays off emotionally by the end of the season.
Ethan is dealing with a recent brain injury, according to TVLine. Ning said he drew on a person he knows who suffered a brain injury. He expects viewers to embrace Ethan, and said the character will grow as he recovers. “We don’t want to change what makes him him,” Ning said.
Hondo and his new boss
S.W.A.T. Exiles episode 2 also puts Hondo, played by Shemar Moore, opposite his new boss, Cmdr. Angela Pike, played by Lenora Crichlow. “We weren’t initially writing to that, but as soon as we put them on screen, we knew there was chemistry,” Ning said.
He stopped short of promising a romance. “Whether or not they get together, let’s just say we’re aware of it,” Ning said. “We’re addressing it, and it’s part of their character arcs.”
Where to watch the spinoff
The series follows retired S.W.A.T. leader Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, who leads an experimental S.W.A.T. unit of untested young recruits after a major operation fails. The cast also includes Lucy Barrett, Adain Bradley, Zyra Gorecki, Freddy Miyares and Ronen Rubinstein, along with returning faces Jay Harrington and Patrick St. Esprit.
S.W.A.T. Exiles premiered Sept. 25 on Starz with a 10-episode order. After S.W.A.T. Exiles episode 2, new episodes keep arriving on Fridays. Starz recently made headlines for another reason in our report on the Starz Fios blackout. For more on the studio behind the series, read about Sony Pictures Television’s Mike Wald retiring after 32 years.
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