Adain Bradley’s latest S.W.A.T. Exiles assignment came with a sharp suit, heavy secrets, and a bruising confrontation with Shemar Moore’s Hondo.
Bradley, who plays new team member Malik Anderson, called the episode one of his favorites, even if filming it meant repeatedly getting thrown against a fence.
Titled “Molotov Cocktail Attire,” season 1, episode 5 premiered Friday, Oct. 23, on Starz.
The Exiles trade their uniforms for cocktail attire to protect a visiting foreign dignitary attending a high-stakes gala with the mayor of Los Angeles (Jerry O’Connell).
With a hit squad targeting the Latin American royal, the team must blend in, while keeping their guest alive, and also dodging bullets and flames.
Malik’s secrets finally catch up to him when he is exposed as the mole inside the unit, setting up an explosive showdown with Hondo. For Bradley, even getting dressed for the mission took some adjusting.
“I’m not really the biggest suit guy, so that was a challenge. They shoved me in that suit for a couple of days, so that was something,” he told Urban Hollywood 411.
The episode also gave the actor an opportunity to dig into Malik’s emotions while working closely with Moore. Their confrontation turned physical when Hondo grabbed Malik and pushed him against a fence.
Asked how many times they filmed the scene, Bradley said it only took a few tries.
“That was a real fence… And he threw me into that. They put back pads on me. Like we really went for it, and then for the dialogue, we kind of cheated it like I was up against the thing. But I think I only did it two or three times,” the actor shared.
Beyond the physical clash, the characters are divided over how they see the world. For Malik, there’s no gray area, while Hondo understands police work can get complicated.
“I think [Malik] has been taught wrong and right, and I think that being a cop is very different,” Bradley continued. “And I think that even though he was maybe the best candidate on paper, I think he’s learning on the job like everyone else.”
As for Malik’s future, the actor hopes he keeps the team’s scout leadership position — and finds happiness at home.
“I wouldn’t mind if he was a good family man,” Bradley said. “I just want him to be as happy as I am. That’s it. That’s all I want for him.”
S.W.A.T. Exiles airs Fridays on Starz. The series has been renewed for a second season, although it’s unclear if it will return to Starz.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
