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Quick LinksWhen to Watch The Rookie Season 7, Episode 10, 'Chaos Agent'What to Expect from the Rest of The Rookie Season 7

In recent seasons, The Rookiestarted telling bigger stories, often taking a case from arrest all the way to court. While this is how most police procedurals tackle their weekly cases, what made the show stand out was its focus on patrol officers. The producers said that Season 7 represents a "pivot" back to the original idea for the show.

The addition of two new training officers -- Deric Augustine as Miles Penn and Patrick Keleher as Seth Ridely -- helps the series get back to the grounded storytelling that made it a hit. While there are episodes that introduce a big spectacle for TV, most of the time the characters and their cases have a narrow personal focus.

When to Watch The Rookie Season 7, Episode 10, 'Chaos Agent' Viewers Who Miss the Debut...

Quick LinksSeth Ridley Is Lucy Chen's First Trainee in The RookieSeth Ridley Has an Almost Pathological Habit of LyingOne of Seth Ridley's Lies Could Finally Cost Him His Job

The following contains spoilers for The RookieSeason 7 debuting new episodes on ABC and streaming on Hulu.

With the shocking departure of fan-favorite character Aaron Thorsen, The Rookie introduced two new characters. Miles Penn is a veteran police officer from Texas who -- despite his struggles -- is fitting into the job. His fellow new recruit, Seth Ridley, is not so lucky. Despite being a police procedural, The Rookie tries to be a "feel good" series. More often than not, the characters face adversity and triumph when it counts.

The characters are similarly often shown to be good, moral people dedicated to protecting and serving. This doesn't mean they do everything right. Many characters, including protagonist John Nolan, have made big mistakes.

Quick LinksWhere and When to Watch The Rookie Season 7, Episode 8, 'Wildfire'What to Expect from The Rookie In Season 7

After seven seasons, The Rookiehas evolved considerably from its original premise. The show initially followed Nathan Fillion's John Nolan as the oldest rookie officer in the LAPD. But by Season 5, The Rookie shifted its premise after Nolan got promoted to training officer. Though the early seasons solely focused on street-level police work, it's also true that if the characters never advanced, the series would have had a shorter longevity.

As Nolan and his fellow characters grew and earned promotions, the show evolved with them. Some characters were promoted to detective, which meant seeing more stories offer well-rounded depictions of law enforcement. It also changed the show from focusing on a single case for an episode or, in the case of Season 7, creating a larger arc for the season.

Where and When...

Now in its seventh season, The Rookiehas evolved a lot from its original premise. What began as a show following the street-level lives of patrol officers has evolved into a fully-fledged ensemble drama. While the action and police work is appealing, what really keeps fans tuned in are the characters. Originally, Nathan Fillion's John Nolan was the oldest rookie officer in the history of the LAPD. Since Season 5, The Rookie shifted that premise, making Nolan a training officer with his own rookie to guide.

Other characters have since been promoted from beat cop to detective, which means the series is able to more closely follow some of the criminal cases introduced in the episodes. Still, the series is different from other police procedurals on television because of its focus on the daily job of patrolling the streets of a major city. Similarly, the focus on training rookie officers allows...

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 7, Episode 6.ABC's The Rookie has always benefited from bringing in new characters over the past seven seasons. Now that the original rookies have become established officers, the Los Angeles Police Department Mid-Wilshire Division has needed new blood. Not all rookies have survived their training — Rip Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) — and others have simply transferred away from the precinct. Fans were disappointed to learn that Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) would be departing The Rookie ahead of Season 7. But even if these exits are disappointing, they also mean that there's an opportunity for new characters to come onto the scene and to flourish. While two new rookies have entered the department this season, only one of them deserves to be a permanent member of the Mid-Wilshire family.

Quick LinksWho Is Quigley Smitty on The Rookie?Why Hasn't Smitty Become Part of the Main Cast of The Rookie Yet?What Could the Future Hold for Smitty On The Rookie?

Fans of The Rookie have plenty to be excited about, as Nathan Fillion is back on the scene once more as Officer John Nolan to solve crimes and bust criminals. Even though not every member of the main cast has returned for Season 7, with Tru Valentino's Aaron Thorsen having departed the series, viewers have rejoiced at seeing Quigley Smitty return once more. Smitty has come a surprisingly long way since Season 1, in which he only appeared in a single episode. Throughout the show's run, he has come to be seen as something of a fan favorite, known for his much-needed comic relief and his undeniable chemistry with the rest of the cast. While he has never been an official part of the main cast,...

