After The Rookie Season 7 Premiere Explained One Character’s Off-Screen Exit, I Wish He’d Gotten One Last Episode

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for the first episode of Season 7 of The Rookie, titled “The Shot”, which is currently streamable with a Hulu membership.

As a devoted fan, I eagerly anticipated the 2025 TV lineup, particularly The Rookie, brimming with unanswered questions from Season 6. Nolan’s (Nathan Fillion) return after being shot was one of the main points of interest, along with how Chenford’s professional bond would evolve following the unexpected end of Lucy (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim’s (Eric Winter) romantic tale last year. The hiatus-revealed change also needed to be tackled: the departure of Tru Valentino as Officer Aaron Thorsen. Though “The Shot” adequately explained his off-screen exit, it left me yearning for a more poignant, on-screen farewell.

The news concerning Thorsen emerged following a lively opening scene, as anticipated from showrunner Alexi Hawley’s comments. The revelation was rather laid-back, occurring during Nolan and Juarez discussing the latter’s ability to wear short sleeves for the first time. After Juarez mentioned that Thorsen shed her long sleeves earlier, they had this exchange:

  • Nolan: “How is Aaron doing over in North Hollywood, anyway?”
  • Juarez: “He’s settling in. Happy that no one at the station knows he was a patient of Blair’s.”

In summary, the actor who played a significant role from Seasons 4-6 had an understated departure from the show, thankfully without the drama of being written off during the break. However, it would have been nice if “The Rookie” included Tru Valentino for a cameo, allowing Thorsen to reveal the details more naturally on screen instead of through Juarez’s casual mentions.

From the actor’s statement following the announcement of his departure, it appeared there were no lingering grudges. Valentino hinted that “You never know who might reappear in the Mid-Wilshire precinct” suggesting a possible return. Could I hope for another appearance by him in an upcoming episode this season? Or perhaps a comeback in Season 7? Regardless of his significance compared to Nolan, Lopez, or Chenford, the outcome of his character was one of the most intriguing cliffhangers at the end of Season 5.

As a devoted cinephile, it didn’t take long for me to understand why “The Rookie” decided to part ways with one of its regulars before Season 7. The cast has expanded with not one, but two fresh recruits:

First, there’s Miles, the sly transfer from Texas who seems intent on grating on Tim’s nerves as his TO. Then we have Seth, the greenhorn who managed to turn a crime scene into a vomit-filled disaster, much to Lucy’s chagrin.

I have reservations about the new characters potentially distracting from Thorsen’s development, as it was pointed out by Chenford, it’s tricky to evaluate someone based solely on one encounter. However, their wager over Miles versus Seth does add an adorable subplot following their post-breakup drama. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at the next episode of Season 7:

Tune in to ABC every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET for fresh episodes of “The Rookie”. Don’t miss out on “High Potential” starring Kaitlin Olson at 9 p.m. ET, and the third season of “Will Trent” at 8 p.m. ET. The long-awaited seasons of both “The Rookie” and “Will Trent” are finally here, so let’s hope the action lives up to fan expectations!

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2025-01-08 13:08