The Rookie Season 7 Shocker: Ridley’s Tragic Fall, Love Drama, and a Game-Changing Finale

In the seventeenth episode of Season 7, titled “The Return,” Seth Ridley reappears at his job. The episode is action-packed, as Seth’s brief return signals the end of his career in an unexpected and dramatic way. Meanwhile, Lucy Chen prepares for a promotion test that could potentially reignite her romantic connection with Tim Bradford. Simultaneously, two distinct cases unfold, featuring both compassionate and uncompassionate suspects, keeping the audience on their toes throughout the episode.

In Season 7, when Ridley joined The Rookie, he introduced viewers to the world of law enforcement. However, Ridley found himself ensnared in a web of lies and was eventually dismissed after refusing to take a blood test. Chen suspected that Ridley was lying about having cancer as a way to make it harder for him to be let go from the force. It turned out that Chen was correct, but not before Ridley demonstrated an act of remarkable selflessness.

Seth Ridley Returns to The Rookie and Gets Shunned By His Fellow Cops

John Nolan Is the Only Character Who Could Handle This Trainee

Seth Ridley and Miles Penn recently joined the team, enabling the show to revert back to its primary focus: portraying police academy training. It didn’t take long to realize that Ridley was unsuitable for policing; every error he made was rationalized by linking it to a past tragedy. However, when Chen delved into these narratives, they were found to be fabrications. As his mentor during this training phase, Nolan refused to overlook his transgressions.

Initially, most of Ridley’s lies were related to personal matters, but he eventually fabricated information about his work performance as well. During a catastrophic wildfire, Chen and Bradford came close to losing their lives. Instead of admitting his role in the incident, Ridley falsely accused the National Weather Service, leading Chen to believe this claim was untrue. Actor Patrick Keleher’s portrayal of Ridley effectively made him an intensely detested character. This justification provided a basis for the dramatic scene where the entire precinct turned their backs on him before his first roll call.

In some instances, Nolan is the sole figure who offers Ridley a chance to redeem himself and regain trust. However, despite his stern reprimands for Ridley’s propensity for deceit, Nolan treats him fairly. He guides him through the robbery call that brought them together with Gene, and he shields Ridley during the climactic shootout in the final act. In turn, Ridley repays this kindness at a significant personal cost. This action could very well mark the end of Ridley’s character on “The Rookie,” or at least his continued presence as a regular member of the team.

The Rookie All But Promises a Chenford Reunion to End Season 7

Episode 16 Tests Chen’s Other Important Relationship

Following the assumption among admirers of the Chen and Bradford romance that their split was merely temporary, an intriguing turn of events occurs when Bradford hints at their romantic destiny becoming clear in the upcoming episode. If Chen successfully passes her sergeant’s test, their relationship will no longer be hindered by professional issues. Although the outcome of the exam is uncertain, given that she previously failed the detective exam during the series, it appears she has a strong chance of passing this time around.

Despite no longer being her trainee, “The Return” hints that Ridley might play an even larger role in Chen’s life. Earlier in Season 7, he and Tamara Collins started a relationship. By the end of the season, Tamara reappears with Ridley, and they seem to be engaged. Given how significant Tamara is in Chen’s life, this personal conflict warrants more story development than just two episodes. Making Chen choose between accepting Ridley or risking losing Tamara creates compelling character drama.

In this scenario, Bradford referred to Chen as his “puppy.” Following Tamara’s theft of Chen’s car, she handed it over to Tamara. Subsequently, Chen invited Tamara to live with her as a roommate. Eventually, when the girl moved out and lived independently, Chen emphasized that they were like family. This brief sequence may have hurried their reconciliation and the conclusion of Tamara’s connection with Ridley. Audience members might have appreciated a couple more scenes or episodes to fully grasp why Tamara was so smitten by him.

The Rookie Offers up a Muddled Message About Celebrity and the Legal System

The Influencer Storyline Is Aimless, While Gene’s Wraps Up Too Quickly

In Season 7, the tale stood out as one of the less compelling ones. In “The Return,” an influencer named Tulsa and his girlfriend Aimee broadcasted themselves causing an accident at the L.A. Reservoir. To defend themselves against charges, they mobilized their followers to attack Wesley Evers. Remarkably, these supporters also accosted Angela Lopez while she was at a park with her child and Wesley’s child. The underlying message of this story seems to be subtly cautioning viewers about posting criminal activities on social media.

The tale of Gene Webster is a more effective one that suits the style of commentary The Rookie might handle well. Gene emerges as a hero due to his aid during the robbery, but since police are obligated to check the names of everyone they engage with, it threatens to ruin his life. Unfortunately, he was mistakenly paroled early, leading to Nolan and Ridley being dispatched to apprehend him. Gene had constructed a life for himself – complete with a spouse, child, and home. He chooses to flee instead of voluntarily returning to prison.

Although The Rookie is known for compelling storytelling, one of its recurring flaws involves introducing irrational criminals, like Jose – a former cellmate of Gene’s. Instead of helping him smuggle to Mexico as expected, Jose and his group inexplicably menace him with murder threats. Fortunately, Nolan, Bradford, Penn, and Ridley step in to rescue him. However, in this instance, The Rookie compensates for Jose’s unpredictable act of violence with a surprising twist for character Ridley.

Seth Ridley’s Story Is a Tragedy of His Own Making

Is The Rookie Done With This Character or Does He Have a Future?

In the climactic scene of The Rookie, Ridley’s significant act of heroism got overshadowed amidst the cluttered narrative of that chaotic episode. However, the poignant conclusion to his character arc is far from subtle. During a fierce gun battle with Jose’s men, Ridley valiantly saves Nolan’s life by shooting a suspect wielding a shotgun who was about to take aim at Nolan. Unfortunately, Ridley himself gets hit in the leg by the other man’s weapon and ends up losing his left leg below the knee after surgery. Despite this setback, Ridley’s act of bravery remains undeniable.

Near the end, viewers might find themselves sympathizing with Ridley due to his circumstances. His career as a beat cop has come to an end, but he’ll receive disability benefits, potentially maintaining some role within the force. Moreover, Ridley confesses to Tamara that he lied about his cancer reoccurring, leading her to end their engagement. Consequently, he loses both his employment and his fiancée, in addition to losing his leg.

Although there’s a chance Ridley might make guest appearances in future episodes, he won’t be a permanent character anymore. Now, Penn stands alone as the lone new recruit on the police force, implying a fresh character is likely to join the team. Though not a star performer in the Mid-Wilshire Division, Seth Ridley was a captivating character who received a powerful, sorrowful conclusion.

The Rookie airs Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. on .

2025-05-01 22:24