Quick LinksThe Mystery Around Lucy Chen's Rookie Deepens With Discovery of DeceitThe Rookie Introduces a New Serial Killer Who Will Be a Bigger VillainThe Story of Bailey Nune's Ex-Husband Comes to a Bloody and Violent EndThe Rookie Primes Its Romances for the Show's Valentine's Day Episode

The following contains discussion of domestic abuse and spoilers for The Rookie, Season 7, Episode 5 "'Til Death," which premiered February 4th, 2025, on ABC.

The fifth episode of The RookieSeason 7 was relatively low-key despite some momentous developments in the story. While there was a short gunplay scene, most of the episode takes place in police vehicles and interrogation rooms. The Rookie also ended a long-running story while introducing some new storylines set to unfold over the rest of Season 7.

Due to actor Jenna Dewan's real-life pregnancy, she and he partner Steve Kazee (who plays Jason Wyler) were absent from earlier episodes, delaying the resolution of the Season 6 finale cliffhanger.

The Rookie didn’t take long to gain recognition and acclamation in the police procedural crime drama series world as it brought about the story of forty-year-old rookie John Nolan and his troubles in the Los Angeles Police Department. One of the major reasons behind this was its critically outstandingly performing star-studded cast.

The Rookie. | Credits: ABC.

Starring the ever-so-talented Nathan Fillion in the lead, it had the likes of Alyssa Diaz and Eric Winter giving epic performances. But the surprising part is that none of these mentioned actors, despite being so renowned, is the richest star in the series. Rather, that title belongs to someone else entirely, someone who only joined the saga from season 4.

Who’s the richest star in The Rookie?

Even though The Rookie has been winning fans over since 2018 and flaunts a star-studded cast, none of the actors attached to it are as rich as Jenna Dewan.

The Rookiestar Eric Winter breaks down the gritty details surrounding a fan-favorite couple's heartbreaking split.

Speaking to TV Insider, Winter discussed the season defining breakup between his character, Sergeant Tim Bradford, and Melissa O'Neil's Officer Lucy Chen. "They never broke up because they stopped loving each other. They broke up because Tim didn’t feel he was good enough for her," Winter explained. "And I think that’s what the fans have to understand."

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"As a little time has passed, the wound is still there, but it’s healing. There’s a scab for Lucy. She’s trying to make amends with the situation the best she can," Winter added. "Tim and Lucy find...

Quick LinksJason Wyler Is a White Supremacist Who Tried to Kill John NolanJason Was Married to Bailey While She Was Dating NolanJason Waged a Psychological Warfare Campaign on Bailey and NolanJason Escaped Prison and Is Coming for Nolan and Bailey in Season 7

The following includes brief discussions about domestic abuse, self-harm and light spoilers from The Rookie Season 7, debuting new episodes on Tuesdays on ABC and streaming on Hulu.

At its core, The Rookieis a police procedural, but the hit ABC series also has some soap opera-style stories. Romance plays a big role in the show, often drawing on characters' pasts for dramatic tension. What happened when Jason Wyler (the criminal husband of Bailey Nune) showed up almost upended The Rookie's most solid relationship.

When the series debuted, protagonist John Nolan (played by Nathan Fillion) was fresh off of a divorce, and was trying to reinvent himself. John Nolan's...

Kelly Clarkson had a cameo appearance on the hit ABC series The Rookie in 2023. Looking back, she's feeling sorry for the way that she acted on the set.

Clarkson discussed her guest appearance on the Season 5 episode, "Death Notice," during a Q&a session for The Kelly Clarkson Show. She shared how she was ecstatic when the offer came in to appear on The Rookie, as she was already a very big fan of the series. Unfortunately, she was perhaps too much of a fan, as she says the shoot was the most nervous she's ever felt on a set. This led to her acting like an "idiot," and she is now offering an apology to the cast and crew.

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Season 7 of The Rookie has returned and while it'd be understandable to mourn somewhat the exit of fan-favorite character, Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino), the police procedural has not been lacking in entertaining talking points so far. One of the major plots that has drawn and kept the attention of the show's fanbase has been the state of Chenford. The affectionate term coined for the romance between Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter). Theirs has been a bumpy ride, with the pair separating in Season 6. However, early Season 7 interactions pointed towards a potential reconciliation. Well, that was until an old flame returned.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 7 Episode 3.Season 7 of The Rookie has sadly seen the off-screen and underwhelming exit of fan-favorite Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino). Aside from this, the show seems to be going out of its way to appeal to fans who have been around since its earlier seasons. It has already brought back Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy's (Melissa O'Neil) early-seasons dynamic and called back to Smitty (Brent Huff) renting out a trailer to Jackson (Titus Makin Jr.). In this week's episode, The Rookie continues this streak with a surprising cameo.

