Why Jason’s Decision to Stay With ‘SEAL Team’ Instead of Natalie Was Inevitable
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Season 4, Episode 7 of SEAL Team, “All In.”]
“I’ve identified the one job that makes me want to get up in the morning — being Bravo 1 again,” Master Chief Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz) says at the end of the February 17 episode of SEAL Team. Is anyone surprised he’s not going to San Diego with Natalie (Emily Swallow)? (And not just because of the episode title; as noted in the season premiere, he was “all in, all the time” for the team.)
His girlfriend, a research physiologist, has a very sweet job offer to return to San Diego (her old boss keeps making it even harder to turn down), and she even has a suggestion for Jason, who looks like he’s in hell every time he steps into the ops center since deciding he’s done operating. (He’s back behind a desk after briefly returning to the field to rescue Ray, played by Neil Brown Jr., following an overseas explosion and his subsequent capture.) Why not join her in San Diego and train the next generation of SEALs?
Maybe because that’s not where he belongs. Instead, the entire episode heavily foreshadows that decision of his in the final moments. There’s others getting on his case for his recent career move. “Mocking me because I traded in my gun for my radio?” Jason asks Sonny (AJ Buckley), who left a toy gun with his gear. “You think I’m not pulling my weight from the ops center?”
There’s Lt. Cdr. Blackburn (Judd Lormand), also making a change with a promotion and remarking on Jason’s recent transition: “Commanding Bravo has been my identity. Wasn’t my choice like it was yours. Just hope I can adapt as quickly as you have.”
But Jason clearly hasn’t been able to adapt that easily, even though he tries to convince others (and himself) that he has. “I’m just a guy in the ops center now,” he insists.
(CBS)
Then there’s Clay (Max Thieriot), back on Bravo but also the new guy again (after his punishment for taking responsibility for something Ray did), imagining how much the team would be “crushing once we got the whole lineup back,” and later suggesting to Jason that “maybe you’re not regressing if you’re returning to something you love.” That obviously applies as much to Jason as it does to Clay — as does Ray’s comment, “I’ll be back to being myself once I ‘m back in the sandbox again.” And as Blackburn reminds him, the mission is far from over.
Most telling, however, is everything Jason says and does when it comes to Bravo and teams in the field. It’s hard for him to watch his former teammates spinning out on a mission without him. It’s hard for him to be stuck back in the ops center when someone on a team he’s watching goes down and there’s “nothing you can do from here,” as Captain Lindell (Jamie McShane) tells him.
But, as Natalie puts it (yes, talking about Ray, not yet cleared after his captivity), “operators weren’t meant to stay on the sidelines,” and that’s exactly where Jason would be guiding the next generation.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
“People understood what we’ve been through, they’d also understand that we need to stay in the fight,” Jason tells Ray. “Seeing the boys spin up yesterday just got me thinking that I quit the one job I ever loved: being a SEAL. And SEALs never quit. … I’m just realizing more and more as time goes by that I’m just more at home in a war zone. Warriors, they weren’t meant to survive the battlefield.” He’s not feeling useful in the ops center.
So it’s not at all surprising that he decides he needs back in the fight by episode’s end. It’s not like he can’t do the job; we saw that he can when he rejoined the team to save Ray. He wasn’t going to go to San Diego (sorry, Natalie — that relationship also was never going to last) and there’s no way Jason could have stayed at a desk for many more missions.
Plus, really, can you imagine Bravo without Jason leading it? Not for long.
SEAL Team, Wednesdays, 9/8c, CBS
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G
Glad Natalie is finally gone. Hopefully for good. Never did like her with Jason. No chemistry
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G
I am not a fan of episode 7 except for all the conversation Jason had with Ray, Clay and Blackburn that help him realized that going with Natalie was a huge mistake. That like Ray put it he was running to something he thought he wanted but he was really runnig away from what he really want. Its obvious Jason is not going anywhere the show will be over. But it is a good picture of what these guys go thru after spending their lives doing this job. I love that Natalie is gone finally. Those scenes were very hard to watch. Nothing againsr Emily Swallow but i hated the character. I think Jason has found some answers and understanding about Jason Hayes life and Bravo 1 and it maybe that now he can start to fine the line between Jason and Bravo 1 bounderies. So he can leave Bravo 1 behind when he is not operating and find that needed balance in the homefront. I am anxiously anticipating Mandys return. I know with her in his life Jason can reach that balance and a partner in life that fits him like a glove. They are so in tune with one another the time they been appart will show how much. Reading your article for some reason i got this idea in my head that Mandy is also back to work for the CIA. Maybe not with DEVRUG but still doing what she loves. I hope im right. I just hope she is back soon, i would hate for them to rush them. They need time to understand what they feel and to develop that relationship outside work. Im so happy Bravo 1 is BACK not lets get Mandy back!!!!
