SEAL Team's Netflix reign lasted weeks: My Life with the Walter Boys has knocked it out of the top 10

If you blinked, you might have missed it: SEAL Team, widely credited as one of the most authentic military dramas on telly, charged onto Netflix a few weeks ago, shot straight up the streaming charts, then just as quickly slipped out of sight again. Not a particularly long reign, but certainly a noisy one.

From CBS to Streaming Darling

The premise is right out of the action-thriller playbook, but it does a remarkably solid job selling it as the real deal. The show centres around Bravo Team, an elite squad of Navy SEALs, led by David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes (yes, that bloke from Buffy and Bones). The story isn’t just endless shootouts either—these lads have to balance black ops with domestic stress, which is probably familiar to anyone who's tried to juggle work drinks and school pick-up, just with more night vision goggles.

Created by Benjamin Cavell and debuting in 2017 on CBS, SEAL Team aired four seasons on network TV before the final three seasons moved over to Paramount+, wrapping its run in 2024. So yes, seven series in total, if you’re counting.

• David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes
• Max Thieriot
• Neil Brown Jr.
• Jessica Paré
• Toni Trucks
• A.J. Buckley
• Tyler Grey (also a real-life vet)

Pretty well-stocked cast, and speaking of realism—they take that seriously. Mark Owen, executive producer, isn’t just a suit with opinions; he served 14 years as an actual SEAL and wrote ‘No Easy Day’ (that’s the nonfiction account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, in case you forgot). He’s hardly alone. Mark Semos (consulting producer/writer) and Tyler Grey (actor and vet) both bring their military experience straight to the scripts and the screen. Basically, there are more veterans on this show than at your local Legion hall.

Even outside voices have noticed. DJ Shipley, former SEAL himself, actually went out of his way to praise the show, saying in an interview:

Part of one of the reasons that the show does so well is the authenticity. They've got a bunch of really good creative directors and guys that are helping out the actors.

Netflix Run: Brief, but Loud

So, how did SEAL Team wind up storming Netflix in the first place? That comes down to a deal between Paramount+, CBS, and the Big Red Streaming Machine. Once it hit Netflix, the series carved itself a spot in the coveted top 10—cue celebratory headlines and a fresh wave of binge-watching.

SEAL Team debuted on CBS in 2017 and wrapped up with its final (seventh) season in 2024 on Paramount+.

Unfortunately, the popularity proved fickle. It’s now been knocked off the top ten list, with newer releases like My Life with the Walter Boys and Talamasca: The Secret Order hogging those slots. Not exactly a tragedy—shows with fan followings like this have a habit of cropping back up in the rankings the next time a wave of viewers stumbles across them during a bored evening.

For now, you’ll need to go hunting if you want to find SEAL Team in Netflix’s sea of content. Still, given its blend of genuine military pedigree, surprisingly human storylines, and plenty of action, it’s a decent shout that it’ll be back near the top before long.