Quick Links What The Rookie Producers Had to Say About Aaron Thorsen Leaving How The Rookie Wrote Aaron Thorsen Out of Season 7 Why Aaron Thorsen Was Left Out of The Rookie Season 7 Was It a Mistake for The Rookie to Let Aaron Thorsen Go?

The following contains spoilers from The Rookie Season 7, airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu the following day.

When The Rookie returned for Season 7 in January 2025, one regular character in the series was shockingly absent. Aaron Thorsen, played by Tru Valentino, was a rookie officer caught up in a scandal and the character left the show. However, he is still alive in this universe and working as a police officer at a different precinct. The reason why has more to do with behind-the-scenes factors than the story itself. Introduced in Season 4, Aaron Thorsen was a great character on The Rookie with a unique backstory. The son...

Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) got a better sendoff than some previous characters on The Rookie. The Season 7 premiere revealed that he was still alive in the universe and had transferred to North Hollywood. The character's exit ended some storylines developed since he was introduced in Season 4. But since he's alive somewhere, could the show bring him back? "Coming into this season with this desire to re-pilot a little bit, to launch these two new rookies, to really lean into going creatively in some different directions — [writing off Aaron] is ultimately what we wanted to do," showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Guide of the decision to write off the character. Regarding whether the character might appear in the future, Hawley gave an encouraging update, saying:...

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie season 7, episode 2, "The Watcher."

Sadly, The Rookie fans had to say goodbye to Tru Valentino's Aaron Thorsen during the season 7 premiere, and while his exit is disappointing, the show is redeeming itself via two new characters. ABC's police procedural series, created by Alexi Hawley, follows the personal and work lives of the law enforcement officers from the Mid-Wilshire Patrol Divison of the LAPD, which used to include Aaron. Valentino's Aaron joined the cast of The Rookie after Titus Makin Jr.'s Jackson West left in season 4. Just a few seasons later, though, Valentino also departed the show.

New episodes of The Rookie air on Tuesdays at 10 pm Et on ABC. Season 7 features 18 episodes — eight more than the previous season.

Valentino left The Rookie in season 7 due to creative decisions made by the writers. Based on reports, the actor didn't...

The Rookie‘s seventh season finally kicked off last week on ABC, but fans were saddened to learn that Tru Valentino, who portrayed Officer Aaron Thorsen on the series since season 4, had departed the series.

Now, we have a bit of an explanation why the 36-year-old actor was written off the Nathan Fillion-starrer.

Keep reading to find out more…

Showrunner Alexi Hawley ended up revealing that Tru‘s exit was due to the creative direction on the show.

When asked if Tru would ever be welcome back on the show, Alexi told Screen Rant, “Of course. Tru is a great actor, and he was a huge part of our show for several seasons, and so we’d love to have him back in some capacity.”

He then touched on why Tru was gone, saying, “It just ultimately felt like, creatively, for where the show was going, that we needed to pivot a bit.

Although one actor is leaving The Rookie ahead of season 7, the ABC series gains two more, who join the veteran cast during the premiere. The police procedural show, created by Alexi Hawley, follows the personal and work lives of the law enforcement officers who work at the Mid-Wilshire Patrol Division in Los Angeles. However, as its name implies, The Rookie mostly revolves around first-year cops. As time goes on, though, newbies filter in and out of the station (or are promoted and remain a part of the list of characters).

New episodes of The Rookie season 7 air on Tuesdays at 10 pm Et. Season 7 has 22 episodes.

Like many other police procedurals, The Rookie features an ensemble cast. Some play police officers (at any level) in Mid-Wilshire, while others are the spouses of said cops. Unfortunately, though, fans have to say goodbye to one of those officers as Tru Valentino exited The Rookie during the season 7 premiere.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie season 7, episode 1, "The Shot."

Months after The Rookie season 6's ending, it was announced that Tru Valentino, who had played Aaron Thorsen in the show for three years, would exit before the season 7 premiere. The news of his departure was shocking, to say the least. Nothing in The Rookie season 6 finale suggested that Aaron would leave the ABC procedural drama series. However, that was the reality, and many became curious about how Aaron would be written out of the show. Unfortunately, his exit was ultimately very disappointing and underwhelming.

ABC drops new episodes of The Rookie season 7 on Tuesdays at 10 pm Et.

Valentino made his first appearance as Aaron, a rookie, in the second episode of season 4. His character served as Jackson West's replacement after Titus Makin Jr. left The Rookie during the premiere, and he was just what...

