SEAL Team legend AJ Buckley has weighed in on the circumstances which led to the departure of his long-time pal and co-star Max Thieriot as Clay Spenser.
Clay (played by Max Thieriot) and Sonny Quinn (AJ Buckley) shared a friendship like no other during SEAL Team’s six-season run so far but it came to a heartbreaking close when the former was killed off in rather shocking circumstances. Thieriot’s departure from the Paramount+ drama seemed inevitable given the demands and success of his new role in CBS’s new drama Fire Country but viewers were still taken aback at just how Clay bowed out. So much so, his exit has been met with a less-than-fond reception.
For those who missed Clay’s jaw-dropping exit, Thieriot’s character bowed out after being shot in the chest.
Clay had just been on the end of a phone call from a clearly erratic Ben (Joey Pollari) and knew he’d have to intervene to stop anything from coming back to haunt him.
However, when he found Ben ready to rip apart an Armed Forces recruitment centre, things spiralled.
Ben held a gun to his temple and threatened to take his own life, prompting the calm-mannered Clay to eventually defuse the situation and take hold of the gun.
Unbeknownst to Clay, however, a security guard spotted the altercation and when Clay turned with the gun now in his hand, the guard fired.
As the bullet hit Clay’s chest, he fell to the floor before the camera panned to show the SEAL Team favourite pass away.
Given Clay’s devotion to Bravo, unwavering loyalty and fearless behaviour in the field, however, many felt this wasn’t the best way to have Thieriot written out of the series.
On Twitter, for example, fans complained in their droves about the manner of his exit, including @NwokeOma_ who penned: “Clay’s death was cruel and the manner in which he died makes absolutely no sense.
“You’ll think this is about him having his own series in Fire Country, but it isn’t, which makes it even more annoying. #sealteam may have lost a fan in me.”
And fellow SEAL Team fan @DanTaraba agreed: “Worst part of it, Clay died at home, not in war front. A tough soldier denied a hero’s death. #SEALTeam.”
While @sylangell threatened to boycott the show over the scenes: “I won’t watch this series again after Clay’s death. I hope the fanfiction will be smarter and not do the same #SEALTeam.” (sic)
Despite the divisive reaction, Sonny star Buckley has shared his sympathy for showrunner Spencer Hudnut and defended his choice.
