SWAT Season 8's Missing Character Update Is Bad For Hondo's Story

Ahead of the S.W.A.T. season 8 premiere, CBS announced that Rochelle Aytes, who plays Nichelle Carmichael, wouldn't be coming back as a series regular, leaving hope that she would appear in some capacity. Unfortunately, a new update concerning Nichelle's absence and possible return is quite disheartening. It also spells bad news for Shemar Moore's character's future in S.W.A.T. season 8.

Shortly after Hondo met Nichelle in S.W.A.T. season 3, the couple started dating before breaking up towards the end of season 3. Hondo and Nichelle eventually rekindled their romance, and she became pregnant in season 6. Nichelle later gave birth to her and Hondo's daughter, Vivian, and the couple married offscreen sometime in between S.W.A.T. seasons 6 and 7. So, it's safe to say that Hondo and Nichelle have a strong relationship. Nevertheless, Nichelle is nowhere to be found in season 8's early episodes, and it'll likely stay that way for the season's second half.

Nichelle Won't Come Back In SWAT Season 8

Rochelle Aytes Is Starring In CBS's Watson

Per TVLine, Rochelle Aytes isn't expected to reprise her role as Nichelle in S.W.A.T. season 8's remaining episodes. Before season 8's premiere, Aytes was cast as Dr. Mary Morstan in Watson, a new CBS medical crime drama following the famous character, John Watson, from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. The network debuted Watson on January 26, 2025, and will kick off its regular schedule on February 16.

Aytes' series regular role in the cast of Watson is keeping the actress quite busy. She doesn't have time to pop in for a scene or two in CBS's other procedural drama S.W.A.T. After all, asking Aytes to juggle a role in a network TV show's main cast and a supporting role in another series would be a lot. So, S.W.A.T. will likely continue excusing Nichelle's absence by simply having her exist offscreen. As showrunner Andrew Dettman told TVLine, Nichelle is "the woman Hondo goes home to every day."

SWAT's Explanation For Nichelle's Absence Isn't Sustainable

The Excuse Doesn't Make Sense After A While

Instead of coming up with a concrete reason why Nichelle isn't in S.W.A.T. season 8, the writers decided to leave the character be. She didn't die, nor did Hondo and Nichelle get a divorce. Alternatively, the other characters make comments here and there about how Hondo and Nichelle are doing great, while Nichelle exists offscreen. This excuse might satisfy some, but it will start getting old very soon, especially if S.W.A.T. has a future after season 8 and CBS renews Watson for season 2. Then, S.W.A.T. would have to reconsider Nichelle's role in the series.

After a while, it will be strange for viewers if Nichelle hasn't been seen onscreen since S.W.A.T. season 7. The whole point of TV is showing, not telling a story. If the audience doesn't witness Hondo and Nichelle's relationship going strong, it will be hard to believe it truly is. Plus, Hondo is S.W.A.T.'s main character. The CBS police procedural action drama series mostly focuses on Hondo's career, of course. However, S.W.A.T. must feature moments pertaining to his home life, which includes Nichelle and their daughter.

How SWAT Can Still Keep Nichelle In Hondo's Life With Aytes' Busy Schedule

The Show Could Recast Nichelle

Since Rochelle Aytes isn't available to return to S.W.A.T., the show must come up with another explanation for Nichelle's absence. The writers could take the easy way out and kill off Nichelle or break her and Hondo up. However, either of those options would significantly hurt Hondo's story. No one wants to see Hondo grieving the loss of his wife and the mother of his child or him sulking due to a divorce (that would frankly make no sense).

While controversial, S.W.A.T. could take a page out of 9-1-1: Lone Star's book concerning Sierra McClain's exit. Instead of choosing death or divorce for Nichelle, Aytes' character could leave town for some important reason. As for what that reason would be, that is up to the writers. Or, if S.W.A.T. wants to keep Hondo's family together onscreen, the CBS police procedural action drama could always recast the character.

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Source: TVLine