This submit accommodates spoilers for “The Rookie.”
Those that grew up watching “Firefly” or “Citadel” (like me) are already conscious of Nathan Fillion’s charismatic attraction as a tv actor. Fillion excels in each dramatic and comedic roles, and when these two components merge, it yields a recipe that works in favor of most multi-season reveals. ABC’s police procedural dramedy “The Rookie” suits the invoice completely, with Fillion taking part in main man John Nolan, who opts for an abrupt mid-life profession change by changing into part of the Los Angeles Police Division (LAPD). This sudden skilled pivot comes with its personal challenges, as Nolan is wholly unprepared to deal with the unpredictability that comes with being a police officer. Issues get convoluted over time, due to a dozen character arcs and plot contrivances, however “The Rookie” remains to be going robust, with its seventh season premiering in January this 12 months.
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In season 4 of the present, a brand new character was launched: Tru Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen, who’s first seen coaching below Detective Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox), however Nolan takes over this mentorship function as soon as Harper is away on maternity go away in season 5. Thorsen’s arc is fairly fascinating, as he begins as a mega-popular TikTok star who’s wrongfully accused of murdering his closest good friend, Patrick Hayes. Though Thorsen was ultimately acquitted, public opinion remained unchanged, as most folk have been desirous to pin the blame on a mini-celebrity concerned in a extremely sensationalized public scandal. Decided to discover a new objective in life, Thorsen joined the police academy quickly after (he needed to sue the LAPD simply to get in) and has been working exhausting ever since to show his price throughout the division.
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Sadly, Valentino didn’t return as Thorsen within the newest season (season 7) of “The Rookie,” despite the fact that the character had grow to be an important a part of the LAPD over the course of three seasons. Why did Valentino go away, and the way does the present wrap up Thorsen’s character arc in season 7? Let’s check out what occurred.
Tru Valentino does not return in season 7 of The Rookie because of storytelling causes
After Valentino’s exit from the present was confirmed, “The Rookie” showrunner Alexi Hawley spoke about it in an interview with ScreenRant, explaining that this determination was made preserving the inventive course of the present in thoughts:
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“Tru [Valentino] is a superb actor, and he was an enormous a part of our present for a number of seasons, and so we might like to have him again in some capability. It simply in the end felt like, creatively, for the place the present was going, that we wanted to pivot a bit. However he is nonetheless very a lot alive in our universe.”
Hawley’s assertion is backed up by how the most recent season addresses Thorsen’s absence. This is the story to this point: Thorsen proves himself to be a cop of remarkable caliber over time and undergoes nice private challenges in seasons 5 and 6. After being shot within the line of obligation, Thorsen is severely traumatized and undergoes remedy, however the therapist in query is revealed to be in cahoots with the massive dangerous in season 6. These attempting occasions inform Thorsen’s perception that he wants a contemporary begin at a special police division, which permits season 7 to discreetly wrap up his story whereas nonetheless preserving the avenue of his potential return open.
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Furthermore, we do get oblique affirmation that Thorsen is doing nicely: Within the new season’s premiere, Nolan asks Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) about Thorsen’s well-being, and he or she confirms that he’s adjusting fairly nicely on the North Hollywood station. Juarez additionally provides that Thorsen is relieved that his new friends are unaware of his quick previous, as this incident remains to be a supply of tension for somebody steadily recovering from trauma.
It is a disgrace the present does not characteristic any scenes the place Thorsen will get to say goodbye to his friends, which feels a tad awkward given how essential he was to the precinct and its members. Evidently, Thorsen’s absence will be felt, because the character had developed right into a presence fixed and versatile sufficient to deal with the evolving tone of the collection.
Will Tru Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen return in future seasons of The Rookie?
Each Hawley and Valentino have mentioned that Thorsen may return sooner or later, and the latter took to Instagram Tales to precise his gratitude for the function and speak about a potential return (by way of CBR):
“I’ll at all times cherish my time on ‘The Rookie’ […] and really feel so fortunate to have had the final 3 seasons… You by no means know who might pop again up within the mid-Wilshire precinct. Till then, 7 Adam 19, that is Officer Thorsen, over and out!”
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Whereas Valentino may not return in full capability, a visitor look appears greater than doubtless within the close to future, particularly now that the present has been renewed for its eighth season. Till that occurs, nonetheless, there’s a lot to look ahead to in “The Rookie.” For starters, the most recent season feels contemporary with the entry of two brand-new rookies, who inevitably get embroiled in instances the place multiple felony must be delivered to justice. Among the most compelling episodes are those the place the core crew type real, fleeting bonds whereas serving to folks out, the place the dearth of bombastic motion or spectacle permits us to glean extra in regards to the characters we all know and like.
Other than this, antagonists like Joe Hauser (Jacob Pitts) have emerged as enthralling visitor additions to the present. Tense, borderline slow-burn moments have at all times labored in favor of the story, as they pave the trail for refined character moments that aren’t swept up within the spectacle of a high-profile case. This is hoping season 8 of “The Rookie” will proceed this custom of thrilling instances that problem or subvert expectations. And possibly, simply possibly, Aaron Thorsen will pop as much as help the LAPD sometime when a case will get a bit too convoluted for everybody’s liking.
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