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The Best Episodes of S.W.A.T.

Every episode of S.W.A.T. ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of S.W.A.T.!

A locally born and bred S.W.A.T. lieutenant is torn between loyalty to the streets and duty to his fellow officers when he's tasked to run...
Genres:CrimeAction & AdventureDrama
Network:CBS

Best Episodes Summary

"School" is the best rated episode of "S.W.A.T.". It scored 8.9/10 based on 902 votes. Directed by Billy Gierhart and written by Robert Wittstadt, it aired on 1/3/2019. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Life".

  • School
    8.9/10902 votes
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    #1 - School

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2019

    The SWAT team faces difficult reminders of a past school shooting when they receive a warning that a copycat plans to re-enact the crime. As the team races to stop the new threat, they flash back to the day of the tense first mission.

    Director: Billy Gierhart

    Writer: Robert Wittstadt

  • Life
    8.5/10106 votes
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    #2 - Life

    Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2024

    20-Squad faces down a prison hostage situation, only to be thrown into deeper danger when a bomb explodes, freeing maximum-security prisoners from their cells, including someone with a personal grudge against Hondo.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Stigma
    8.3/10487 votes
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    #3 - Stigma

    Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 4/8/2020

    Hondo and the SWAT team race to save Buck, their former unit leader, when he goes off grid and they fear he plans to harm himself. Flashbacks reveal the search for Buck, which coincides with one of the team’s most brutal missions, as each team member receives counseling and discusses the untold mental and emotional difficulties inherent to working in SWAT.

    Director: Billy Gierhart

    Writer: Ryan Keleher

  • Last Call
    8.3/10222 votes
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    #4 - Last Call

    Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 4/5/2024

    After the shocking shooting of a member of 20-Squad, Hondo and the team launch a citywide manhunt for the robbery crew responsible. Meanwhile, Deacon's plans for his future hit a snag, and Powell and Alfaro clash over a tricky issue.

    Director: Michael D. Olmos

    Writer: Mellori Velasquez

  • Twenty Squad
    8.3/10191 votes
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    #5 - Twenty Squad

    Season 7 Episode 13 - Aired 5/17/2024

    SWAT faces their deadliest adversary yet when a violent cell of extremists looks to extract vengeance by blowing up half of Los Angeles, potentially killing thousands.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Sepulveda Protocol
    8.3/1064 votes
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    #6 - The Sepulveda Protocol

    Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 11/8/2024

    A blackout throws the city into chaos, forcing 20-Squad onto the streets for an emergency patrol day, which quickly escalates when Hondo and team uncover a terror threat.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Gang Unit
    8.2/10111 votes
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    #7 - Gang Unit

    Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 10/25/2024

    When a spree of brutal stash house robberies spills into L.A., 20-Squad must team up with the sheriff's department's gang unit to unmask a violent crew who leaves no witness alive.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Human Interest
    8.2/1048 votes
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    #8 - Human Interest

    Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 11/15/2024

    Tan is left reeling when his girlfriend is kidnapped, and 20-Squad must race to track down a violent cartel leader who may be behind the abduction.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Invisible
    8.1/10445 votes
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    #9 - Invisible

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 4/18/2019

    The abduction of Luca and Street’s neighbor sends the SWAT team in pursuit of a home invasion crew targeting domestic workers to gain entry into upscale homes. Also, the SWAT division prepares to help Mumford mark a major career milestone.

    Director: John Terlesky

    Writer: A.C. Allen

  • Immunity
    8.1/10432 votes
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    #10 - Immunity

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2019

    Deacon’s family gets caught in the crosshairs of a drug cartel when he and the SWAT team aim to bring down its leader, a former foreign rebel force leader running drugs in plain sight via a local flower market. Also, Hondo receives troubling news regarding his father, and Tan is forced to go before an internal review board due to his girlfriend’s indiscretion.

    Director: Jann Turner

    Writer: Michael Gemballa

  • Good Cop
    8.1/10406 votes
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    #11 - Good Cop

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1/22/2020

    Hondo and the SWAT team rally to support Street when he puts his life on the line to help his foster brother Nate break away from a drug ring.

    Director: Guy Ferland

    Writer: Matthew Browne

  • Farewell
    8.1/10341 votes
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    #12 - Farewell

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/22/2022

    When control of a university chemistry lab is seized, the team races to thwart a devastating terror attack.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Legacy
    8.1/10258 votes
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    #13 - Legacy

    Season 6 Episode 22 - Aired 5/19/2023

    The team works with the DEA and their iron-jawed leader, Mack Boyle, to stop a ruthless cartel boss waging war on the streets of Los Angeles as he exacts revenge on those who killed his son.