Although The Rookie is in its seventh season, it hasn't lost any momentum in terms of popularity and viewership. The ABC series has reached the #1 spot on the streaming service Hulu, showing that people are more invested than ever in the Nathan Fillion-led series. The police procedural drama has slowly grown in popularity as the story has evolved past Fillion's character being an older rookie, with the show introducing new recruits while showing the original rookies coming into their own as police officers.

The series, which was created by Alexi Hawley, was initially inspired by the true story of William Norcross before the series began to veer off into various other storylines. The rise to the top of the streaming charts undoubtedly has to do with the seventh season premiere on January 7. Titled "The Shot," the episode features plenty of high stakes while introducing new rookies. Season 6 of the series only had 10 episodes,...

In its seven seasons on the air, The Rookie has featured several shocking character exits. These departures have included the deaths of some beloved heroes on the show, such as Captain Zoe Andersen (Mercedes Mason) in Season 1 and Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) in Season 4, who were both killed in the line of duty. There have also been plenty of villains to kick the bucket, including Nick Armstrong (Harold Perrineau) in Season 3 and Rosalind Dyer (Annie Wersching) in Season 5. So, it shouldn't have come as a huge surprise when another series regular announced they'd be leaving the show before the Season 7 premiere. But would Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) meet a gruesome end like these other unfortunate characters?...

The Rookie started Season 7 down one regular cop, so what happened to him? Was the exit on or off screen?

Caution: This article contains Spoilers for The Rookie Season 7 premiere

For those who forgot, Season 6 of The Rookie ended with the cops exposing how corrupt lawyer Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan) had used shrink Dr. Blair London (Danielle Campbell) to get information on cops she could sell to criminals. That exposed scores of detectives to blackmail that hampered investigations.

Nolan worked with the FBI to track Monica down with a big firefight that had him shot in the hindquarters while Monica escaped. However, in the middle of the chaos, recurring criminal “frenemy” Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) escaped prison alongside Jason (Steve Kazee), the abusive drug-dealing ex-husband of Nolan’s wife, Bailey.

As Season 7 opened, the crew tried to track Jason and Oscar, but a drug house bust couldn’t turn them up.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie season 7, episode 1, "The Shot."

The Rookie lost another officer in season 7 — Aaron Thorsen, played by Tru Valentino. Aaron entered the story at the beginning of season 4 as the ABC police procedural TV show's latest rookie, and his training officer was Nyla Harper. When Harper went on maternity leave in season 5, John Nolan took over as Aaron's To before he was ultimately promoted. For two seasons of The Rookie, Aaron worked as a P2 (Police Officer II). However, he also expressed interest in becoming a detective. Unfortunately, Aaron never got a chance to achieve his dream onscreen in The Rookie.

Tru Valentino's Aaron Thorsen was introduced in The Rookie season 4 to replace Jackson West following his tragic death.

Valentino's character was unlike the rookies who came before him as his background story was quite unique. Aaron's family was rich, and he grew up very privileged,...

The Rookie is back. The beloved police drama kicked off season 7 in style, courtesy of a thrilling case and the chemistry of the main cast. Unfortunately, the main cast was a member short. Aron Thorsen, the police officer who made his debut in season 4, was nowhere to be found.

The character, played by Tru Valentino, has been written off the show. The actor confirmed that he would not be returning in a full-time capacity in August 2024, and the season 7 premiere confirmed it. It was sad to forge ahead without a character who had become so beloved during his tenure, but the good news is that the door is not permanently shut.

Aaron Thorsen was sent to another L.A. precinct The Rookie - Key Art. (Disney)

While Thorsen did not appear in the season 7 premiere, a conversation between John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) shed light on the character's whereabouts.

The Rookie returned for Season 7 on ABC, and it's missing one familiar face: Tru Valentino's Aaran Thorsen.

After the death of Officer Jackson West, Aaron Thorsen joined The Rookie in Season 5 as a wealthy, famous TikToker-turned-cop, who was once accused of killing his childhood best friend but ultimately cleared his name.

Did Aaron Leave The Rookie in Season 7?  Read full article on The Direct.

The Rookie's Season 7 premiere saw one important character noticeably absent. One of the showrunners recently confirmed when they will make their return.

Jenna Dewan, who plays Bailey, has been confirmed to return during Season 7 after not being seen in The Rookie's new season premiere episode. Speaking with Screen Rant, showrunner Alexi Hawley confirmed the exact episode in which Bailey will appear. "Jenna had a baby," Hawley said, explaining the actor's absence from the show and adding, "so we see her at the end of episode 3, basically." The first episode of The Rookie's seven season was released on Jan. 7, and the third episode is expected to air on Jan. 21. The entire season is expected to have 18 episodes in total.

