11 Shows Like SEAL Team You Must See

‘SEAL Team’ is a military drama series created by Benjamin Cavell. It follows the story of a unit of SEAL and their lives in and out of their dangerous workplace. The team comprises of six members in total. Their missions are extremely covert, which means they have to spend extended periods of time away from home without being able to inform their loved ones where they are. David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot, Jessica Paré, Neil Brown Jr., A. J. Buckley and Toni Trucks are the six lead characters of the series.

‘SEAL Team’ is currently on its second season, which, just like the first season, has 22 episodes in total. The first season was well-received by both critics and audiences. The focus on creating interesting characters in an action-packed show was particularly praised. However, there are several predictable moments in the series. Action-drama shows on members of the army or law enforcement are not uncommon, and so we’ve decided to compile a list of such shows. Here’s the list of best shows similar to ‘SEAL Team’ that are our recommendations. You can watch several of these series like ‘SEAL Team’ on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.

11. Hawaii Five-0 (2010 – Present)

A remake of the original series which aired during 1968-1980, ‘Hawai Five-0‘ follows the story of a Department of Public Safety task force. This force is a very special unit within the state and they only report directly to the governor. The head of this group is Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett, who recruits the other members based on their previous work record. The series has received huge admiration from viewers and is currently airing its ninth season. The interesting script and good production quality has also earned the series praise from the critics. During its long run, ‘Hawai Five-0’ has also been the recipient of numerous awards.

10. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018 – Present)

‘Jack Ryan’ follows the story of the titular character who is a former United States Marine. Currently working as a CIA analyst, Ryan comes across certain financial discrepancies which point towards a major terrorist threat. He is the only one capable enough to stop the attack which will endanger the lives of hundreds of civilians. John Krasinski plays the role of Jack Ryan in the series. The series has been renewed for a second season. Amazon Prime has revealed the premise of the second season, wherein Ryan is found colliding against “the forces in power in a dangerous, declining democratic regime in South America.” The critical consensus for the series has been impressive, with Krasinski and other members of the cast receiving praise for their performances.

9. Shooter (2016-2018)

This action/drama series is based on the novel ‘Point Of Impact’ written by Stephen Hunter. The lead character is called Bob Lee Swagger. He is a veteran of the United States Army, having previously worked with the US Marines’ special operation unit called Force Recon. Swagger gets coerced into returning back to a life of action when news regarding a possible attempt on the President’s life surfaces. The series is the second adaptation of the novel by Hunter. The first adaptation was a 2007 movie of the same name starring Mark Wahlberg. Ryan Phillippe plays the character of Swagger in the series. However, critics have not taken kindly to ‘Shooter’, calling it “an under-developed drama that lacks an original voice or perspective.”

8. S.W.A.T. (2017 – Present)

Created by Robert Hammer, S.W.A.T. follows the story of a Special Weapons and Tactics unit led by army veteran Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson. Harrelson has been recruited to lead a S.W.A.T. which is being considered the “last stop” of defense in Los Angeles. Hondo is a native of Los Angeles, and thus has connections throughout the city. This helps him in gathering intelligence that would not be so easily available to others. We see him leading the team successfully in many operations. Eventually, the personal lives of Hondo and other members of his team also become important points of focus in the series. Reviewers have been critical of the series because of its tendency to run on certain cliches. However, Shemar Moore’s performance as Hondo has truly been spectacular.

7. Strike Back (2010 – Present)

The immense popularity of ‘Strike Back’ has seen it being renewed for eight seasons. The show’s initial idea came from a book written by a former Special Air Service sergeant, Chris Ryan. Each season of the series has a different name and follows a group of Special Air Service officers as they go on covert missions all across the world. Besides being extremely popular with the audience, ‘Strike Back’ has also received critical acclaim and has been nominated for various awards throughout its run. Richard Armitage, Andrew Lincoln, Philip Winchester, Sullivan Stapleton, Amanda Mealing, Michelle Lukes, and Rhona Mitra are some of the important members of the cast.

