Swift Justice poster
Seen it?

Swift Justice

TV·1996–1996·1 season, 13 episodes·UPN·Crime, Drama·1h·Created by Dick Wolf

Not streaming in your region — see every region's options

Swift Justice is an American detective drama television series created by Dick Wolf and Richard Albarino, broadcast for one season (13 episodes) on UPN from March 13 to July 17, 1996. James McCaffrey stars as former Navy SEAL Mac Swift, a private investigator fired from the NYPD. He receives support from his former partner Detective Randall Patterson (Gary Dourdan) and his father Al Swift (Len Cariou). Critics noted the series' emphasis on violence, specifically in the pilot's opening sequence, drawing comparisons to The Equalizer (1985–1989) and Die Hard (1988). UPN canceled the program after receiving complaints from viewers, advertisers, and critics for its stark depiction of violence. Wolf considered the cancelation a mistake due to good ratings. Further, it was praised for its visuals and McCaffrey's performance, but often criticized as being either too violent or formulaic.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Where Were You in '72?S01E05 · 4.0Swift learns the latest person under his protection was involved in a bank heist to support IRA activities
  2. 02No Holds BarredS01E07 · 2.0Pregnant college girl Allison enlists Swift to find her missing boyfriend, college wrestler Palo Montega. Swift discovers that Palo's fanatical instructor, Dillon Brock, has other plans for Palo when he forces him to compete in a cage match that leaves only one contestant standing. Knowing that Swift is getting close to finding Palo, Brock sets a trap and Swift becomes Palo's next opponent.

Cast

Episodes by season

Season0113Episodes1996Aired 3.0Season avg
  1. S01E01Out on a LimbMarch 13, 1996Ex-cop turned PI Mac Swift works outside the normal law enforcement routine on cases too hot for the standard justice system. While still on
  2. S01E02PilotMarch 20, 1996Swift goes undercover to retrieve a young boy from his dangerous, white supremacist father, Stone Paxton, who has taken the child from his e
  3. S01E03Sex, Death and Rock 'n' RollMarch 27, 1996Mac helps a rockstar's wife escape his clutches
  4. S01E04SupernoteApril 3, 1996Swift is approached by Rita Vicks, a beautiful treasury agent concerned over the disappearance of her partner, Bo Maxey, who has neared obse
  5. S01E05Where Were You in '72?April 10, 1996 4.0Swift learns the latest person under his protection was involved in a bank heist to support IRA activities
  6. S01E06Takin' Back the StreetApril 24, 1996When Mama Em, a neighborhood matriarch and old friend of Swift's father, is gunned down for trying to organize her community against a drug
  7. S01E07No Holds BarredMay 1, 1996 2.0Pregnant college girl Allison enlists Swift to find her missing boyfriend, college wrestler Palo Montega. Swift discovers that Palo's fanati
  8. S01E08HorsesMay 8, 1996Swift helps a horse breeder avoid selling out to a business tycoon.
  9. S01E09Bad MedicineMay 15, 1996When research scientist Bud Wertheim dies under suspicious—but apparently natural–circumstances, his friend and colleague Jessie McKenna enl
  10. S01E10Isaiah's DaughterMay 22, 1996An Amish man, Isaiah Zook, travels to New York to search for his runaway daughter Sarah but is quickly overwhelmed by the city. Paterson hap
  11. S01E11The HazeJuly 2, 1996Patterson asks Swift to watch over a woman somehow involved in his latest case.
  12. S01E12StonesJuly 10, 1996Swift and Paterson clash on issues of strategy when cases they are working on collide. Paterson, under pressure from his superiors, may have
  13. S01E13RetributionJuly 17, 1996A serial killer escapes and goes after those who put him away: Swift, Patterson and a criminal profiler.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Shows like Swift Justice all similar shows

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Crime·ThrillerTrue Detective2014–presentStreaming on HBO MaxTouch darkness and darkness touches you back.8.1Compare
  2. 02Drama·Crime·ComedyFargo2014·FXStreaming on HuluFargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers.8.6Compare
  3. 03Drama·CrimeChicago P.D.2014–present·NBCStreaming on Amazon Prime VideoDistrict 21 of the Chicago Police Department is made up of two distinctly different groups.8.0Compare
  4. 04Drama·Crime·ActionNCIS2003–present·CBSStreaming on NetflixNCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama.7.9Compare
  5. 05Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe Blacklist2013–2023·NBCStreaming on NetflixThe Blacklist is a crime drama involving a former government agent who turned into a high-profile criminal turning himself in to the FBI offering to help catch criminals.8.1Compare
  6. 06Drama·Crime·ThrillerCriminal Minds2005–present·Paramount+Streaming on Amazon Prime VideoCriminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again.8.1Compare

Head-to-head pick any opponent

Stack Swift Justice's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.

Keep exploring top shows