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Dewan joined The Rookie as a guest star in...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for The Rookie Season 7 premiere “The Shot.”] The Rookie Season 7 may have welcomed two new officers to the precinct — Seth (Patrick Keleher) and Miles (Deric Augustine) — but it also had to write out one: Aaron Thorsen, after it was announced in August 2024 that Tru Valentino wouldn’t be returning. The Season 7 premiere does that relatively quickly, with Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Celina (Lisseth Chavez) talking about how Aaron is now in North Hollywood, happy where no one knows he was a patient of Blair’s (Danielle Campbell) after the therapist turned out to be dirty at the end of Season 6. After news broke of Valentino’s exit, the actor opened up about leaving in an Instagram story. “I will always cherish my time on The Rookie but couldn’t be more excited for what the future has in store,” he wrote. “I adore the friends and relationships made while being there.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for The Rookie season 7 premiere.On Tuesday, January 7, The Rookie kicked off its seventh season on ABC after a six-month hiatus. The premiere is titled, "The Shot," and sees fan-favorite pairing, Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy (Melissa O'Neil), return to their lighthearted dynamic by making a classic Chenford bet. Ever since the couple broke up in season 6, their interactions have been weighed down by what they've lost. Lucy's temporary role as training officer allows the two to go head-to-head, with Tim suggesting they compete to see who can train the better rookie.

During an interview with ScreenRant, showrunner Alexi Hawley teases plenty of obstacles for Tim and Lucy in The Rookie season 7, despite their strong start. While they both have a desire to reconcile, Lucy may struggle to trust Tim going forward. Hawley also points out that Tim is once again Lucy's supervisor, making a romance between them unethical.

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The Rookie” Season 7, Episode 1.

“The Rookie” is back after a six-month hiatus, but fans who are excited to return to the Mid-Wilshire Division might be surprised and saddened to see a familiar face is missing. Tru Valentino’s Officer Aaron Thorsen, who joined the series in a recurring role in Season 4 and became a series regular in Seasons 5 and 6, left the show between seasons in August 2024. That means that though there was no fanfare to his exit, the Season 6 finale was his final episode.

At least for now. The Season 7 premiere gives a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it update on the character’s whereabouts, and it very much leaves the door open for Officer Thorsen to return in the future. During a quieter moment in the action-packed episode, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) asks Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) how Aaron’s doing and she reveals that he’s “over in North Hollywood,...

The following contains spoilers from the Season 7 premiere of ABC’s The Rookie.

ABC’s The Rookie opened Season 7 down one familiar face, but added two new ones — and a fun #Chenford wager — to shake things up.

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Where did things stand with each character as Season 7 opened,...

What happened to Aaron Thorsen on The Rookie? That’s what The Rookie fans are asking as Season 7 premieres without him.

Aaron (Tru Valentino) debuted in Season 4 of The Rookie as the new rookie at Mid-Wilshire.

The character was added after the death of rookie Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) – and it hit the Mid-Wilshire team hard.

Three seasons later, Aaron has exited the team in a very lackluster manner compared to Jackson.

It’s not uncommon for shows like The Rookie to suffer cast changes after several seasons.

Sometimes, the change happens at the actor or actress’ request, and other times, it’s simply for creative reasons.

Let’s look at which one it was for the character of Aaron Thorsen.

Why did Aaron Thorsen leave The Rookie?

When Season 7 of The Rookie premieres, Aaron will have moved on to a different station amid the fallout from the Blair London (Danielle Campbell) drama.

After an elongated hiatus, The Rookie is back with season 7, and following a chaotic sixth season, viewers must prepare for the new episodes by remembering everything important that happened in the past. The ABC police procedural series, created by Alexi Hawley, revolves around a group of law enforcement officers, including Nathan Fillion's John Nolan. At the beginning of The Rookie, Nolan was a middle-aged rookie who moved from the East Coast to Los Angeles after a divorce. Now, Nolan is the one training rookies.

The Rookie season 7, episode 1, "The Shot," premieres on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 10 pm Et on ABC. Season 7 consists of 18 episodes.

Over the course of The Rookie's ten-episode sixth season, the characters experienced many highs and lows, from a wedding to a devastating breakup. So, season 7 has much to address. The ending of The Rookie season 6 even included a cliffhanger that, based on trailers for the upcoming episodes,...

The Rookie is finally making its way back to the small screen, though fans will be missing one familar face in Season 7. Ahead of the new season's arrival, it was revealed that Tru Valentino had exited the show from his role as Officer Aaron Thorsen after serving as one of the main stars since Season 4.

