#’SEAL Team’: Jessica Paré Is No Longer a Series Regular — Will She Be Back?

Bravo Team is really going to look forward moving forward in SEAL Team Season 4. Bravo 1 himself, Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz), has decided he’s done operating. It’s time for Cerberus to just be a dog. Bravo 2, Ray Perry (Neil Brown Jr.), is off to warrant officer academy. And analyst Mandy Ellis (Jessica Paré) is ready to move on.

Upon returning home from Afghanistan and the team’s latest deployment, she decides she needs to take a step away from the life in this line of work. “It’s not who I want to be,” she tells Jason. “If I don’t walk away now, I’m going to lose myself forever. And if I stay, you’re going to talk me out of it.”

TV Insider has confirmed that Paré is no longer a series regular, but the door hasn’t been closed on a return in the future on-screen. And she will be directing an episode this season, keeping her “in the family,” as Boreanaz put it.

For his character, Mandy’s decision results in “something of a search now for Jason Hayes,” he added. “It’s something that’s lost once again in his life, and how that will affect him ultimately will be some decisions and choices he makes as the season progresses, and good or bad, it’s real and authentic.”

“Our show strives to be as authentic as possible to the experiences of our service members, and similar to real life, SEAL Team units change and evolve so in our show some of the characters move on as well,” showrunner Spencer Hudnut said in a statement. “Over the last 3 seasons, we’ve seen how war takes a toll not just physically but mentally and emotionally. In this new 4th season, many of our characters will be at a crossroads and confronting tough decisions in their careers. For Mandy’s story arc, it was finally time for her to retire and leave this life of service, but this does not mean we won’t potentially see her again later.

“On a personal level, we love Jessica and she has and will always be an integral part of the SEAL Team family,” the EP continued. “And we are excited to announce that she will actually be coming back behind the camera as a director for an upcoming episode this season, and this will be her directorial debut.”

(Cliff Lipson/CBS)

That makes (at least) two SEAL Team stars stepping behind the camera this season; Boreanaz directed the premiere (which was set to air as last season’s penultimate episode) and will do so once more.

SEAL Team, Wednesdays, 9/8c, CBS