Warning! SPOILERS ahead for S.W.A.T. season 7, episode 7, “Last Call”
Luca wasn’t the only one who struggled with saying goodbye during his emotional S.W.A.T. exit. The show is based on both the 1975 show and the 2003 movie and features a cast of S.W.A.T. team members trying to survive in chaotic situations throughout Los Angeles. The show premiered in 2017 and was canceled by CBS after season 6. A response by fans led to a season 7 renewal, which will likely serve as the show’s finale. Kenny Johnson (Luca) was forced to say farewell early, after injuries led Luca to an early retirement.
The entire S.W.A.T. season 7 cast is preparing to leave the show, but Luca’s exit was especially hard. In an interview with TV Insider, Johnson spoke about the pain that Luca was going through in his retirement ceremony. With so much pressure on his shoulders, he just wasn’t capable of sitting at a desk, rather than working in the field, which led to Luca saying goodbye. Check out his quote below:
At the end of S.W.A.T. season 7, episode 6, “Escape”, Luca takes Kelly for ice cream, only for a casual drive to end in disaster. A sudden attack left Luca with multiple gunshot wounds and irreversible nerve damage. Unable to receive proper approval for field work, Luca had the choice of working a desk job or moving on from S.W.A.T. forever. Because he always viewed himself as more than a desk worker, Luca elected to say goodbye. He retired after an emotional ceremony and left the show forever.
The decision to say goodbye to Kenny Johnson so early is surprising. Luca has been a part of S.W.A.T. since the first season, and his role in the show has been relatively consistent. Forcing an exit before the final episode led to Luca’s downgrade to a recurring character, rather than a ma. It also forced Luca to leave behind his life’s work, ending his role in a family legacy of S.W.A.T. team members. It was a tragic ending for him and left him with a truly bittersweet future, even if Hondo tried to reassure him about his fate.
The decision to have Luca exit early, however, allowed for a proper goodbye for the character.After S.W.A.T. was canceled, the renewal gave the show a chance to offer individual honors for each of its characters. As the central character, Hondo is likely to dominate the final episode, so having Luca leave episodes before the ending allowed him to take the spotlight for an episode. As tragic as Luca’s ending was, it gave S.W.A.T. the chance to give him a proper conclusion before the series finale.
Source: TV Insider