Per Screen Rant, series showrunner Alexi Hawley shared an update on the potential return of Valentino at some point in the future. Hawley confirmed that Valentino's dismissal was due to creative reasons, though it wasn't stated exactly what the problem with his presence was causing. In any case, the door is staying open for a return in some capacity to happen later on, as Officer Thorsen is "very much alive" in the world of The Rookie — even if he's off-screen.

Related The Rookie Showrunner Teases What's Next for Chenford in Season 7

The Rookie showrunner Alexi...

The Rookie is losing another character as Tru Valentino, who plays Officer Aaron Thorsen, is leaving in season 7. However, Aaron's exit isn't too worrying, following a promising update concerning his future on the show. Many main characters have disappointingly left The Rookie over the course of its seven seasons, and Aaron is only the latest to depart. So, when season 7 opens, Aaron will already be gone. While the reasoning behind his exit is unknown ahead of the premiere, comments from the ABC police procedural's showrunner, Alexi Hawley, regarding the matter are reassuring.

The Rookie season 7, consisting of 18 episodes, premieres on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 10 pm Et on ABC.

Several villains threatened the team during The Rookie season 6 finale, but most of the focus was on Monica Stevens. Unfortunately, by the end of the hour, Monica got away. Two other notorious The Rookie villains — Oscar Hutchinson and Jason Wyler — broke out of...

Although the wait was long, The Rookie makes its highly-anticipated return to ABC on Tuesday, January 7 at 10 p.m. Et. Season 7, episode 1 is titled "The Shot," and picks up in the aftermath of Oscar and Jason's prison break. The procedural is set to undergo numerous changes, with series regular, Tru Valentino, having announced his departure in August 2024. The Rookie has opted to focus on two new trainees, adding Patrick Keleher and Deric Augustine as reoccurring guest stars.

In addition to the cast shake-up, season 7 may see Tim and Lucy's relationship parallel their original dynamic. The duo's slow burn romance has remained at the heart of The Rookie for years, and their opposite personalities often result in hilarious antics. Since Tim broke up with his former Boot in "Secrets and Lies," Chenford's once playful interactions have been heavy with tension and unresolved feelings. Showrunner Alexi Hawley shares that the premiere will...

The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley has previewed Tim Bradford's (Eric Winter) season 7 story arc, including hints about new Chenford developments going forward. During The Rookie season 6 finale, Tim and Lucy (Melissa O'Neil) still hadn't rekindled their relationship, having previously broken up with one another in season 6, episode 6. He was also fired from his job on the LAPD's Metro Unit last season, having returned to the core Mid-Wiltshire division in the process. He also decides to see detained psychiatrist Dr. Blair London (Danielle Campbell) about his issues, setting the stage for his forthcoming storyline.

Speaking with TVLine, Hawley teased that Tim will be spending time in The Rookie season 7 trying to better himself mentally, such as going to a veteran's support group. The showrunner indicated his decision to break up with Lucy will come into play, with their potential future together also being considered. While they weren't together by...

The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley has teased just how much of a threat Jason (Steve Kazee) poses to Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Bailey (Jenna DeWan) in season 7 of the police procedural. The Rookie season 6 finale ended on a shocking cliffhanger, with Monica (Bridget Regan) breaking both Oscar (Matthew Glave) and Jason out of prison. The latter is Bailey's ex-husband, whose rage toward her means he's likely going to target her now that he's free. However, there's been no confirmation yet about when he's going to show up, and how his presence will impact Nolan and his new wife.

Speaking with TVLine, Hawley revealed how on-edge Nolan will be during the start of The Rookie season 7, which takes place just a few weeks after the end of season 6. The showrunner teased the protagonist will get blindsided by bad information about where Jason is, while he continues to prioritize Bailey's protection. He...

Following a six-month hiatus, The Rookie season 7 returns to ABC on Tuesday, January 7 with one major change, which has now been addressed by the series' showrunner. In August 2024, Tru Valentino announced that he would not be returning as Officer Aaron Thorsen for The Rookie season 7, despite playing a major role in the series since season 4. The news came as a disappointment to fans, given how easily he fit into Mid-Wilshire's pre-established group dynamic, thanks to an engaging personality and unique background within the team.

When speaking with ScreenRant, showrunner Alexi Hawley was asked if Aaron may return to The Rookie at some point down the line. He responds optimistically, affirming that the exit was not at all due to the actor's lack of ability. While Hawley would love to have Valentino back in some capacity, he felt The Rookie season 7 needed to pivot due to its current creative trajectory. Check...

