Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie season 7, episode 1, “The Shot.”
Expectations are rather low heading intoThe Rookieseason 7 following a disappointing sixth season, butthe premiere does an okay job of improving upon the previous finale (while still making a handful of mistakes).ABC’s police procedural, created by Alexi Hawley, picks up a few weeks after the events of the convoluted andlackingTheRookieseason 6 finale. As some might recall, the episode ended with Oscar Hutchinson and Jason Wyler escaping prison, assumingly wanting to seek vengeance on those who wronged them, like John Nolan and Bailey Nune.
The Rookie
Cast
The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force’s oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
WhileThe Rookie’s season 7 premiere beginswith the team searching for Jason, the rest of the episode is dedicated to other criminals whose stories end before the hour is up. Elsewhere in the episode, Wade Grey (who was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant between seasons) elevated Lucy Chen from Police Officer II to Police Officer III so that she could train one of the two new rookies. Consequently,Nolan, Lucy, and Tim Bradford serve as season 7’s training officers.Unfortunately, nothing else significant happens during “The Shot.”
The Rookie Season 7 Premiere Brushes Past Its Season 6 Cliffhangers
Jason, Oscar, & Monica’s Stories Make Little To No Progress
Even thoughThe Rookieseason 6 ended with three dangerous criminals on the loose, none of them are in the season 7 premiere.The episode opens with the team raiding a house where they believe Jason to be,but it’s a bust. Afterward, all discussions surrounding Jason and Oscar’s whereabouts cease to exist. Even Monica is missing, although Angela Lopez mentions she invaded Interpol in Bolivia sometime in the past few weeks.
The Rookie Series Premiere Review: Nathan Fillion Leads A Solid, But Unremarkable Cop Show
ABC’s The Rookie proves more than a vehicle for star Nathan Fillion, as the series premiere offers up a well-balanced and entertaining cop show.
It’s disappointing the major cliffhangers from the season 6 finale are largely ignored. Without Jason, Oscar, or Monica,the premiere doesn’t feel much like a premiere.The story involving the stolen battlefield nuke is intriguing, full of high stakes and action, and allows Felix Solis tocameo as hisThe Rookie: Fedscharacter. However, it would be much better suited for an episode later in the season.
Jenna Dewan’s Bailey will make herThe Rookieseason 7 debut in episode 3 (perParade).
Nevertheless, it makes sense why Jason doesn’t appear in “The Shot,” seeing asBailey is deployed with the National Guard,a story that came about to account for Jenna Dewan’s maternity leave. WhenDewan returns as Bailey inThe Rookieseason 7, Jason likely will as well. In the meantime, the writers could focus more on Oscar and Monica’s stories and bring them to a satisfying conclusion (or introduce a new season-long Big Bad).
Season 7 Is Wisely Handling Tim & Lucy’s Story With Care
Chenford Returns To Its Slow-Burn Roots
One of the highlights of the season 7 premiere is Tim and Lucy. Their scenes are handled perfectly, with them making obvious improvements on the negative tension between them following theirbreakup inThe Rookieseason 6, episode 6, but still not jumping headfirst back into a relationship.The writers must not rush to get Tim and Lucy back together,and the premiere proves they’re taking their time. Of course, Tim and Lucy will reunite one day. It just wouldn’t be believable if the couple did so without putting in the work to make themselves ready for a relationship again.
Patrick Kelehe
Seth Ridley
Lucy becomes a training officer. As a result, she and Tim are assigned new rookies and they make a bet to see which one can train the better cop. The light camaraderie, competition, and the lack of overly fraught angst between Tim and Lucy is fun and implies there is still hope for them without being too obvious. The twoRookiecharacters' lingering looks also add to their exciting tension. Ultimately,Tim and Lucy are at their best when they are in a slow-burn phase of their relationship,and the writers are wisely returning to that in season 7.
Aaron’s Exit Is Mismanaged (But The New Rookies' Introductions Aren’t)
Tru Valentino’s Departure Deserves Better Than A Flimsy Excuse
The most frustrating aspect is how Aaron Thorsen’s exit is addressed in an offhand comment.Celina Juarez reveals that Aaron transferred to the North Hollywood stationbecause of what happened between him and Dr. Blair London in season 6. After that, Aaron isn’t mentioned again. For being a main character for three seasons, the wayThe Rookieseason 7 handles Aaron’s exitis a disservice to him and Tru Valentino, the actor who played him.
[Miles and Seth] are complete opposites, and based onThe Rookieseason 7 premiere, it will be intriguing to see how they grow as the episodes continue.
On the other hand,the episode does a great job of introducing two new characters — Miles Penn and Seth Ridley.Miles (Tim’s rookie) worked as a cop for two years in a small Texas town before moving to Los Angeles because he believed he was destined for something greater. Meanwhile, Seth (Lucy’s rookie) is brand new and quite eager to help people. The two are complete opposites, and based ontheseason 7 premiere, it will be intriguing to see how they grow as the episodes continue.
New episodes ofThe Rookieseason 7 will air weekly at 10pm ET every Tuesday on ABC.
