Rachel Foertsch is the Network TV Host at ScreenRant. She has a decade of experience interviewing actors and creatives in the entertainment industry. Rachel has worked with several media outlets and her episodic reviews are featured on Rotten Tomatoes. While receiving an English degree with a focus in Creative Writing and a minor in Film, she served as an intern for New-York-City-based production company, Gigantic Studios, and assisted in the development process of several films, TV series, and podcasts.

It was a development that Powell actor Anna Enger Ritch and Gamble actor Annie Ilonzeh had been waiting for for some time. S.W.A.T. has long found ways to give new opportunities to its characters (as seen in this S.W.A.T. season 8 episode 12 clip), but this particular development had been a long time coming. Although the larger team did swoop in to support Gamble and Powell, the episode very much centered on the two women.

ScreenRant’s Rachel Foertsch interviewed Anna Enger Ritch and Annie Ilonzeh about their work on S.W.A.T. season 8 episode 13. Ritch and Ilonzeh discussed finally getting to spend an episode on the relationship between their two characters and what developments in the story were most game-changing. The pair also joked about their hopes for S.W.A.T. season 9.

Anna Enger Ritch & Annie Ilonzeh Talk S.W.A.T. Season 8’s First Women-Centered Storyline

“We Happen To Have Two Women … Who Haven’t Been Paired Up Together”

ScreenRant: When you were first reading through the script, I’m curious what moment surprised you each most.

This episode was such a great female-centered story. Your characters are outnumbered, but they take on the cartel to save this group of women. How did it feel to be a part of that, in that respect?

Much Of The Episode Centers On Gamble’s Refusal To Accept Care

Going into the storyline, Annie, Gamble is in a tough spot following these accusations. I’m curious if you can give some more insight into why she’s initially willing to leave the team rather than defend herself.

That fight that they have in the middle of the episode really was a big breakthrough for them. Anna, do you think that Powell was at all affected by anything Gamble said about her being codependent, or [did] she just kind of let it roll off her shoulders?

Anna Enger Ritch: There were moments, even just as Anna, an actor, and Annie, an actor, playing in that scene where I couldn’t help but be personally affected by the words that she was saying. There was some truth to it–in a lot of ways she was being a little codependent. There was a moment on top of the hill when Powell was like, “We need to get down the hill, we need to call for backup, and we need to do this…” and Gamble’s like, “Powell, we are the help.”

So, yes, she did take that personally, but also what we’re a part of as a team is so much stronger than just the individual aspect, and Powell has come to understand that throughout her experience with 20-Squad. That’s affected her in a way that she’s attempting to get through to Gamble also.

The team comes through, thankfully, after the radio call. What impact do you feel like that had on each of your characters? I felt like there was a little bit of a different reaction from both of them.

Annie, do you think it was that moment specifically that really made Gamble realize, “I want to do whatever it takes to get reinstated and be a part of this family?”

Annie Ilonzeh: I think when Powell and Gamble were on their own in the woods needing to not only save themselves, [but also save the] dozen other women that were also in danger, it slowly starts to creep in that 20-Squad is the place to be, but it really is that moment where they show up and the chopper is swirling ahead and she looks up and is like, “Oh my God, that’s them.” What seals the deal is Powell going straight for the jugular when we get back to headquarters and not apologizing.

There’s also a really great scene between Gamble and Hondo where he tells her he has her back, and she says, “[That] means more than you know.” Can you share her thoughts in that moment?

The S.W.A.T. Season 8 Finale Will Have “Everything That The Audience Wants”

Plus, We Will See More Of Powell’s & Gamble’s Personal Lives Before Season 8 Is Over

Now that you two finally got this episode together, how do you feel this will strengthen their bond going forward?

Lastly, I am curious if there is an upcoming episode for each of your characters that you are excited for fans to see. I’m not sure how much you’ve filmed yet.

Anna Enger Ritch: We are getting ready to start the last two episodes next week. So, next week we’ll start [episode] 21. For Powell, in the most recent episodes we shot, you dive into her personal life, and you’ll see her in a really vulnerable position dealing with her personal relationships. And with Gamble…

Annie Ilonzeh: Episode 19 is a fun one. Dad comes back into play, along with brother. Those conversations are very heated. Anyone that’s attached to not just 20-Squad, but Gamble in particular, [is] going to love episode 19 for sure. Then, when we get to 22 (the finale), that is a massive… it’s got everything that the audience wants and then it leaves you wanting more. It leaves you going, “Oh my gosh, what is happening in season nine episode one? We’ve got to get here now.”

You have me excited. Worried, but excited.

Annie Ilonzeh: Yeah. There’s got to be a tinge of worry–more than a tinge. There’s got to be gallons of worry. That’s what 20-Squad does. We put you on your toes, we put you on the edge of your seat.

About S.W.A.T.