The Rookie season 7 adds a new character who will become an "obstacle" for Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore). The ABC drama revolves around policeman John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and his progression from the oldest LAPD rookie to a training officer. Along with Ashmore, who portrays an assistant Da, and Fillion, The Rookie cast includes Alyssa Diaz, Jenna Dewan, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, and Mekia Cox. Accustomed to casting changes, new cops, played by Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher, were confirmed for season 7, while main character Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) will not return.

During a recent interview with TVLine, showrunner Alexi Hawley revealed yet another new character and teased his impact in The Rookie season 7. Ivan Hernandez has been cast as Detective Graham, whose introduction coincides with the season debut on January 7. Appearing in numerous episodes, Hawley explained: "He plays a detective at our station who ends up becoming...

The Rookie stars are keeping fans entertained until Season 7 hits ABC airwaves in January.

It’s been a long hiatus for The Rookie fans, and we are anxious to see the Mid-Wilshire crew back in action.

Season 6 of The Rookie wrapped up in May, so we will have been waiting eight months for the show to return when Season 7 premieres.

The Rookie stars are helping give us our fix amid the delay, with some laughter thrown in the mix.

Nathan Fillion kicked off the fun with a The Rookie blooper reel featuring him as John Nolan and Lisseth Chavez as John’s rookie, Celina Juarez.

The blooper is titled ID’ing Suspects With Officer John Nolan and features Nathan bringing the laughter when he can’t seem to get a name correct. Nathan ends the blooper with a bit of his own two cents, which causes his co-star to erupt in laughter.

One series regular is sadly leaving The Rookie in season 7, but the show can make up for their absence by bringing back some characters who haven't been seen in a while. A handful of the ABC police procedural's cast members have come and gone over the years, starting with Mercedes Mason as Zoe Andersen in the middle of The Rookie season 1. Perhaps the biggest actor departure, though, was Titus Makin Jr. as Jackson West in the season 4 premiere. Unfortunately, one more series regular will join the likes of Mason and Makin Jr. in The Rookie season 7.

The Rookie returns with season 7 on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 10 pm Et on ABC. Season 7 will consist of 18 episodes as the show is reverting to its normal episode count after the strike-affected shortened sixth season.

Tru Valentino's Aaron Thorsen will exit The Rookie ahead of season 7, meaning the season 6 finale is his final appearance.

The latest release date for The Rookie's season 7 is great news because it means the show can narrowly avoid one of network TV's most disappointing trends. After the abrupt season 6 finale, the major storylines in season 7 will likely be centered around Oscar and Jason's escape from prison and Monica's escape from Nathan Fillion's John Nolan. The cliffhangers in season 6 are good news for season 7, as there are already several stories to look forward to before the season even airs.

The Rookie season 7 will luckily feature most of the same characters as season 6, with the exception of Aaron Thorsen, since Tru Valentino is departing the show after joining in season 4. The upcoming season will also feature new The Rookie cast members, including Patrick Keleher and Deric Augustine. The Rookie season 7 is definitely something to anticipate because of the show's excellent cast and exciting plots, but its later release date...

The Rookie fans can rejoice because we finally have a premiere date for Season 7 of the hit ABC show.

It’s been a long wait for The Rookie fans, thanks to ABC moving the cop drama to early 2025 instead of fall 2024.

Season 6 of The Rookie ended last May, meaning a nearly eight-month hiatus before the Mid-Wilshire crew returns.

The good news is that we are in the final stretch of the waiting period because The Rookie returns on Tuesday, January 7, at 10/9c.

Along with news of the show’s return, ABC shared that when The Rookie does return, Season 7 will have only a couple of hiatus weeks.

That means the 18-episode season will air new episodes pretty much until the finale in May 2025.

The Rookie Season 7 cast

As Monsters and Critics previously reported, Tru Valentino has exited the series, meaning Aaron Thorsen will no longer be in the Mid-Wilshire mix.

The Rookie has undoubtedly been a success for Nathan Fillion, but if it is able to reach season 9, the actor will reach an impressive milestone that his other shows didn't. ABC's police procedural series centers around Fillion's John Nolan, a middle-aged man who spontaneously quits his job and joins the LAPD. When The Rookie first premiered, Nolan was a rookie police officer at the Mid-Wilshire Division in Los Angeles. He was fresh out of the police academy and the oldest rookie in the LAPD, and almost seven seasons later, much has changed, but the show is still going strong.

Although The Rookie's ratings have fluctuated over the years, it remains a show that ABC can rely on. It comes as no surprise that the series has lasted as long as it did. Even with a couple of bad seasons of The Rookie, the police procedural TV show has retained...

