Saving The Rookie Season 7 May Boil Down To Two Unexpected Characters’ Failures

After a disappointing season 6, The Rookie has a lot to prove in season 7, and five episodes in, only two new characters can save it. The ABC police procedural series has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years. However, when it’s good, it’s exceptional. Some of The Rookie‘s best seasons (for example, 2, 5, etc.) have produced riveting TV, setting high expectations for everything that follows, which is why season 6 was such a letdown. The good news is that there is still hope for The Rookie season 7 despite its early mistakes.

As of the writing of this article, ABC has only released five episodes of The Rookie season 7, meaning there is space for improvement. While the show has made some head-scratching choices so far, there have been a few good moments, too. So, the writers must take what has worked and build on it in the future. Thirteen episodes remain in The Rookie season 7, giving the police procedural TV series plenty of time to right its wrongs and make this season one to remember.

Why The Rookie Season 7 Is Divisive Thus Far

Season 7 Has Mishandled Its Stories

Season 7 has experienced several problems throughout its first five episodes. For starters, The Rookie‘s handling of Tru Valentino’s Aaron’s exit was disappointing, to say the least. During the premiere, Celina revealed that Aaron transferred from Mid Wilshire to North Hollywood’s station after the ordeal with Dr. Blair London in season 6, and that was that. A couple of throwaway lines uttered over 30 seconds explained Aaron’s absence. Since then, Aaron hasn’t been mentioned, not giving the character the exit that he deserved.

Other issues in season 7 include mismanaging the cliffhangers from The Rookie season 6 finale (Jason, Oscar, and Monica’s escapes) and Nolan’s frustrating (and hypocritical) behavior. Both Oscar and Monica are still in the win. The longer the episodes fail to mention the two villains, the easier it is for the audience to forget all about them and their potential. As for Jason, his return in episode 5 was overshadowed by the introduction of another antagonist, and his death was the furthest thing from impactful.

Of course, The Rookie season 7 hasn’t been all bad. The return to an episodic format with “case of the week” mysteries has been a breath of fresh air following the serialized sixth season. The slow buildup to Tim and Lucy’s inevitable reunion has also served the show (and their relationship) well, given how rushed their breakup was and how great their first slow-burn romance was. Meanwhile, episode 4 was a highlight of The Rookie season 7. The hour contained thoughtful character development for everyone and introduced an intriguing mystery that could redeem the season’s flaws.

Liam & Harrison As Villains May Be The Best Thing About The Rookie Season 7 Now

The Show Needs A New Big Bad

The Rookie season 7, episode 4 introduced a big villain — Harrison Novak, played by Noel Fisher of Shameless fame. He is a criminal who Wesley helped get acquitted of burglary and assault. However, in episode 4, the team learned that Harrison is a serial killer targeting young women. They were able to arrest Harrison, who later showed the LAPD where he buried his victims’ bodies. When they got there, though, the officers found other corpses that Harrison swore didn’t belong to him. So, another serial killer was on the loose, and he was formally introduced in episode 5.

Seth Gabel’s Liam Glasser is the other serial killer who previously used Harrison’s dump site to hide his own victims. Although viewers couldn’t see his face, Liam attacked Nyla in episode 4, meaning she has extra motivation to catch him. As Mekia Cox told TVLine, Liam is “constantly on [Nyla’s] mind.” Unfortunately, another man confessed to Liam’s murders. Harrison is in police custody, while Liam isn’t, which sets up two possible big villains in The Rookie season 7. Both could live up to Rosalind Dyer’s legacy, and the writers must take advantage of their potential to right the show’s ship.

How The Rookie’s Villains Can Make The Show More Exciting

Antagonists Have Always Enriched The Rookie

A big reason why The Rookie season 2 is its best season is because of Rosalind Dyer, the greatest villain in the show’s history. Annie Wersching’s performance as the incarcerated serial killer, Rosalind’s devious plans, and her connections with several Rookie main characters made season 2 so thrilling. Meanwhile, season 6’s overflow of forgettable antagonists bumped it to the bottom of the list. So, it’s easy to see how much villains affect the story. If The Rookie writers play their cards right and successfully utilize Harrison and Liam, season 7 could be remembered among the series’ best.