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O
Does anyone else think Clay and Emma would be a good fit. She can still finish school and I think they would be good together. She certainly understands the life of Navy Seal.
As for Jason he has a better chance with Mandy if she gets some help with some of her
issues but she definitely understands his world and him. He just needs to soften up a
little and be more understanding .
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O
Would like to see Clay and Emma Hayes start dating. Just don't see him with Stella.
Would also love to see Mandy get another government job but not as a Hunter for
for Bravo. I would like to see her and Jason get married and start a family
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P
This episode captures the REAL struggle of warriors everywhere. There are many warriors out there that made the decision, for what ever reason, to leave the fight only to look back everyday and miss that way of life. It has nothing to do with the violence and everything to do with the camaraderie.
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P
It just seems like they keep falling back to the 'Jason is leaving' story, while everyone who watches the show knows that he's not going anywhere.
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B
Would be a great love story she could still go to school and become a singer,
but Emma makes more sense than Stella. She understands the life of a Navy
seal and she's so down to earth. She is the type of person Clay needs they would
be so good together. Hopefully our show runner Spencer Hudnut will see he's
missing out on a great love story. I was hoping Clay and Emma would at least
share a few minutes together at the party they gave for Jason after the court
marshal. But as usual nothing happened. Keep hoping Emma will become more
of a regular on the show. Hoping for a Season 5.
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B
Show is still good. I think the new show runner just doesn't like seeing any
relationships to be happy ones. He certainly treated Mandy's character awful.
When she told Jason she was leaving Military life. Jason treated her like a jerk
all he was thinking about was he was loosing a hunter, she never said she was
leaving him she just needed to do something different with her work life, she
had been doing it for 20 years!!!! He had her in tears when she was walking away.
I want to see Emma and Clay get together. She would be so much better for
Clay then Stella, just can't warm up to her. Now our show runner is making trouble
for Ray and his wife. Not liking this at all; plus we still don't know who is behind the
video and the real reason for Jason's court marshal.
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O
Jason's character is a constant contradiction in leadership...know your limitations, and never put yourself above your people or the mission. Jason has done this continuously for about two years. He has regularly allowed his ego to put himself and his team at risk.
Yes, the struggle is real, but true warriors know when to get out. Bottom line, Jason is toxic for Bravo team, and needs to leave before he gets himself or one of his team members killed.
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O
I enjoy the show the roller coaster rides of emotions and ever-changing scenes keeps it interesting emotionally as well as artistry this is a great show sometimes I don't like my heroes all injured but I'm glad my other hero is coming to rescue them and they get the bad guys so never a boring moment great show
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C
It was key that Jason finally figure out what the future looks like for himself. He's a warrior and until his body fails him, or he's killed, that's where he wants to be. Clay needs Jason, as Jason recognizes his skill and he won't feel like a freshman all over again like he does right now. Sonny and Lisa have choices to make one way or another. Based on the info from the CBS, Mandy is simply not coming back, so no point wishing for that, so perhaps someone like her will show up and Jason, like Clay, will have a balance between having a purpose at home as well as in the field. Such a well done ensemble I love watching it.
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O
Nothing of the sort has been put out by CBS about Mandy not returning. It’s not like they killed her character. In fact Jess Pare is directing episode 10. She only left the series as a regular. Show runners and David Boreanaz have both said that she will guest star at some point. We just don’t know when. They may be keeping that storyline under wraps.
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C
I guess we'll wait and see then.
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O
This show is not as good as it was the removal of Mandy/JP was a blow and they are in life support for me.
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O
I had a plan that Mandy would come back, pregnant and Jason would continue to stay home and be a better father. And lead from the control room. I want newbies for Bravo and give Clay more responsibility. Ray needs to stay honest with his plans he made for his family. And Sonny said he would change teams and that is great. I have not figured that out yet. Sonny's humor is needed in the shows. He has to stay and so does, gosh i forgot her name, ensign. And Mandy needs a government job but be a mom.
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C
I’m loosing interest real fast. I don’t like seeing American heroes looking disfunctional. Jason quit, back again, quit again, back again, and quit again and back again. Does this really happen in real life Seal’s? David Boreanz doesn’t fit the character. You can notice Tyler Gray and Scott Fox rolling their eyes.
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P
Warfighters go though this everyday.....Get out... Stay in..... I know some that got out of the fight after Kuwait only to return after 911. Many get out, only to return to the fight as a contractor to try it on their own terms. There are those in Afghanistan and Iraq that have stayed in the or near the fight all their lives. Many say it is for the money, but that's not the truth. Truth is .... it is the only place they feel safe, the only place they feel that they have control of their lives, the only place they feel they can make a difference. Get to know a warfighter well enough and eventually they will tell you they miss it everyday.
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