The Rookie Season 7 will bring some changes and new cast members. Actors Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher join the show's cast later in Season 7 as the new rookies of the Los Angeles Police Departments Mid-Wilshire Division. Sadly, Tru Valentino, who portrays Officer Aaron Thorsen, will leave the show in Season 7, although details of his departure are vague. With The Rookie changing cast members, the series should consider making Skip Tracer Randy (Flula Borg) a series regular. Having John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) welcome Randy as his new probationary officer would be a great way to enhance Nolan's overall character in the series and present potential comedic scenarios. Skip Tracer Randy is the best person to bring that idea into reality. It's time to make Randy the next rookie cop on ABC's The Rookie.

It’s no secret that The Rookie has some pretty badass characters, but who is the most badass out of the bunch?

To many, it may be up for debate.

But we have our own thought process on how we’d rank these The Rookie fan favorites when it comes to badassery.

(Disney/Raymond Liu (ABC))

Whether it’s mental fortitude, fearlessness, a knack for taking bad guys down or out, or attitude, there can only be one right answer, as far as we’re concerned, regarding the most badass of the bunch.

But that doesn’t make getting to that top answer any easier.

Let’s get into it, and make sure you tell us below if you agree!

13. Quigley Smitty (Disney/Raymond Liu (ABC))

Smitty is notoriously an underachiever on the series, and he’s known for his comic relief.

He’s the least active of the bunch...

Quick Links The Rookie Has a History With Serial Killers Despite Being a Beat Cop Show Who Is the Pentagram Killer in The Rookie? Did the Pentagram Killer Murder Cheryl Budny? Who Is Jeff Budny, the Man Lucy Chen Shot? Was The Rookie's Pentagram Killer Based On a Real Case?

The ABC series The Rookie is a network police procedural focused on the life of a beat cop heading into its seventh season. This means that the cases the characters work on each week can differ. Still, The Rookie has no shortage of serial killers in its ranks, and Season 6's "Training Day" introduced a new one: The Pentagram Killer. However, the case was not as straightforward as some might think. In fact, the titular training day in The Rookie's fourth Season 6 episode has nothing to do with the new serial killer on the show. Rather, it follows...

The penultimate episode of The Rookie Season 5 was great. "Going Under" was one of the highest-rated episodes because it successfully kicked off several new narratives. Notably, it showed a new side of Officer Juarez and gave her a love interest. At the same time, it showed how Officer Thorsen has a bright future as a detective. However, both plot points were dramatically put on hold in the finale, "Under Siege."

Going into the finale, fans knew that things would be intense. The episode synopsis warned that one of the LAPD cops would be shot as masked assailants targeted the team. Knowing that fans braced for the worst -- and the worst might have happened. Much to viewers' dismay, it appeared that Aaron Thorsen may have died from his wounds at the end of the episode. It's the worst kind of cliffhanger for The Rookie fans, and Season 6 was delayed as...

Sadly, a veteran cast member of The Rookie will soon be leaving the show. Word has surfaced that actor Tru Valentino, who portrays Officer Aaron Thorsen, will not be back as a series regular for Season 7. The actor recently confirmed his exit on social media. Valentino's exit is unfortunate because Thorsen became a mainstay member of the cast after joining the series in its fourth season as a new rookie officer at the Los Angeles Police Department's Mid-Wilshire Division. Valentino provided great energy and presence throughout his time as Officer Thorsen in the series. It's not yet clear how Valentino's exit will play out, but the writers mustn't make the same mistake as Jackson West's (Titus Makin Jr.) exit, earlier in Season 4. Although some understandable extenuating circumstances prompted the disappointing exit of Officer West, Valentino's Officer Thorsen deserves a proper sendoff.

Tru Valentino's exit from The Rookie may not be permanent. Valentino hinted at possibly returning to the show in the future. Consequently, Aaron Thorsen is unlikely to die in season 7.

The bad news is that Tru Valentino's Aaron Thorsen is exiting The Rookie ahead of season 7; the good news is that I'm optimistic his absence might not be permanent. Alexi Hawley's ABC police procedural series is no stranger to cast exits. A handful of actors and actresses have come and gone over the course of The Rookie's six seasons, from Titus Makin Jr (who played Jackson West) to Afton Williamson (who portrayed Talia Bishop). Some of the characters quit their jobs, while others died. Thankfully, it seems like Thorsen's fate might be closer to the former than the latter.

ABC has delayed The Rookie season 7 premiere to early 2025.

Valentino's character was introduced in The Rookie season 4, serving...