AJ Buckley of the SEAL team previews Sonny’s reaction to Clay News: ‘There are moments when I really lose my composure’

The following contains spoilers from the November 6 episode of Paramount+ Marine Special Forces.

As Paramount+ Marine Special Forces served up his shocking end to the eighth episode of this season of 10, as much as thoughts turned to Clay’s wife Stella and how she would ultimately take the tragic news, you may have felt just as concerned about Bravo member Sonny Quinn’s reaction.

After all, the bond between Sonny and Clay was legendary, built brick by brick after a rocky start in Season 1 (when the latter was the team’s wayward noob), and eventually steeped in brotherly love and many, many nicknames.

TVLine spoke to series veteran AJ Buckley about Sonny’s reaction to Clay’s death (which begins with the end-of-season two-parter premiere this Sunday), his own feelings about best friend Max Thieriot leaving the show, and more.

TVLINE | Who breaks the news to AJ Buckley that Max is leaving the show and Clay is being killed?
I think Max actually told me. Max told me when it happened. You know, Max and I became very close during the show. He’s one of my best friends. Our kids were born a few months apart in that first season and all sorts of things, so we became incredibly close and it was really hard to hear. But I knew it was an opportunity for him to “stretch his wings” and go [co-create and star in CBS’ Fire Country]. I think it’s been tough for everyone, but especially for me because it’s one of the best parts about going to work. Max and I drove to work together every day, so I lost my “fighting boo.” There’s definitely a void there. He’s such a great guy, on and off the screen. He’s the salt of the earth and probably one of the best guys I’ve ever met in the business. So I’m gonna miss him, man. I will miss my buddy.

TVLINE | And as an actor, at some point afterward you’re like, “Oh man – how is Sonny possibly going to react to that?”
Yes. Yes. And I was really thankful for that [showrunner] spencer [Hudnut] and for [directing EP] Chris [Chulack]. Spencer had a few conversations with me about what they were going to do and how painful it would be for Sonny. I mean there’s a real emotion mixed into it – especially in the finale too – of losing him in a way. And then I sat with Chris during those two episodes he directed, 9 and 10… There’s a lot of things that happen, those moments where it crescends and I really lose, but then we have to go back into the fight. So it was about “picking the moments” to create a kind of balance of where I am Yes, really let go.

It was tough, but I felt really great support from Chris and Spencer, who helped me get through this emotionally without blowing it all up at once, and telling the story of that grief and then telling it like this Warriors are able to go through something like this and then turn that off and get back to the mission. I’m so blown away by how these special ops guys are able to flip that “switch” and focus on the mission when they lose a brother like this and with the assignments they’re receiving. It’s a quality not many men can. That’s commendable, and that’s why our special operations are the best in the world.

TVLINE | This Sunday’s episode actually touches on that a bit, and I’m curious: you know, in real life, could a team decide to retire after suffering such a devastating loss?
You know I asked this question and depending on the circumstances and the resources available when certain things happen but you are the only game in town then unfortunately you will have to complete the mission.

That’s the one thing I really love about our show, and Chris Chulack and Spencer said right off the bat that it’s about staying true to what’s happening in real life. I definitely asked that question, like, “Why shouldn’t we just go home? How are we going to focus?” And our advisors said if command says you have to finish the job, you have to finish the job. There’s nothing you can do about it, although that would be crazy.

Also, that was the first episode Max wasn’t there, he wasn’t on the call log anymore, and I remember it kind of hit me. I said, “Oh man, it’s real, he’s not on the show anymore.” But that’s what I love about the show, that they really stay true to what these guys are going through.

TVLINE | If I’m the strip mall cop who accidentally shot Clay, how concerned am I about his Bravo brothers eventually returning to the States?
[Laughs] Oh mall cops… Mall cops, nobody likes mall cops. No, I think they’re beyond that, you know. That was a wrong place, wrong time scenario that unfortunately happened with Clay. So no, I don’t think a cop over there would need to worry [about retribution].

TVLINE | I said to Spencer Hudnut at the beginning of our conversation last week, “I have very strong feelings for you as a showrunner complicated,” Given the path that Clay was killed. That was a goddamn gut punch. Just destructive.
Oh yeah. I feel for Spencer, man. It’s not an easy position as you can have Max on set, he has so much knowledge and is a very positive person who is loved by the fans. But I think Spencer did a good job and the best he could under the circumstances.

TVLINE | What would you like to say about how this season ends next week where it leaves us?
Oh man…. I mean it’s a stomach ache. There’s a scene in there [Episode] 10, that was one of the hardest scenes I’ve done in my career so far. I’ll leave it at that.

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