    Director: Billy Gierhart

    Writer: Brandon Margolis, Brandon Sonnier

  • Family Man
    8.1/10200 votes
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    #14 - Family Man

    Season 7 Episode 8 - Aired 4/12/2024

    The SWAT team faces off with a family of doomsday preppers barricaded inside their fortress of a home, and Deacon finds himself at the center of the storm. Also, Tan clashes with a reporter covering the situation and Powell grapples with meeting the child she gave up for adoption 18 years ago.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • SNAFU
    8.1/10196 votes
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    #15 - SNAFU

    Season 7 Episode 10 - Aired 4/26/2024

    As 20-Squad scrambles to track down a cold-blooded sniper terrorizing Los Angeles, Hondo discovers a link to his own South L.A. neighborhood that brings a personal twist to the hunt for the deadly shooter. Meanwhile, Tan finds himself questioning his leadership abilities while Powell and Alfaro compete in a classic game of SWAT tag.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Charles Haddaway

  • Vanished
    8.1/10133 votes
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    #16 - Vanished

    Season 8 Episode 1 - Aired 10/18/2024

    SWAT tackles a mission with personal ties for Hondo when they race to find a group of missing students and their bus driver, Hondo's former high school football coach. Also, Hicks has reservations regarding Hondo's new 20-Squad team addition, Devin Gamble, a cop with a family background deeply entrenched in crime.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • S.O.S.
    8.0/10545 votes
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    #17 - S.O.S.

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2018

    Hondo and Lina go undercover to infiltrate and take back a cruise ship that’s under siege by drug smugglers who will execute passengers if they detect police on board. Street enters the SWAT Training Academy and finds the competition fiercer than he expected.

    Director: Larry Teng

    Writer: Andrew Dettmann

  • Day of Dread
    8.0/10461 votes
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    #18 - Day of Dread

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/2019

    The SWAT team finds itself under internal investigation after a civilian is killed as they attempted to bring in the city’s most wanted criminal. As the mission details are revealed, the force’s internal affairs team calls Hondo’s leadership into question.

    Director: Alrick Riley

    Writer: Alison Cross

  • Diablo
    8.0/10380 votes
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    #19 - Diablo

    Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 5/20/2020

    The SWAT team searches for a group of drug smugglers who crash a plane in a Los Angeles suburb and scatter, after a joint mission with the DEA to stop the shipment goes awry. Also, Hondo tries to make amends with Nichelle, Luca experiences anxiety about his return to the field, and Deacon hesitates when asked to speak to a group of recruits about mental health.

    Director: Douglas Aarniokoski

    Writer: Robert Wittstadt, Munis Rashid

  • Lockdown
    8.0/10372 votes
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    #20 - Lockdown

    Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 5/12/2021

    When four escaped prisoners take control of a courthouse with Hondo and Deacon inside but unarmed, the two race to save the lives of innocent civilians while trying to avoid detection themselves. Street visits his mother in the hospital and faces a pivotal decision.

    Director: Maja Vrvilo

    Writer: Robert Wittstadt

  • Survive
    8.0/10381 votes
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    #21 - Survive

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 1/2/2022

    When Deacon enlists Chris’ help on an off-duty private security detail, they struggle to survive when they’re attacked by a drug cartel looking to kidnap their wealthy VIP client, on the new day and time.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Incoming
    8.0/10309 votes
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    #22 - Incoming

    Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 5/1/2022

    When a plane carrying Street and the dangerous prisoner he's transporting is hijacked, the team races to save the innocent passengers onboard -- and one of their own; Hondo takes a big step in his relationship with Nichelle.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • End of the Road
    8.0/10225 votes
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    #23 - End of the Road

    Season 7 Episode 5 - Aired 3/8/2024

    While training with Long Beach SWAT, Street discovers a biker club has stolen a cache of armor-piercing bullets and brings 20-Squad into the hunt for the gang before they can pull off a daring and deadly heist. As Hondo struggles with changes at work, Nichelle finds herself at odds with her former colleague Bruce.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Whispers
    8.0/10191 votes
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    #24 - Whispers

    Season 7 Episode 11 - Aired 5/3/2024

    Tan finds himself on a one-man mission to save his new love interest and her journalist co-workers when mercenaries take over a black-tie correspondents' dinner. After the group escapes, it's up to SWAT to track down the well-trained gunmen.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • 1000 Joules
    7.9/10480 votes
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    #25 - 1000 Joules

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2018

    The SWAT team sets out to recover dozens of DNA evidence kits stolen from an LAPD crime lab and bring in the crew responsible, after a close friend of Hicks is harmed during the theft. Financial strain at home makes it difficult for Deacon to focus on his role as leader of the SWAT division’s annual holiday toy drive.

    Director: David Rodriguez

    Writer: Craig Gore