Seth Ridley (Patrick Keleher) was one of the most interesting characters in The Rookie Season 7. The lying trainee took many people for a loop whenever he would make up some story or another to get out of trouble. His lies caught up with him, and he was suspended, but later returned as the show sought to redeem him. After saving Nolan’s (Nathan Fillion) life, Seth’s injury ended his law enforcement career, but is there a way for the character to return? The Rookie has always found ways to bring back fan favorites or controversial characters. “I don’t think it’s the end,” showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Guide when asked if Seth could return in future seasons or if this is the end of the road for the character. “It’s early days. We started the [writers] room [last Monday], but I would like to see him again,” he added. Hawley explained how Seth might return:
“Patrick also was a joy to find as an actor. His ability to be incredibly likable at the beginning — this sort of Boy Scout — and the micro-adjustments he made to make this character somebody who audiences truly did not like was a real talent. But I also think that the challenge is, can you redeem a character like that? I think that’s interesting. I think ultimately — and Nolan says it in the scene — it’s not necessarily the end of his career in the Los Angeles Police Department. I think if you can pass the physical tests that anybody else passes, even with a prosthetic, then you can become a police officer. So I think that there’s still a story to tell there.”
‘The Rookie’ Would Like to Remain Exciting and Fresh Going Into Season 8
It’s still early days, but after seven seasons, Hawley and the show’s writers have figured out their groove. “Every season to me has felt different,” he said when asked what Season 8 will feel like. “Some of it is honestly [due to] the world. We had a strike season, we had a pandemic season, and we had to deal with how to be a cop show after the death of George Floyd. Every season has had its individual obstacles, but also opportunities,” he added. The Rookie is popular with viewers and has a significant social media following. While that is much appreciated, Hawley admitted that sometimes it affects how storylines play out. “We are a show with stakes. We are a show where bad things happen and have happened since the very beginning,” he prefaced, adding:
“So, for us, I think that it makes the audience lean forward in a way because there’s always people online going, ‘Don’t you dare kill … whoever!’ Honestly, it makes you worried [when a character is in danger]. It’s very hard on television. I mean, you know having gone through the 9-1-1 stuff recently [where Bobby died] that fans are very passionate about the shows they love — of course they are. But anyway, keeping stakes on the show, switching things up, and having some fun is important.”
