Then and Now

Copaganda is alive and well. I watched some SWAT (2017) recently, which was based on SWAT (1975). So let's compare!

The main team: Back in 75, the SWAT team was five people, all men (of course) and diversity expressed by having one African America. Although possibly also one Italian? Racism is weird. In 17, we have six, with Hondo (the main lead) being African American, one being Asian and a Woman(!). Now they do point out that women have a tough time in SWAT and there is a plot or two about a second woman getting into SWAT, so they aren't shying away from that.

The secondary team: In 17, there's the Commander who is in most of the episodes, supporting them, and they've had another female character in charge as well (changing over the seasons). And Deacon is married. Back in 75 the only other character you see often is a woman.. and she's the lady selling food! Hondo is married, but only in season one. In season two, she disappears, possibly so the main lead can get some romance from the female lead of the episode?

Humanising the forces: Back in 75, quite often in the episode we would spend time with the bad guys of the episode, finding out why they are experiencing the lives they are. They aren't portrayed as angels, and often it's them ranting about how cops screwed them over, but we get their side. In 17, we get on-going soap opera of the main team, especially their romantic lives, going over several episodes. That's fairly standard for tv series these days, but definitely a different take back in 75.

Wrapping up: Every episode have a big action piece towards the end, of course. Got to have a shoot out to keep the action up. However, in 75 we might get a whole minute cap at the end to find out that injured people survived, or that the one playboy cop isn't getting date. Whereas in 17 we get the whole last act after the ad break (nearly 10 minutes) of wrapping up events, and dealing with whatever soap opera plot line was going on that episode. They are really hoping people are staying for the characters.

In some ways, yep it's the same show. But definitely a lot of changes over the years.

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