S.W.a.T. Final Season

My friends and I have campaigned to have the final season of S.W.A.T. released on DVD for so long now (nine years) that all I can say is thank you Shout!Factory for listening to the fans. I actually have been watching this second season on amazon on demand for years now and I never get tired of watching them. I even bought a Roku so I could watch them on my TV instead of my computer. However nothing compares to having the episodes on DVD. Also a lot of my friends aren't able to get this service so they will finally get to see what I have been talking about all these years.

I really enjoyed the first season of S.W.A.T. but what I have enjoyed even more about the second season besides the fact that there are more episodes is the fact that they go on location a lot more and it brightens up the episode.

As they did in the first season a lot of the episodes focus on a member of the team in a side story to the episode or being involved in the actual story line and then there are a lot of episodes where the whole team is involved. A good mix of episodes.

Since I am a fan of Mark Shera and watch the show because of him, the episodes that feature his character, Dom Luca are my favorites. That said I can't think of any episode in this season that I have not enjoyed watching over and over again and look forward to seeing on DVD.

Update- Now that I have the actual DVD set, I can say that the quality on the episodes is good, right on par with the first season. One thing I really appreciate it that this final season set has chapter breaks which the first season put out by Sony did not. That makes a big difference. I definitely will be enjoying these episodes over and over.

Those of us who's memories have dimmed will find some changes to the show from season one. A mix of continuity and non-continuity.

In Season Two, almost all non-police action has been removed. No more of the guys hanging around Crazy Mary's having a beer after work. Almost all references to girlfriends, wives and children have been removed. Retconned Hondo (I call him Horndog Hondo) even chastely lusts after some of the female guest characters (does Betty know about this? Hondo, how could you do this to your sons!) Another change is that Hondo is now front and center of every single episode, with the other guys on the squad often relegated to background characters. The show also reused sequences from two season 1 eps in season 2.

On the other hand, Chief Roman is still the chief even though he's mostly spoken of and not seen. And the Ritchie crime family still serves as The Sopranos of SWAT-land, even if none of the characters from "Hit Men" in season one are reprised. And good old Deke seems to have stayed married, although Clio is not seen in season two.

Several actors appear again playing completely different characters: Sal Mineo, Christopher George, Robert Webber, Robert Loggia and Loni Anderson among them. New guest stars in season two include Ann Francis, Elinor Donohue, Frank Gorshin, Diedre Hall, Lesley Ann Warren and Susan Dey.

The first season rotated two directors all season, while the second season added different directors each week, which gives the show a slightly different feel.

The stories were largely tightened up and the police action is more intense and better filmed. No more entertaining yet ridiculous plots like "Death Score" or "The Steel-Plated Security Blanket." This was a more serious, police-action oriented season.

"Kill S.W.A.T." and "Ordeal" are outstanding episodes, while the spectacularly violent "Deady Weapons" is a good example of why this show got cancelled.

Loving this set. Thanks to Shout Factory for finally making it available. I actually preferred the first season with its greater continuity and some emphasis on the private lives of the officers, but there are some great episodes here and it is awesome to finally have them on DVD.

I am so glad that the final series is finally being released. I have also watched season 2 on Amazon instant video, but Peggy is right it's not like having the DVD on hand to watch anywhere. I to like Mark and T.J. in the show I wish it hadn't been cancelled, but we can enjoy it on DVD. Thanks Shout Factory!!!!