Why Did Lina Esco Leave SWAT?

Lina Esco, who played Christina “Chris” Alonso in SWAT, exited the CBS procedural series after season 5 – why did the actor leave the show?

Summary

Chris's departure from SWAT in Season 5 was a devastating blow for viewers who admired her as a strong, bisexual character.
Lina Esco, the actor who played Chris, decided to leave the show after five seasons to pursue new creative endeavors.
Despite her exit, Chris and Street's romance continues offscreen in Season 6, and there is potential for Esco to reprise her role in the final episodes of Season 7.

Actors often come and go from television shows, and the most recent SWAT main character to leave the series was Christina "Chris" Alonso, played by Lina Esco. Chris had been around since the first season, and she was one of the major players in the show. So the actor's exit was a devastating blow for the viewers, to say the least.

Before joining the SWAT team in the pilot episode, Chris was a canine officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Then, she became the first female officer to be assigned to SWAT and quickly proved her worth to the team. Chris, who was openly bisexual, had constantly dealt with adversity throughout her childhood and into adulthood, and she was an inspiration to many viewers. Unfortunately, Chris's swan song came in SWAT season 5, episode 22, when she decided to leave the LAPD to help house illegal immigrant girls seeking asylum.

SWAT is available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.

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Lina Esco Wanted To Leave SWAT For Other Projects

The Actors' Career Choices Led To Chris Being Written Out Of SWAT

When Lina Esco announced that she was leaving SWAT after five seasons in May 2022, viewers were shocked. Chris had finally entered a relationship with James "Jim" Street following years of tension between the two characters, so the actor's exit from the show seemed sudden. But Lina Esco decided to leave SWAT to pursue other projects — she wanted a change of scenery. According to TVLine, Esco said in a statement:

"Bringing to life a strong, smart, bisexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere. Five years later, I am leaving SWAT to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor and director, I'm excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too. That said, this is one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make. I'm forever grateful to my SWAT family – my fellow cast, writers, and producers – for an incredible journey. To the amazing SWAT fans, you are the heart of the show. I can't thank you enough for your support and for walking beside me through all of Chris' journey!"

Since her final SWAT episode, which premiered on May 22, 2022, Esco hasn't appeared in any other television shows or films. However, the door is still open for her to return for SWAT season 7. The upcoming season will serve as the show's last outing after CBS renewed it after canceling it in May 2023.

How Lina Esco Leaving Impacted SWAT

Chris And Street's Romance Hasn't Ended

The good news is that, because of Chris's relationship with Street, Esco's presence in SWAT is still felt even though she no longer appears onscreen. Instead of forcing an abrupt end to the show's slow-burn romance because of one actor's exit, the writers decided to continue Chris and Street's relationship in season 6. Of course, the audience only gets updates on the pairing from Street, and everything happens offscreen, but this option is better than the writers creating an unbelievable breakup.

After CBS uncanceled SWAT in May 2023, only 13 episodes remain in the series as it enters its final season. Esco may reprise her role as Chris in the last episodes. Perhaps a wedding between Chris and Street is in the cards. However, fans won't learn more about SWAT season 7 until the premiere date, broadly scheduled for the fall of 2023, gets closer.

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