The premiere of The Rookie season 7 is still months away, but given what’s known about the upcoming episodes, it might be safe to say that they won’t be as bad as the season 6 finale. ABC’s police procedural TV series, created by Alexi Hawley (who is also the showrunner), has had its ups and downs over the years. Unfortunately, The Rookie season 6 and its finale were among its lower moments. But the good news is that the future looks bright as season 7 will seemingly get the show back on track regarding its storylines and execution of said storylines.
The bad news is that the wait for The Rookie season 7 will be long as it isn’t set to premiere in the fall of 2024. Instead, the ABC police procedural series is slated to return in early 2025. While The Rookie season 7’s delay is disappointing, it’s also for the better in the long run, especially after the disastrous season 6 finale. Hopefully, the extra amount of time allows the writers and producers to craft episodes reminiscent of when the show was in its prime.
The Rookie Season 6 Finale Was Too Ambitious For Its Own Good
The Rookie season 6’s shortened episode count (10) certainly hurt it, as proven by the disappointing finale. Season 6 had been chronicling Monica’s rise in power, while seemingly setting up her inevitable downfall. However, instead of focusing on Monica Stevens as the primary The Rookie villain, the finale integrated numerous antagonists (including Blair London, Eric Ramsey, Christian Bautista, Gundo, Jakob Olmstead, Oscar Hutchinson, and Jason Wyler) in an overwhelming story with too many interweaving parts. The result was a convoluted plot that left much to be desired by the episode’s end.
The only good thing about The Rookie season 6 finale was that it ended without a Chenford reunion. Based on all the other crammed storylines in the hour, one would think the writers would rush Tim and Lucy’s reconciliation. While the former couple had a handful of emotional moments in the episode, Tim and Lucy didn’t get back together. The writers are seemingly taking their time (as they should) to get Chenford back on track. Nevertheless, that one small part of The Rookie season 6 finale couldn’t make up for the rest of the frustrating episode.
The Rookie Season 7’s Additional Episodes Will Emphasize The Need To Let Storylines Breathe
Thankfully, The Rookie season 7 will avoid a common TV mistake as it will have 18 episodes and return to a standalone format. Consequently, plotlines will have more space to breathe. Alexi Hawley previously promised that season 7’s stories will be more episodic than serialized, meaning that many episodes will contain conflicts that begin and end during the hour. Instead of telling one big story (like Monica’s villainous arc in season 6), The Rookie season 7 will revert to its procedural roots.
ABC granting The Rookie season 7 a bigger episode order allows the writers to have more time to set up entertaining and impressive stories (and plot twists).
ABC granting The Rookie season 7 a bigger episode order allows the writers to have more time to set up entertaining and impressive stories (and plot twists). They won’t feel rushed to wrap up storylines by the finale as they did with season 6. As a result, when The Rookie season 7 premieres, fans should be able to notice the stark differences between it and the lackluster season 6 finale. At least, that is the hope, since the show is being set up for success with its larger episode count.
What To Expect From The Rookie Season 7 After The Season 6 Finale
As some may recall, The Rookie season 6 ended with Monica evading capture and Jason and Oscar escaping prison. So, one can expect to see the returns of Monica, Jason, and Oscar in season 7. Additionally, two familiar faces won’t be seen during the premiere — Bailey and Aaron. Jenna Dewan was on maternity leave, so she won’t appear as Bailey during the first few episodes. However, Aaron’s disappearance is more permanent as Tru Valentino has exited The Rookie ahead of season 7. Two new characters (Miles and Seth, who are both rookies) will take Aaron’s place, though.
