Reviewer Rating: 3.5/5.0
3.5
We’re seven seasons in and the rookie still knows how to make a splash.
Given how disjointed and convoluted Season 6 of “The Rookie” has been, it’s too early to tell what the tone of this season will be.
However, the show leans heavily into The Rookie Season 7 Episode 1 being exciting and funny.
Three of The Rookie’s biggest villains are still on the loose; Chanford has a weird but slightly fun reset, a nuclear scare, and two brand new Rookies in an action-packed moment that still finds a way to be better than it should be in a much more humorous way.
Of course, the premiere’s time jump also served the hour well.
However, this does mean we just get a throwaway line about Tolson moving to North Hollywood to escape the entire station because he knows he’s a victim of Blair.
That’s all we know about Tolson’s seemingly random departure between seasons. But it worked anyway.
The premiere, in turn, brings back two new talent to complement the series’ themes and keep the series alive and kicking.
I’d love to keep this pair; I’d love to learn more about them.
Ridley, the cutest and youngest of the two, seems adorable and is in the job for all the right reasons, while “Virgin” seems too “nice” for the job.
For anyone, you almost have to worry that one day the job will “break” him, and a tired Ridley would be a terrifying sight.
His energy has meshed well with Chen and Selina so far, and Chen can and will be his best training officers since both women know how to be complete badasses while still remaining kind and innocent , which makes them ideal police officers.
I already have a soft spot for Ridley because he’s the kind of fumbling guy who will probably spend the rest of the season growing into his role, finding a backbone, asserting himself, and proving what he’s capable of.
A girl will be damned if she doesn’t love a good loser.
His most notable moment was in the hospital, when he detailed to Chen how and why he fell ill and accidentally contaminated a crime scene.
The only thing worse than watching his prom date overdose in front of him is actively trying to save her and failing.
It was an event that shaped and led him to become a police officer. Ridley needs to get a deeper understanding of the job and what it entails; there’s no doubt it will bring out a different side of him.
Sure, he fumbled through awkward moments trying to impress Bradford and prove he could have funny moments, but he’s really a better fit for Chen. There’s a semi-cute full-circle side to her training someone like him.
This serves her story well, as we really get immersed in her evolution as a character since the first episode of The Rookie Season 1.
We see her apply some of the knowledge she’s learned and how she’s learned it through her experience in Bradford while adjusting things and becoming her own authority figure.
There’s more to Ridley than meets the eye, but that applies to Penn as well. Initially, he comes across as arrogant, arrogant, and annoying.
He’s certainly all of those things, plus he’s an impulsive know-it-all who always has something to prove.
Over the course of half an hour, I found his behavior irritating, but there was something undeniable he could tell me about in a delightful accent. I would indulge in his bullshit and not subscribe to it.
But underneath all the bravado, there’s a deeper story worth exploring, and hopefully this season will do just that. There’s clearly a dissatisfaction on Payne’s shoulders, evident in the move from Texas to California.
Starting from scratch after a few years on the job can be terrible.
Starting over is difficult, but it also embodies the essence of The Rookie, and in many ways, Payne is a smart way to stick to that theme in a refreshing way.
He’s wild and a cowboy through and through, although he’s not unlike Bradford himself, as he points out during the high-speed chase. He needs someone to keep him in check, but he probably has strong instincts and will get along well with others if he lets his guard down and stops all the crap.
Payne was supposed to be a favorite in Texas, so this transfer to California is puzzling.
He’s a character who “has it all,” so it’s interesting to find out that he’s currently sleeping in his car. If he didn’t interest me before, he did now, and I was eager to know the story behind all the bravado.
He’s a great prospect for Bradford as you can already sense some similarities and how that will lead to them clashing. But they also push each other and help each other grow.
It’s interesting to see Bradford in TO mode again, especially in OG mode, as he becomes lighter and more laid-back when he’s working with Tolson and Juarez.
Now that Tim has made a bet with Lucy, who wants to bet that the rookie might end up clashing with him at some point?
Lucy and Selina were already living together, and there was no other option unless the new couple moved Lucy-Jackson to move in and live together.
Speaking of Chenford, they were very cheeky and funny throughout the hour, but it was also a strange development for them.
It almost feels like we’re getting a reset on their relationship — as if the show doesn’t know what to do with them when they’re officially together, other than throwing inadvertent obstacles in their path.
Now they’re not officially together, but the feelings are still there, and the show revels in the sexual tension and chemistry between the two, not taking us backwards but perhaps to the side.
They’re not at ground zero as a couple yet, but we’re at the stage of casual flirting and lighthearted fun. Maybe we’ll get a season of Tim trying to win her back.
Bradford wants to go with her in the evening after get off work, and she knows a lot about it, but she plays hard to get and goes on with her merry life. We love seeing it! Make him grovel!
It seems like we’re in a sexy cat-and-mouse phase with these two, and to be honest, I don’t know what to think about it yet because I still haven’t resolved my complicated feelings about their breakup. “growing up”.
Did The Rookie need to sack Chen Ford just to give the ship a fun, sexy reset? I think, no.
There’s something depressing about the notion that love stories can become boring over time unless they’re overdone with unnecessary drama or fast forward to typical marriage and family issues.
However, Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil have great chemistry and it’s fun to see them play together and explore new levels. It feels like the two are in an interesting phase, without the power dynamics of their early years or the romantic relationship they canceled on a whim.
As a result, they were on equal footing, single but still desperately wanting each other, and I joined the journey.
For the most part, the hour eases us into an action-packed and emotional season. The second part of this opener will likely contain even more action.
But this rhythm is valid for one hour. Nolan still seems to be influenced by Jason and Oscar, and you can tell it’s troublesome not having Bailey around.
Selina is great at goading Nolan and breaking through all of his defenses, and it’s great to see him confide in the newly promoted Gray about whether or not he’s staying focused on the court.
But Nolan is still good. If he develops any form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after The Rookie Season 6 Episode 10, it will not have a negative impact on his job at this time. He did have some bad moments.
We’re pretty cool with our resident bad guys (Harper and Lopez) showing up as usual.
Still, Wesley will be working at the station for the foreseeable future, and it’s more than just fun. Hilariously, he had to listen to Angela’s co-worker fantasize about having sex with her.
His jealousy is hilarious, especially since he’s not allowed to tell her anything or act on what he discovers on the tapes. But as long as he and Angela could get back to each other at night, he had nothing to worry about.
By the way, discovering that Angela is an avid reader was a perfect cherry on top. She contains many people. Can you imagine what she looks like on Booktok? Iconic!
The rookie is already off to a good start. We’ve been waiting so long – it’s great that they have some content for us!
Judging from the latest additions, Wesley’s involvement with the station and Lucy’s new title, I’m very interested in what’s to come. And you?
Let’s hear it below, Rookie Fanatics! What did we think of the Season 7 premiere of The Rookie? What is your favorite moment? Turn off the sound below!
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