CBS's 'SEAL Team' drama tackles Bergdahl-like prisoner swap

A junior enlisted soldier takes a walk off his post in Afghanistan. After years of searching, sometimes with costly results, bureaucrats arrange a prisoner exchange with the Taliban ... and not everybody’s happy about it.

Recognize that story line? Ever wanted to see it with an added dose of David Boreanaz? You’re in luck.

“SEAL Team,” the CBS drama following fictional Navy special operators led by Boreanaz (“Bones,” “Angel”), will put its title characters on the ground as part of a prisoner swap in the episode airing Wednesday. Parallels to the Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl case abound, minus the presidential commentary.

“SEAL Team” was one of three military-themed dramas to debut this fall on network television. So far, it’s the only one that’s received any good news when it comes to remaining on TV: The show received a full-season order from CBS in October.

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More than 7 million people watched “SEAL Team” last week, per Nielsen, good enough for second among network shows in its 9 p.m. time slot (behind NBC’s “The Voice”). The show took fourth in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic at 9 p.m., losing out to NBC, ABC and FOX offerings.

About 5 million people watched NBC’s “The Brave” on Monday, and more than 1 million watched “Valor” on The CW. Neither network has announced future plans for those shows.

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