On S.W.A.T. Season 1 Episode 3 we finally get personal with the team and discover just how much of a family they really are.

If the S.W.A.T. team was an actual family, Hondo would certainly sit at the head of the table.

Sure, your first thought might be Deacon since he's the only one who has children, but Hondo has proven himself to be both the protector and the motivator of this team -- the perfect recipe for a dear old dad.

This role of mentor, one of many hats Hondo wears, was especially important for Street who was focused on heavily.

Street was summoned by his mother to visit her in prison for what appeared to be a favor but turned into a dangerous stunt that almost got him kicked off the team.

When we first met Street's mom, she seemed more like Susie Homemaker in prison blues rather than a cold-blooded killer or a battered woman. The way that he defended her actions against his father all these years later was sweet and showed off Street's softer side. We'd only been getting glimpses of that until now.

Karen: It's wrong to ask you. I shouldn't have called. I have no place asking you for anything.
Street: You got every place to ask me whatever you want.
Karen: Jimmy, you don't owe me anything.
Street: I owe you everything.
Karen: I chose to stay with your father when things got ugly.
Street: And you did the right thing by taking him out.

Permalink: And you did the right thing by taking him out.

Of course, abandoning his S.W.A.T. duties to threaten a criminal on his mother's behalf was not the smartest move he could've made, but at the end of the day, he had good intentions -- to protect the only real family he has.

Now that we have more information about Street's past and can understand why he does the things he does, it's easier to have sympathy for his reckless decisions. S.W.A.T. has finally let viewers into the personal lives of its characters and I finally feel like we're a part of the family as well.

Hondo was right to scold Street, not only for getting arrested while on duty, but for potentially jeopardizing their case and endangering the people they were trying desperately to protect.

Hondo: You gotta pick one boat.
Street: One boat?
Hondo: You are a SWAT officer or you are a loose cannon, your choice.

Permalink: You are a SWAT officer or you are a loose cannon, your choice.

I was a little disappointed that Hondo lit into Chris as well, since she did try her best to stop Street, but I can understand why he would need to reprimand her too. However, it did show her level of professionalism by not shifting the blame to Street. Chris is a good egg.

It was clear that Chris was pissed at Street for putting her in that position, and she had every right to be. I still hope that their relationship progresses and I'm sure the effects of this incident will fade as the team embraces Street as family and continues to work together.

In the end Hondo decided to give Street another chance to prove himself to the team. I'm sure this had something to do with discovering the trust about Street's mom Karen, with the help of Cortez.

At first I was surprised that Hondo went to visit Karen Street, until it was revealed how manipulative she was being. It didn't seem possible that the woman who sat there snarling at Hondo was the same sweet motherly figure who sat there with her son earlier that day.

Jeopardizing Street's career just to get a little edge on the other inmates was low, especially since she used her son's anger toward violent men against him. It's not surprising that caused Hondo to have a little extra sympathy toward his new recruit.

It was sweet to see Hondo be so protective over Street and this scene was the first moment that I fully believed Hondo when he called the team his family.

Karen: Jimmy wanted to help me. I need to talk to him.
Hondo: That's not going to happen. Not after I tell him the truth about you.
Karen: Who do you think you are? Black guy, hot shot, sitting there talking to me like this? You mean nothing to him. You really think he's going to trust you over me? I saved that little ass of his. I am here because of him.
Hondo: Wow, lady... you are a piece of work. I wondered how Street could be such a mess, but now that I've met you, I just gotta wonder how he managed to turn out so good.
Karen: I'm sorry. I-I-I I know that you're just trying to help. And your right about all of it. Just please, don't tell him. Look, if you care about him as much as I do, you won't. 'Cause it'll crush him.
Hondo: Don't call him anymore. You mess with him, you mess with me. My family.

Permalink: Don't call him anymore. You mess with him, you mess with me. My family.

Viewers got a peek into the personal lives of some of the other team members, as well.

Luca, we learned, is a proud third generation S.W.A.T. member who's married to the job and whose frat-boy lifestyle causes problems in his love life. The punishment that Hondo doled out to Street made me giggle -- to take in Luca after he was kicked out by his girlfriend.

Luca: Look, guys, you know how it goes. I need a place to stay tonight. So cut the suspense, tell me whose car to throw my stuff in.
Chris: Not me, sorry Luca.
Tan: I took him last time. Deac?
Deacon: No way. New baby. End of story.
Street: What's going on?
Chris: Luca got kicked out of his apartment by his girlfriend. That's three in as many years.
Luca: Yeah, rule is someone from the team has to take me in.
Tan: 'Til he gets on his feet.
Street: What is that, like some kind of bro code?
Luca: No, SWAT code. Far more sacred.
Street: Wait, wait, wait. So you break up and the girls get your apartment? You need a new lawyer.

Permalink: Wait, wait, wait. So you break up and the girls get your apartment? You need a new lawyer.

The banter between the team about Luca's failed romances and perils of letting him crash on their couches was cute, and I think it's those small detail that suggest a closeness between the team that was missing before.

We didn't see much of Jessica this episode, aside from her moment of worry regarding Street's behavior. It seems that she has love goggles on when it comes to Hondo. But who could really blame her?

Sure, the job is massively important to her, but every time she tries to stand her ground with Hondo she ends up folding like a deck of cards. Cortez puts up a good front of being the badass in charge, but so far she's always given in to him.

I'm interested to see what the progression of their relationship will be and if any serious roadblocks in their professional lives pop up. Is it bad that I kind of want her to choose the job over him?

Cortez: Why risk your career for [Street]?
Hondo: I've been there, Jess. Not with SWAT, just -- Things can grab ahold of you and make you feel like you can't trust anyone. Until you learn to again.

Permalink: I've been there, Jess. Not with SWAT, just -- Things can grab ahold of you and make you feel...

In regards to the case of the hour, I found the drug/human trafficking storyline to be very entertaining but not so out of the box that it wasn't believable. (I mean Luca causally blew up a plane, but that could happen, right?)

The team dealt with speed bumps that made sense for the type of investigation they were doing, but still managed to come out on top.

By reuniting the Filipino immigrants with their families that had been held hostage, the S.W.A.T. team was able to successfully complete their mission while also tying it in nicely to the familial theme of the episode.

Overall, the high-adrenaline case, music and editing that had me jammin', and digging into the personal lives of these characters made this an excellent hour of viewing for me.

I think S.W.A.T. has finally found it's footing and if it continues down this road I think we'll all become a part of their pamilya...

What did you think of Street's mom? Do you think Street's a SWAT officer or a loose cannon? Comment your thoughts below!