Lina Esco Confirms Departure From S.W.A.T. After Five Successful Seasons

After several weeks of speculation, Lina Esco has confirmed that she is officially leaving S.W.A.T. Esco, who played the role of Christine "Chris" Alonso, will not be returning for Season 6 of S.W.A.T., which was recently given the green light by CBS. The news has come as a surprise to many fans who have followed her character since the show's inception in 2017.

As the gripping Season 5 finale aired on Sunday, May 22, fans were left on the edge of their seats, eager for what was to come next. Following the episode, Esco took to Instagram to share her thoughts and reasons for leaving the show after a successful five-season run. In her post, she revealed that it was a "difficult" decision to leave S.W.A.T. in order to pursue "new creative endeavors."

With over 333,000 followers on Instagram, Esco expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to portray a strong and smart character like Chris Alonso, highlighting how it allowed her to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere. She stated, "Five years later—I am leaving S.W.A.T. to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor/writer/director—I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too."

Biography of Lina Esco

Key Takeaways from Esco's Departure

Esco's exit has been anticipated by fans for weeks, and her emotional goodbye reflects the challenges actors face when making career transitions. In Episode 20 of Season 5, her character Chris made a pivotal decision to quit S.W.A.T. to take over a safe house for immigrant women, hinting at her own journey toward new opportunities. This storyline mirrored Esco's personal choice to step away from the series, allowing her to explore different creative paths.

While fans are saddened by her departure, they were rewarded in the finale with a long-awaited moment: Chris and James Street (played by Alex Russell) spent the night together for the first time. This significant development left viewers with a bittersweet end to Chris's character arc, while also paving the way for Esco's future endeavors.

S.W.A.T. showrunners Shawn Ryan and Andy Dettmann acknowledged Esco's incredible contributions to the show, stating, "For five seasons and 106 episodes, we’ve had the pleasure to watch Lina Esco bring Chris Alonso to life on S.W.A.T." Their heartfelt statement emphasized the show's commitment to giving her character a "proper" send-off, highlighting the impact she has had on the series and its fans.

As fans continue to support Esco, they can look forward to her next projects, knowing she is stepping into a new chapter of her career with a wealth of experience and passion for storytelling.

S.W.A.T. is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.