What Happened To Tru Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen On The Rookie?

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Since its premiere in 2018, “The Rookie” has kept a steady and unchanging cast, so when a character decides to leave, it often brings tears to viewers’ eyes. This was particularly true when Tru Valentino’s character Aaron Thorsen departed after three seasons. Not only was this departure sad, but it was also unexpected. After fighting hard to join the police force despite facing significant legal and societal obstacles, Aaron is suddenly transferred to a different unit without any on-screen explanation at the start of Season 7. Interestingly, his new post isn’t in another state; instead, it’s within California, specifically the North Hollywood Division. This sudden change comes after the revelation that someone had been secretly recording Aaron’s therapy sessions with Doctor Blair London for blackmail purposes. The show quickly explains that Aaron transferred to distance himself from this scandal.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but draw an analogy from my gaming world to this real-life situation. So, in the game of “The Rookie,” John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) just lost one of his teammates – Aaron. It’s clear that this was a narrative decision, yet it leaves a significant hole in our squad.

Aaron’s departure will undoubtedly be felt by his fellow officers and us, the viewers. The question on everyone’s mind is why did Tru Valentino leave “The Rookie”? And here’s where the mystery deepens – we don’t have all the answers yet. However, there’s a glimmer of hope that fans might catch a glimpse of him again in the future. That’s about as much as I can piece together for now.

Why did Aaron Thorsen leave The Rookie?

Based on Alexi Hawley, the showrunner for “The Rookie”, Aaron’s departure was the most suitable choice for the plot development. He clarified to ScreenRant that the series needed to revert back to its original focus as a drama about new police officers learning the force. In his words, creatively speaking, the show required a slight adjustment given the direction it was heading towards with Aaron’s exit. This seems plausible considering Season 7 has primarily focused on the experiences of rookie cops, in contrast to Season 5 of “The Rookie”, which generally didn’t impress fans much.

In August 2024, Tru Valentino’s departure was announced, coinciding with the news that Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher would join the cast as Miles and Seth. Adding fresh actors often necessitates rotating out established characters to ensure everyone gets their share of screen time. Given Aaron was a relatively new character in the series, his exit seemed more feasible compared to eliminating a long-time character like Melissa O’Neil’s Lucy Chen, for example.

It appears that ABC and Valentino part ways amicably, as he expressed his feelings through a social media post on Instagram Stories (as reported by TV Line). In his statement, he shared, “I’ll forever hold dear the time spent on ‘The Rookie,’ yet I can’t help but feel thrilled about what lies ahead.” He continued, “The friendships and experiences gained during my tenure were priceless. It was truly an exceptional opportunity that I am grateful for having had over the last three seasons.” Lastly, he expressed his gratitude to the fans: “I may not express it often, but know that I deeply appreciate each and every one of you.

Will Tru Valentino ever return to The Rookie?

For enthusiasts of Aaron Thorsen, there’s a possibility that they might see Tru Valentino reappear on “The Rookie” as a guest actor at some point. In his Instagram post, Valentino hinted at this by mentioning the possibility of returning to the Mid-Wilshire precinct. As he wrote, “You never know who may pop back up in the mid-Wilshire precinct.” Until then, fans will have to wait and see. It’s clear that Valentino left on good terms, and there’s a chance he could return to the show. Even more encouraging is that Alexi Hawley, the showrunner for “The Rookie,” expressed his desire to bring back Valentino in some capacity. He stated, “Tru is a great actor, and he was a significant part of our show for several seasons, so we’d love to have him back.

Fun Fair Surprise,” and he’s most recognized for voicing Cuphead in “The Cuphead Show!” He also played several characters in the unsuccessful “Beavis and Butt-Head” reboot. With such a busy schedule, it seems Valentino would be open to fitting in a return as Aaron Thorsen should the prospect arise.

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2025-05-01 18:30