SEAL Team (season 2)





release year: 2018-2019
genre: military drama/action
viewing setting: home streaming 10/1-6/22

synopsis: An elite military unit goes on various counter-terrorism missions around the world.

impressions: This second season showed more missions (including a couple of multi-episode ones involving really high-value targets) and also dealt with a number of things that threatened to tear the team apart: the unexpected death of a spouse, a breakup, a new relationship, idiotic high-ranking officers, deaths and major injuries. Overall, I double down on what I said last time: this is a really good representation of what actual missions - and the people behind them - probably look like. I'm hooked, as might be obvious from the fact that I somehow watched 22 more episodes in a 6-day span.

acting: There are a lot of characters here; I'll mention the main ones who got my attention. David Boreanaz is the embattled leader, and frankly he's mostly an asshole; he doesn't listen, doesn't apply the same logic to himself that he uses on others, and is generally unlikeable. Max Thieriot and Alona Tal are a young couple who have to figure out how to blend their relationship with the life of an elite warrior. A.J. Buckley really steals the show as the wisecracking team member from Texas. Neil Brown is the second-in-command who faces family and faith challenges. Toni Trucks is the tough and competent logistics/support person who decides to go to officer school. Jessica Pare is their CIA liaison, who throws a lot of her emotional energy into her work and takes some things personally. Judd Lormand is the team's commanding officer, who also used to do these missions himself and therefore makes a good liaison with senior leadership. C. Thomas Howell and Tony Curran are both good as former operators, particularly the latter who is having issues due to undiagnosed trauma.

final word: This continues to be outstanding, giving regular people a glimpse into the lives of the people who directly and indirectly make the world a safer place.

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