If I'd been the showrunner for SEAL Team's season 7

I've been watching SEAL Team's season 7 and have found it disappointing. It's not because there are fewer ops and action scenes (although I've missed those); the feel of the show is different and not in a good way. One of the best things about the earlier seasons was the way the writers integrated the lives of Bravo inside and outside the wire among all the main characters. This season, there are almost no "inside the wire" scenes for any character other than Jason (and it seems there are more of these scenes for the newest character than for either Ray or Sonny). So, along with the lack of action, the character focus is too much in some areas and too little in others, as well as being poorly realized for the newer characters. That being the case, I've decided to tell what I would've done differently if I'd been in charge of SEAL Team's season 7. This isn't a criticism exactly; it's more of a "wish list" of things I'd have done differently (no doubt other viewers have created their own "wish lists" of how they would've changed certain episodes or seasons of shows they really like overall--episode 6x8 of SEAL Team is one a lot of viewers would change if they could). Anyway, these are the main things I would've done differently if I'd been the showrunner for season 7.

• I would've begun the season with a greater time jump between the season 6 finale and the season 7 premiere, so I wouldn't have spent time on the "punishment" Bravo members received after the season 6 finale. With only 10 episodes remaining for the series, I wouldn't have wasted time on something so insignificant and that could've easily been covered in a few lines of dialogue. Instead, I would've had the team reassembled in episode 1 and back in action on an op by episode 2. 

• If I decided to add a new member of the team, it wouldn't have been Drew or anyone like him. I probably wouldn't have added a new team member because of the short season, but if I'd decided to add a new member, it would've been a minor character with a less complicated backstory for two reasons. First, the final season should focus on the main characters who've been on Bravo for 6 seasons: Jason, Ray, and Sonny. Next, the focus should be on the recurring characters who've been in Bravo's orbit since season 1: Lisa, Mandy, Naima, and Stella. There could've been more focus on the personal and work life of the member who joined Bravo in season 6, Omar. Focusing on those characters would leave little time to focus on another main character. A problem with Drew's character is that because the writers decided to make his backstory so complicated, it doesn't hold together. (There's no way Bravo wouldn't have known he was on Echo just through general talk within DEVGRU. Besides, they would've seen him in the mess hall, eating with Echo, at the Bulkhead, or on other social occasions.) And because his backstory is unnecessarily complicated, the writers spent too much time focused on it which meant less time focused on the other major characters. 

• I would've divided the time more equally between Jason, Ray, and Sonny, especially for the inside the wire scenes. A lot of time in earlier seasons has already been spent on Jason's TBI & how he's handling the end of his career approaching, and this season, the focus has been almost exclusively on Jason even though both Ray and Sonny are confronting their own major issues in their personal lives. 
  

• For Ray, I would've had more Ray-Naima conversations and have him spend time at Spenser House preparing for his retirement, maybe even actually have him interact with veterans. After all, many of these veterans are dealing with what he'll be facing soon: leaving the life of a war fighter behind. If he is feeling guilty about Clay's death--and that seems much more like an excuse thrown in to explain his behavior than anything organic to the character--there should be scenes that better show this. As far as viewers know, Ray is still a deeply religious man. If he's troubled about things, why isn't he talking to his priest?
  

• For Sonny, he's been given a huge responsibility to look out for Stella and Brian. (Stella also told Sonny that he's the best person to tell Brian what kind of a man his daddy, Clay, was.) This type of responsibility could've created some heavy emotional scenes. Sonny could be killed any time he goes on an op, so what's he doing to make sure Brian knows who his dad was? What's he doing to make sure Leanne knows who he was? (It's not as if he has a lot of time to spend with her now.) I'd have had Sonny create a scrapbook-journal about Clay's years with Bravo: the op when he was a strap, his first op as a member of Bravo, times he saved Sonny's life, times he saved an op, some of the nicknames Sonny gave him, etc. along with photos and mementos (like the Bravo patch). I'd also have Sonny create one about himself for Leanne, maybe record a video. Sonny should also visit Clay's grave at least once and "talk" to him about the team and tell him that he's doing his best to keep his promise. To me, these actions are much more important than his work on his med kit or helping Ben because they're much more personal and hark back to the strength of the brotherhood, in general, and, more importantly, his friendship with Clay.

• As I mentioned, I would've included Stella. I think the story about a wife (especially with a newborn) coming to terms with the death of a Bravo member is worth exploring. We saw Jason deal with Alana's death, and even though Clay didn't die on an op, he was still a Bravo brother and the injury from the Mali op while he was on active duty contributed to his death (without his injury, it's unlikely he would've been involved in the vet center or met Ben). It would've been nice to have Naima and even Mandy spend time with her.
  

• I would've wrapped up the Decker investigation within the first two episodes. I would've had Lisa called in and admit that she asked for and received an unredacted report on the incident because, as intel officer for the op, she wanted to make sure that nothing she'd done had led Bravo into the ambush. And when she was asked if she'd shared the information from that report with anyone, I would've had her lie and say she hadn't. (It wouldn't be the first time an officer had lied to protect a member of Bravo.) Then, the investigation would've been concluded and the findings inconclusive.
  

• I'd have had Sonny and Lisa agree to end their on-again, off-again dance. Neither of them are ready or willing to give up their careers for a relationship at this point, so I'd have them settle on a plan: when a relationship becomes possible for them (because of retirement or promotion) and if they're still interested in pursuing a relationship, then they'll give it a chance.
  

• I would've had the team go back to a country where they had run a previous op, maybe Mali or Colombia  (I know the team was only stationed in Colombia, but their stay in Colombia was significant for everyone). As this is the final season, I would've had the team spend some time remembering and reflecting on past ops and team members. They could do this while still running a new op.
  

• I'd definitely have had more team scenes (in the Bulkhead, in the cages, at meals, playing poker, BBQs) with Brock and Trent. Though minor characters, they've been on the team since season 1, and it'd be nice to include them in scenes a little more before the show ends.

• I wouldn't have had the team waste time in Sweden on a training mission (they would've been on an op by the end of episode 1 or when episode 2 began).

These are the main things I would've done differently if I'd been the showrunner in season 7. 

Seasons 1-6, while not perfect, included some of the best episodes on network TV. I just wish season 7 had continued with the same level of excellence in all aspects.