I’m Thankful For The Rookie Season 7’s Sleaziest New Recruit For Chenford’s Best Post-Split Scene Thus Far

Newcomer Seth Ridley has been a borderline villainous presence in The Rookie season 7, but I, for one, am glad of what he brings to the table, especially regarding Chenford. Played by Patrick Kelehe, Seth joined The Rookie’s cast of characters in the season 7 premiere. Along with Deric Augustine’s Miles Penn, Seth replaced the still sorely missed Aaron Thorsen following his poorly handled exit after three seasons. Assigned to Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil), Seth was quick to attract the distrust of countless fans, including myself. And that feeling has only turned to frustration and grown more fervent in subsequent episodes.

The situation with Seth took a turn into dangerous territory in The Rookie season 7, episode 8, “Wildfire.” The installment saw Seth once again struggling with the demands of his assigned station. In this case, he had to help highlight which areas were no longer safe during the spread of a titular wildfire. Seth’s inability to keep up meant that both Lucy and Tim (Eric Winter) were steered into a life-or-death situation. As they fought to survive, Seth destroyed evidence of his negligence. As infuriating as it has been to watch, I still think he’s contributed unique drama to the show.

Why Seth Is Such An Untrustworthy Character In The Rookie Season 7

Initially, Seth seemed like yet another good-natured rookie with a tragic backstory. That backstory revolved around a previous girlfriend who had died from an overdose, and it was revealed after Seth contaminated a crime scene by vomiting. Though Lucy was empathetic, she soon overheard Seth claim to Miles that his girlfriend had died in a car crash. When confronted, Seth tried to talk his lies straight, claiming these were two different girlfriends and years apart, but Lucy was still suspicious. As a result, she went to his former school to get answers in The Rookie season 7, episode 5, “Til Death.”

Caught out, Seth confessed that he’d lied about both cases. He then vowed never to lie again, but the damage was already done, in my eyes and those of The Rookie fans. It was just difficult to believe anything he said going forward, making it understandable that Lucy didn’t trust him with Tamara (Dylan Conrique). Furthermore, I have to question whether he even has cancer, as he has also stated. Whatever the case, I believe Seth to be truly unique among the rookies we’ve followed, and I’m engrossed to see where he goes next.

Seth’s Actions Resulted In Tim & Lucy’s Best Scene In The Rookie Season 7 Thus Far

Conflicting things even further was how The Rookie season 7, episode 8, “Wildfire” gave us the best Chenford scene of the year so far and, possibly, one of the best ever. Huddled beneath a fire blanket, all they could do was hope and, in Tim’s case, get all the pent-up feelings off his chest. Lucy and Tim don’t get back together in episode 8, but it was nonetheless a powerful moment that has stuck with me. It was a testament to how far Tim had come, and both actors passionately delivered, offering heart and humor amid genuine stakes.

None of it would have been possible without Seth being the character that he’s been throughout. Dramas have always been built on conflict and I think Seth has delivered some of the best conflict the show has had in years. That will no doubt only grow in the coming weeks. Tim and Lucy already had doubts about Seth as a police officer, but that would go double with the knowledge that he had caused their shared near-death experience. Even with heartfelt exchanges aside, Tim and Lucy can be more of a team than ever by exposing Seth’s ongoing lies and ineptitude.

Can Seth Be Trusted In The Rookie Season 7?

The Rookie has shown that anybody can achieve redemption, with even the hardest of criminals ultimately doing the right thing. And with villains like Liam Glasser, who may return in The Rookie season 7, there’s potential for heroics. As far as Seth goes, however, I can’t see it. His lies were one thing, as they could be attributed to nervousness and his need to please. More recently, though, his mistakes have only gotten bigger and more dangerous, and his willingness to cover them up rather than make amends for them is almost pathological.

Time and again, The Rookie has emphasized that trust is the most important thing for the Mid-Wilshire division. That’s why the show’s characters have become a tight-knit group over the years. Seth has repeatedly broken that trust – known and unknown – and I feel like it would take something monumental to heal the rift that has been created with Lucy and Tim, who need to get back together in The Rookie, much less the others. His need to be seen positively, though, seems to trump actually working for that respect. But we shall see what happens when The Rookie continues, and I can’t wait.