The Rookie season 5 finale ends with Aaron Thorsen in critical condition, but when season 6 comes around, he needs to make a full recovery.
The Rookie has never been afraid to kill off any of its main characters, but regarding Aaron Thorsen, the writers would be wise to leave him alone. Two series regulars — Zoe Andersen and Jackson West — have died in The Rookie, while several other recurring characters have also bitten the dust. Aaron, played by Tru Valentino, was first introduced in season 4 as a rookie, and ABC promoted the actor to the main cast in season 5. If Aaron were to die when season 6 rolls around, he would be the third main character to do so.
During The Rookie season 5 finale, a group of terrifying masked criminals ambushed Aaron and Celina Juarez on the streets of Los Angeles. They hit Celina in the head, and Aaron seemingly took the worst of it. He was shot in the back and rushed to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition for the remainder of the episode. But as the finale ended, the hospital issued a Code Blue as doctors and nurses rushed into his room. The Rookie fans will have to wait until the season 6 premiere to discover Aaron’s fate, but there are plenty of reasons why the writers shouldn’t kill him.
5. Aaron’s Death Wouldn’t Be Surprising After The Rookie Killed Jackson In Season 4
Jackson West’s death in the season 4 premiere of The Rookie came as a shock to viewers, especially because they, like the other characters, found out about it via surveillance tapes. La Fiera’s men shot Jackson in the back and stuffed him in the trunk, and everyone else was left to mourn him. One episode later, the writers introduced Aaron, a new rookie assigned to Nyla Harper. Aaron was, for all intents and purposes, Jackson’s replacement in the series. So if the writers were to follow the same route with Aaron as they did with Jackson, it wouldn’t be surprising.
The show would be recycling a storyline, which is unoriginal and boring. Instead, the writers need to lead Aaron down a path toward recovery, not one that leads to death. Just because Aaron was brought onto The Rookie to replace Jackson doesn’t mean his story should parallel his predecessor’s.
4. Aaron’s Recovery Would Finally Give Him An Interesting Storyline
When The Rookie first introduced Aaron, he was immediately an intriguing character due to his traumatic and mysterious background. He comes from a prominent and affluent family, but when Aaron studied abroad in France, his roommate and close childhood friend was murdered. Aaron was arrested and became the prime suspect. The French government acquitted him after a year in jail, and he returned home. Later on in The Rookie, the real murderer was discovered, and the case was closed, which also, unfortunately, put an end to Aaron’s interesting storylines in the show.
As of late, Aaron has been pursuing a career as a detective, but that’s just a promotion. Aaron deserves a better storyline with real stakes, and that could come via almost dying in the season 5 finale. Of course, there’s a physical component to the recovery process, but The Rookie could also explore Aaron’s psychological trauma from the ordeal, which would make for a better story.
3. Aaron Is One Of The More Lighthearted Characters In The Rookie
The Rookie directors and writers have always done a fantastic job of balancing the serious nature of the show and its humor. The characters constantly take on grave cases, including the wild tale in the season 5 finale, but there’s always some lighthearted component to the series. If the writers kill off Aaron in The Rookie season 6, they would be getting rid of one of the show’s best comic reliefs.
Aaron is a breath of fresh air in The Rookie, and he brings levity to almost every scene he’s in. It would be a shame to lose his one-liners and hilarious commentary on the other characters’ relationships. For that reason alone, The Rookie needs to keep Aaron around for the foreseeable future.
2. Aaron Has Chemistry With All The Rookie Characters
It’s uncommon for any fictional character to form meaningful and interesting relationships with every other character in a series, but that’s what Aaron has done in The Rookie. Nyla and Angela serve as his mentors, along with Tim and Nolan occasionally. Lucy is Aaron’s confidant at Mid-Wilshire and the two have created one of the show’s most compelling friendships. Aaron undoubtedly looks up to Grey. Celina is his nerdy Dungeons & Dragons pal, and Aaron can relate to Wesley because they both come from wealthy backgrounds.
If The Rookie kills Aaron, the writers would be severing all of these relationships, which would negatively impact the show. Plus, Aaron’s character is still relatively new, so there’s plenty of time to continue exploring these dynamics. Perhaps his rehab can help build stronger connections to the other characters in The Rookie season 6.
1. Celina’s Death Would Be More Impactful
Killing Aaron would be the expected thing to do when The Rookie season 6 premieres, but if the writers want to get creative, they would kill off Celina instead. She was with Aaron when he was shot and walked away with an awful head injury. The doctors checked Celina out and seemingly cleared her since she was at Aaron’s bedside for the majority of the second half of the finale. However, concussions can be serious, and sometimes head injuries are worse than once thought. That’s why doctors monitor patients with concussions for an extended period at the hospital. They need to ensure that their condition doesn’t worsen, so it’s possible that Celina’s blow to the head could turn fatal.
Perhaps Aaron’s comatose state is a red herring. The writers could be distracting viewers and ultimately kill off Celina instead of Aaron. This would make for a more interesting storyline in the show, and Celina’s death would be far more impactful than if Aaron succumbed to his injuries. She is Nolan’s first real rookie — they spent a lot of time together and taught each other a great ordeal about the job. If Celina died in The Rookie season 6, it would irrevocably change Nolan and the way he operates as a training officer.
