Critic’s Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
4.4
Wow, that hour of The Rookie had it all!
We’re talking horror film tropes and jumpscares, Shameless’ Noel Fisher playing a creepy yet intriguing serial killer, Bailey teaming up with Malvado, hurt Harper, and lying rookies.
Seriously, The Rookie Season 7 Episode 4 was inarguably the strongest hour thus far.
(Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
Here’s the thing — no one will ever accuse a girl of enjoying Bailey storylines. There is something innately irksome about The Rookie Barbie and how she tends to detract from more interesting plots happening on The Rookie.
And this is no exception. The weakest part of this hour was following along with Nolan’s obsessive need to keep Bailey locked away in the house as if she were a princess in a tower and her desire to reject that to extreme lengths.
I’m as over it as Grey was when he told her that she was a grown-ass woman and he wasn’t babysitting her.
The whole situation is childish and foolish. Nolan sometimes fails to recall that Bailey probably has four black belts in different forms of self-defense, carries a gun, and can take on half an army.
(Disney/Mike Taing)
Jason is a threat, but a part of me wishes they’d continue with this storyline so we can wrap things up. He’s far from The Rookie’s most complex and compelling villain.
In fact, with the introduction of Novak and a mysterious copycat killer, we don’t need Jason and whatever he’s up to. Let’s keep it pushing!
It’s absurd that they’re dragging this arc on so long. It’s causing so many issues between this couple. However, Bailey is back in her home now and likely teaming up with the creepy Malvado.
We all know Jason didn’t leave town, and there’s more to this story.
However, the actual serial killer case they focused on throughout the hour was the perfect type of intrigue.
So much of this storyline brings back memories of The Rookie Season 2 Episode 11, where Rosalind kidnapped and buried Lucy.
(Disney/Mike Taing)
Novak is a worthwhile psychopath to fixate on for a bit. It doesn’t hurt that Noel Fisher is just so damn good at everything he does anyway. He gives a hell of a performance at all times.
He left one hell of an impression, particularly as he dialed Wesley up on his first day back at the office under the guise of retaining him again as a defense lawyer.
I loved the ethical and moral turmoil the situation conjured up in Wesley. It was a great reprieve from him fixating on other people who find his wife hot.
It also was a great nod at his journey within the series and how far he’s come from a criminal defense attorney to an ADA. They’re jobs that no one takes lightly, and both positions have their merit.
(Disney/Mike Taing)
Often, it’s frustrating when series, especially ones geared toward law enforcement, villainize one position over the other. Wesley has had the opportunity to be both within The Rookie, and we’ve seen the good and bad for either side.
In this case, he struggled with the fact that he represented Novak and helped him get off on a technicality, and Novak went on to kill all of these women.
No, Wesley isn’t to blame for anything, as he was only doing his job, and if he didn’t, someone else would’ve, but it doesn’t hurt any less when all these bodies are popping up in tarps, and you’re having a panic attack on your way to a sorority house.
The camera work for that scene was stellar, and I loved how they made us feel as out of sorts and discombobulated as Wesley during those moments.
Fortunately, Novak severely underestimated that most sorority houses and college campuses, in general, damn near force young women to take a series of self-defense courses because of the likelihood that they’ll get attacked on campuses.
It sounds horrific when you think about how vital self-defense has become on campuses and why, but it worked for the best during one of my favorite scenes of the hour.
(Disney/Mike Taing)
A gaggle of college girls whooped Novak’s ass, and it was a glorious sight to behold! It was even funnier when an impressed Lopez openly wanted to recruit these girls to LAPD and offered to serve as recommendations for any of them.
It would be amazing if something came from that down the road.
Being a female cop on The Rookie isn’t for the weak, though, and the hour didn’t hesitate to remind us of that with some solid Harper and Lopez content that felt ripped from the scenes of a horror movie.
The sanitarium trip was bound to lead to some dark and heavy stuff, but there was still no way of preparing for the random victim they stumbled across, nor the two of them splitting up.
You never split up!
(Disney/Mike Taing)
The copycat killer attacking Harper was a jumpscrare that left one’s heart pounding. And the panic in her eyes upon her paralyzation from that injection was heartbreaking.
It’s not often that Harper is visibly rattled, but you could see it here, and it’s something that may stick with her for a bit, as that other incident she endured did.
Another quality moment was watching Lopez comfort her friend and give her exactly what she needed. Both of them are such badass, strong-willed women who typically keep their emotions in check, so whenever you see glimpses of vulnerability, especially via their friendship, it’s worth cherishing.
It’s also frustrating to know that things aren’t going so well between Nyla and James these days, so when the going gets tough, in one of her darkest moments, the best person for her is Angela.
Their bond is an unshakeable one that the series excels at highlighting.
But now, this means we have a copycat killer on the loose, and it’ll require some work to find the person. The hour even threw in some Rookie Feds alum for the occasion.
(Disney/Mike Taing)
It’s endearing how they still find use for these familiar characters long after that series’ cancellation. Do you think they’ll find a way to incorporate some of them in The Rookie spinoff? You know, the other one?
When mysterious copycat killers come into play, it’s easy to start second-guessing the new faces around that may have something to do with them.
Yes, The Rookie’s obsession with copycat killers is redundant and agitating, but there’s genuine intrigue.
And it already has us looking at Seth, who has become more suspicious by the second.
(Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
I didn’t want to believe anything was wrong with the kid, but there’s no denying that something was up with the guy. He lies way too much!
He did his best to cover up the dead girlfriend overdose/car accident faux pas with Lucy, but it wasn’t convincing enough, and it now forces you to reevaluate everything that he says.
Every moment that Seth faces some reprimand or critique, he finds a way to redirect with something tragic that gets him sympathy.
But is that a result of an insecure person who can’t take criticism or something far more sinister?
At its most obvious, Seth could connect to the copycat killer. But if The Rookie is keen on throwing us for some type of loop, maybe there’s something else at play for Seth.
Could he be undercover and looking into the station? Is there a mental issue he’s not even aware of or something?
(Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
Whatever the case, Lucy’s Spidey-senes are tingling, and she had to tell Bradford about it.
The Chenford scene at his home was delicious. Lucy spent a little time with Kojo, which was precious, but she stood her ground with Tim, which made me proud.
If Tim wants Lucy back, he’s going to have to work at it, and I’m glad that she’s not easily caving into him or this desire for things to be as they were before.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still annoyed that they needlessly broke Chenford up, but given how they did it, they need to follow through.
Keep making him grovel, Lucy!
(Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
In the interim, Tim and Miles’ relationship continues to be delightful.
Miles proves that the new rookies don’t have to be a wash, even though they make some egregious mistakes that seem far worse than anything we’ve witnessed.
Bradford reaming Miles out over the gun and how dangerous that situation could’ve been resonated with Miles, and it’s nice that he appreciates how Bradford keeps him honest.
Miles’ speech to Bradford about how much he values and respects him for being a diligent officer who demands the best was such a great one, and even though Bradford didn’t visibly react to it, you know it touched his heart and pulled him up short.
It was something that was especially valuable for him to hear and hold onto in the aftermath of his fiasco last season, which called into question his entire career as an officer because of his actions and coverup.
(Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
Miles had a rough start, but he’s truly grown on me as a character, and I adore him. Seth, though, we’re going to need to know more!
Over to you, Rookie Fanatics!
Did you love this episode? What are your thoughts on two new serial killers? What’s the deal with Seth? Do you have any theories? Hit the comments
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