Netflix’s Next Move: Ditch ‘The Recruit,’ Save ‘S.W.A.T.’ Instead?

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In what is shocking news for fans, Netflix announced the cancelation of its much-loved series The Recruit in early March. Led and produced by Noah Centineo, the series made its debut back in 2022 and received a positive reaction from viewers, leading to renewal for a second season. The show’s shorter second season was released in January 2025 and performed even better than its predecessor, scoring 92% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

Given the success of the series, many believed that they could expect Centineo’s Owen Hendricks to return for a third season. After all, the series did make its way onto the streamers’ Global Top 10 charts. However, dashing all hope and evidently viewing things in a different light, Netflix has decided to cancel the series instead of renewing it. Although a bitter pill for fans of the series, The Recruit’s cancelation may allow Netflix to add another action drama, S.W.A.T., onto the platform in its stead.

Why Did Netflix Cancel ‘The Recruit’?

Netflix has not offered an official explanation regarding their decision to cancel The Recruit. However, it is worth noting that the streamer takes some time to make its cancelation decisions and analyze a show’s performance and viewership over the long run. In retrospect, The Recruit was possibly already on the short end of the stick before Season 2 aired. While the second season was initially set to have eight episodes, matching its debut season, Netflix subsequently reduced the count to six episodes. For a US drama series, a six-episode season is rather short, pushing writers and creators to condense stories, possibly taking away from the overall effect of the storyline.

Moreover, while The Recruit‘s second season was well-received, scoring 92% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its 68% in Season 1, the overall viewership of the season was less than Season 1. This may have been what ultimately sealed the series’ fate. Despite making it onto Netflix’s charts, The Recruit Season 2 spent just three weeks on the charts before completely dropping out of Netflix’s weekly Global Top 10 list. It is likely that The Recruit’s performance was also impacted by Season 2 of The Night Agent premiering just days before. Given that both series focus on male protagonists who are both trying to prove themselves as agents, they share a somewhat similar narrative. With The Night Agent being released first, viewers may not have been that inclined to delve back into yet another series promising a similar dose of action and drama.

‘S.W.A.T.’ Would Be a Perfect Replacement for ‘The Recruit’

While the cancelation of The Recruit is disappointing news for fans who were looking forward to more of Owen Hendricks in a possible Season 3, the curtains drawing on The Recruit opens the door for yet another action-packed drama to take its place on the streamer. S.W.A.T., a series centering on a group of highly-trained professionals of the LAPD striving to protect the public from threats imposed by the most dangerous criminals, was initially released in November 2017. The series has now run for eight seasons, although not without its own challenges.

The series has faced multiple cancelations by CBS over the years. The action drama was initially canceled in 2023 after a six-season run, a decision that was then overturned mere days after its announcement. It was instead reported that Season 7 of the series would be its final run. However, this decision was also overturned in May 2024, with the show being renewed for Season 8. Now, S.W.A.T. has been canceled for a third time, and fans are in an uproar. It has been reported that the latest cancelation announcement may not be reversed as CBS has opted out of renewal talks altogether and needs to make room on its release schedule for previously announced spinoff shows, leaving no room for S. W. A. T. Season 9.

How Does ‘S.W.A.T.’ Compare to ‘The Recruit’?

As a devoted fan, I’m hopeful that Netflix might consider adding S.W.A.T. to their lineup. This series, with its gripping action, deep character development, and high-stakes drama, could perfectly fill the void left by The Recruit while still providing a unique narrative experience. Unlike The Recruit, which dives deep into espionage, covert operations, and secret identities, S.W.A.T. offers a gritty street-level drama, emphasizing camaraderie among officers, in stark contrast to the delicate balance of trust and betrayal seen in The Recruit. By doing so, it keeps the same level of tension and appealing narrative that Recruit fans are accustomed to, delivering a familiar thrill.

Moreover, given that the series already has its own established following, Netflix will likely not have to worry about viewership in acquiring S.W.A.T. With proven audience appeal, evident from its long run, S.W.A.T. would ensure immediate engagement upon its addition to the streamer. Given that the first seven seasons of the show are currently streaming on Netflix US, S. W. A. T. star Shemar Moore has already called on Netflix to pick the series up.

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Acting as the cherry on top, the mastermind behind Netflix’s widely popular series, The Night Agent, is also the same creative talent behind S.W.A.T., with the series being created by Shawn Ryan. Given the success Ryan has had on the streamer, with The Night Agent Season 1 having a permanent spot on Netflix’s Top 10 Most Popular Shows of all time, it is likely that S.W.A.T. may fare similarly well on the streamer. Ryan has already proven his ability to craft compelling narratives that are able to resonate with viewers, and, given this, there is a high chance that S.W.A.T. would be a standout addition to Netflix’s ever-growing, diverse lineup. S.W.A.T. is currently available to stream on Netflix, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Philo.

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2025-03-15 19:36