With nine episodes of SEAL Team Season 1 in the books, there is a lot to talk about.
The Bravo Team went on some dangerous missions, battling terrorists, rescuing hostages, and putting their lives on the line for their country. They also dealt with issues on the home front, struggling with family matters and relationship problems. Meanwhile, Clay completed his Tier One training and became the newest member of Bravo Team.
Below you can check out our midseason breakdown of some of the best and worst of Seal Team Season 1 so far! Let us know if you agree or disagree!
SEAL Team returns on January 3 at 9/8c. Until then, you can watch SEAL Team online right here at TV Fanatic.
Scariest Mission: South Sudan
In this intense mission, Bravo Team was tasked with evacuating Americans from Sudan in the midst of a political uprising. The SEALs had to contend not only with angry mobs and corrupt local military, but also with the creepy US ambassador who puts everybody’s life at risk. The climactic scene where Ray, Lisa and an injured journalist narrowly escape through the back of the embassy as the mob rushes through the front gate had us on the edge of our seats!
Character Who Grew The Most: Clay
Clay has definitely changed for the better over the first nine episodes of the season. He has done a good job of transforming from an arrogant tool into a valued team member, though he still has room for improvement. Clay seems to have moved beyond the issues with his father that were holding him back, while Brian’s advice helped him mature and accept the SEALs as his new family.
Most Daring Hostage Rescue: Boarding Party
When scientists from a research ship are taken hostage in the South China Sea, the SEALs had to act quickly to save them before they were sold to terrorists. The situation looked grim when a pirate barricaded himself in a room using a hostage as a human shield. Jason saved the day by lowering himself down the outside of the ship and, suspended in midair, shot the pirate through a window. The SEALs were finally able to lead the hostages to safety as the tense standoff came to an end.
Saddest Moment: Brian’s Death
Brian was like a big brother to Clay in many ways, really his only friend on Green Team. They formed a strong bond and Brian was a big help to Clay as they went through training together,offering good advice and guidance along the way. It was gut-wrenching to watch him plummet to the ground when his parachute didn’t open, and Clay and the other SEALs could only look on in horror.
Couple We’re Not Sure About #1: Jason and Alana
They could still mend their broken marriage, but at this point their chances don’t look too good. The way the Fall finale ended, with Jason deciding not to call Alana and taking his ring off, does not bode well for their future. He obviously wants to be with her, but the issues that caused her to leave – him being gone all the time and not talking enough about his feelings – are not likely to change, so this relationship looks like it’s in serious trouble.
Couple We’re Not Sure About #2: Clay and Stella
They are a happy couple right now, but it remains to be seen if Clay and Stella’s relationship can stand the test of time. Stella was hit with a dose of reality when Clay’s neighbor explained what it was like to be the wife or girlfriend of a SEAL. Hearing about the time apart, mental health issues, and physical injuries that could could affect their relationship clearly scared Stella. She will have to decide if those are things she could deal with on a daily basis.
Big Question: Can Jason and Clay Get Along?
With their character arcs finally merged, it’s anybody’s guess if Jason and Clay can co-exist now that they have to work together. Clay has improved his attitude and is trying to become more of a team player, while Jason has made an effort to put aside his bias against Clay and accept him as part of the team. Working side-by-side could either cause them to bond or clash frequently. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Best Casting: David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes
A proven TV star with a 20-year track record of success, David Boreanaz was a great choice to portray SEAL Team leader Jason Hayes. He fits the role of “tough guy struggling with inner demons” well, and is capable of being both heroic and down-to-earth. Boreanaz often carries the show, whether leading his SEALs into combat or dealing with personal issues at home.
Character to Keep an Eye On: Sonny
We can always rely on Sonny to relieve the tension and re-focus Bravo Team with his sarcastic sense of humor and one-liners, but that that sarcasm may mask some deeper issues that could come to light eventually. There have been times during this season when his emotions got the better of him and he showed signs of being a loose cannon with the potential to disrupt a mission. He always ends up falling in line, but that may not always be the case in the future. We wonder how the situation with his friend, Danny, will continue to effect him.
Most Annoying Character: Ambassador Crowley
Crowley, the acting ambassador at the US embassy in Sudan, was a condescending douche who is willing to risk everyone’s life to protect his image. For refusing to give the evacuation order because it would make him look bad, sending the SEALs on a wild goose chase into dangerous territory just to get them off his back, and ditching Ray and Lisa while he flees the embassy, Crowley was a character we loved to hate.
Underrated Character: Lisa
As Bravo Team’s no-nonsense logistics officer, Lisa Davis runs a tight ship, quickly shoots down B.S. and serves as the “unofficial den mother” responsible for making sure the team is outfitted with the necessary gear for each mission. She can also hold her own in the field. Hopefully she will factor more into the drama of the show and we will learn more of her backstory as this season progresses.
Character Who Needs More Development: Mandy
The team’s CIA analyst will do everything in her power to back up her SEALs, and has shown a willingness to throw her weight around when necessary. It would be nice if the shows writers would give this character more to do, and reveal more about her background. It was said that she had to make a lot of difficult choices and make sacrifices to pursue her career — maybe we will get more details about her later this season.
Overall Grade: B
SEAL Team is a pretty good show overall. Not great, or groundbreaking, but good for what it is. It is definitely the best of the new military-themed shows, and Season 1 so far has been enjoyable to watch. It succeeds because the characters are believable, the action scenes are realistic and exciting, and the show does a good job of balancing the military storylines with the SEALs’ home lives. It’s predictable and the plots are pretty formulaic, but it fits right in with CBS’ stable of procedurals, and features a diverse, solid cast. Now that the Clay and Bravo Team story arcs have merged, hopefully we will see more variety in the missions and learn more about the supporting characters.
