SEAL Team Roundtable: “Tip of the Spear”

The new military drama SEAL Team debuted on CBS last night, with their pilot episode entitled “Tip of the Spear.”

The show follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

David Boreanaz (Angel and Bones) plays Jason Hayes, the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry (Neil Brown, Jr. from Insecure), the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand, and Sonny Quinn (A.J. Buckley from CSI: NY and Supernatural), an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies.

Undergoing additional rigorous training in the hope of joining Hayes’ select unit is Clay Spenser (Max Thieriot from Bates Motel), a young, multi-lingual second generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication. Vital to the team’s success are CIA analyst Mandy Ellis (Jessica Pare from Mad Men), who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists, and Lisa Davis (Toni Trucks from Grimm and Franklin & Bash), a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission.

Join Leah and Rueben as they discuss their thoughts on the debut episode of SEAL Team:

What did you think of the pilot? Did you buy into their team dynamic?

Rueben: I have to admit I liked The Brave better, but there were good moments in this pilot. I would have preferred a little less machismo from Jason Hayes, but I guess that’s to be expected, right? I also found it surprising to see a young white kid like Spencer knowing that many unique languages. Perhaps I’m being a little harsh, but it just seemed a little off to me. I did like Ray, Jason’s 2nd in charge, as he was very believable to me. I wish they had used the lone female logistics officer a bit more. She just seemed under-utilized.

Leah: Meh. It seemed very….grating to me. Like it was trying too hard. I definitely preferred the Brave which seemed more even to me. The dynamic was okay….there was a lot that felt like the show was trying to get every single military show stereotype covered.

How do you feel about Jessica Pare’s character, Mandy Ellis?

Rueben: I think she was trying a little too hard in making her character believable, but perhaps she’ll redeem herself in later episodes.

Leah: I think that is my whole problem with the show…everything was too hard. It needs to mellow out.

Will you continue to tune in?

Leah: I like to give shows two or three episodes to get their stuff together, find their groove so I suppose I will continue for a few weeks at least.

Rueben: I do the same thing. I like to watch at least three episodes as long as the show doesn’t really turn me off from the pilot. This one is close to turning me off, but I’ll give it another chance because of the few things I did like about it.

Do you like that they do seem to focus on personal life/family drama as well?

Leah: I do actually. It lends some humanization to an otherwise entirely too testosterone ridden character.

Rueben: You said it way better than I could have. It is great to make them more human by seeing their family lives – a few other military themed shows do (and have done) that. It will help to off-set the machismo.

NOTE: Did folks notice that Nate, the guy who died in the beginning of the episode was Daniel Gillies from The Vampire Diaries and Saving Hope; and that Michael Rooker – Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy – was the “Big Chief” of the SEAL Team?

The next new episode of SEAL Team will air on Wednesday, October 4 on CBS at 9/8c.