SWAT Season 8 is generating excitement online with its latest episodes, fueling fans’ hopes for the return of Lina Esco’s character, Christina Alonso. The team has seen significant changes ever since she left, and fans are eager to see her back on screen but more eager to learn why Esco’s Chris left.
Let’s find out, what exactly happened to Christina Alonso, why she left and her possibility to make a comeback this year for SWAT Season 8.
Why did Lina Esco leave SWAT?
Esco, who played Officer Christina “Chris” Alonso since the first season of S.W.A.T. in 2017, announced her departure from the series after the season five finale to pursue other endeavors.
Esco made headlines being the first female officer in the LAPD SWAT team. She joined the squad after her time with the K-9 Platoon. When the last episode of Season 5 aired, Esco took to her Instagram account on May 23, 2024, to share a heartfelt message about her departure. In her post, she talked about her desire to seek out new creative ventures and how stepping out of her comfort zone was a tough but necessary choice. She also expressed her appreciation for her co-stars and the fans who made her journey so memorable. (via The Direct)
What happened to Christina Alonso in SWAT?
Episode 20 in Season 5 of SWAT marked the end of Lina Esco’s time on the show.
In this finale, her character Chris decides to leave the SWAT team to pursue a new opportunity. She takes on the responsibility of running a safe house for undocumented immigrant women, which was previously managed by Terri Hoyos’ Mama Pina.
Chris shares her decision with Hondo, who encourages her to not go and take pride in the legacy she created during her time on the team. However, despite his words, Chris remains resolute in her choice to move on. Later in the episode, she also tells Alex about her plans, mentioning that she has just two weeks left with the team.
The chances of Chris returning for Season 8 are looking quite slim based on everything that has transpired so far. Executive Producer Andy Dettman even shared his uncertainty with TV Line regarding Lina’s potential comeback that he doesn’t know. However, he emphasized the fact that it would be wonderful to bring everybody back only if that works any day.
To keep the memory of our cherished character Chris alive, you can catch up on all the latest episodes of SWAT from Seasons 1 to 5, where she made her appearances. In the meantime, we suggest watching all the latest episodes of Seasons 8, as they premiere on CBS every Friday at 8 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming on Paramount+ the following day.