6. Chicago PD (2014 – Present)

‘Chicago PD’ is one of the most prominent police procedural series on television right now. It follows the lives of policemen working in the Chicago Police Department who deal with the numerous crimes and criminals infecting the city. The lead character of the show, played by Jason Beghe, is Detective Sergeant Henry “Hank” Voight. It is under Hank’s authority that the police department works tirelessly to free Chicago of the crimes that plague its corners. The series also has cross-over episodes with popular franchises like ‘Law & Order’. This has been possible because both shows are brainchildren of Dick Wolf, the famous television producer.

5. Blindspot (2015 – Present)

‘Blindspot’ is one of the most unique crime/action TV shows about law enforcement agencies. The prime focus of attention in the series since the first season is Remi “Jane Doe” Briggs. Remi was found naked and amnesiac somewhere in New York and then brought in by the FBI for investigations into her identity. Remi has numerous tattoos on her body, which are revealed to be important clues the FBI needs to solve to get to the bottom of a huge conspiracy. Later, her identity is finally discovered, and Remi returns to a normal life, only to fall into a major crisis once again. The series has received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising its intense action and brilliant storytelling.

4. The Last Ship (2014-2018)

Post-apocalyptic action/drama shows are a rarity, and ‘The Last Ship’ is a valuable addition to this genre. A ship, or specifically a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, is the main focus of the show. The crew of this ship are among the few people left on the Earth who are still alive after a viral attack kills 80% of all population. The objective of the ship’s crew is to now find out a cure for the rapidly spreading disease while also trying to keep themselves alive. The story of ‘The Last Ship’ is based on a book of the same name written by William Brinkley. Critical consensus for the show has been favorable, with its action sequences receiving special adulation.

Read More: TV Shows Like Unforgotten

3. NCIS (2003 – Present)

Clearly one of the most famous and influential shows on television presently, NCIS has been running successfully for sixteen seasons. The focus of the show are members of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they solve serious crimes from their headquarters in Washington D.C. Personal lives of some of the important characters have also become part of the story, which brings in a unique flavor. A distinctive sense of humor is among the hallmarks of ‘NCIS’. ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ and ‘NCIS: New Orleans’ are two spin-offs of the series. Interestingly, ‘NCIS‘ itself is a spin-off from two episodes of the TV series JAG (1995-2005).

2. NCIS: Los Angeles (2009 – Present)

‘NCIS: Los Angeles‘ is a spin-off from the original NCIS series, and just like the latter, the show has also been very successful. It follows a special unit in NCIS: Los Angeles which goes on covert operations and is led by Special Agent G. Callen. This special unit participates in operations both inside the United States and on foreign soil. The government official who looks after the team is Operational Manager Henrietta “Hetty” Lange. The team is also supported by other members of the NCIS as and when required. Chris O’Donnell plays the character of Callen in the series. Interestingly, famous rapper LL Cool J is a part of the cast, portraying the character of Sam Hanna, who is an expert in both forensics and hand-to-hand combat. The series won numerous Teen Choice Awards during its run.

Read More: TV Shows Like Runaways

1. Valor (2017-2018)

Despite being canceled after one season, the premise of ‘Valor’ is truly interesting and deserves a special mention on this list. It is a story set in an army base where a special unit of helicopter pilots are stationed. These pilots carry out special international operations with absolute discretion. The story revolves around one of the pilots named Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nora Madani. Flashbacks are heavily used to refer to a mission in which Madani had failed. As the story progresses, the viewers get to know about a huge government and military conspiracy at work. Madani also has to carry out a rescue mission to save the lives of several United States soldiers in distress.

‘Valor’ did enjoy a decent viewership of a million per episode on an average. However, critics did not take to the show so kindly. The review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes says, “Valor’s attempt to highlight an often overlooked segment of the armed services is undercut by a badly judged blend of military action and melodrama.”