The Rookie season 7 ended with two villains returning, much to John Nolan’s (Nathan Fillion) frustration, and while it’s only been a month or so since the finale aired on ABC, I’m already a bit worried about one season 8 storyline. After the show premiered in 2018, viewers became invested in Nolan’s time at the LAPD, his relationships, and the lives of his coworkers. Every episode juggles quite a lot of characters, but Nolan, the oldest rookie in the department, often takes center stage.
The Rookie season 8 won’t be here until January 2026, and although viewers are sad that they have to wait so many months to see Nolan and these other beloved characters again, I’m nervous about a few character arcs and storylines that have been planned for next season. Along with wondering about Chenford, I think The Rookie season 8 is going to include one lackluster storyline.
I Wish The Rookie Season 8 Focused On A Villain Other Than Monica
Monica Stevens (Bridget Ridgen), one of the biggest villains on the ABC procedural, comes back at the end of The Rookie season 7 finale “The Good, The Bad, and the Oscar,” and she’s going to be a focal point of season 8. But I’m not sure this is the best road for the show to go down.
While Monica’s introduction in The Rookie season 5 was intriguing and dramatic since Monica and Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore) used to be engaged, I don’t think she’s that compelling anymore. I think Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) is a better villain since he’s funny and attempts to be charming. He also has a more interesting dynamic with Nolan, who can’t stand him. Although I’d be fine with Oscar having a bigger storyline in The Rookie season 8, I’m not convinced there’s a lot more for Monica to do. I would also be happy if Seth Ridley (Patrick Keleher) was a huge part of next season. Since Seth lied but is trying to redeem himself, I think Seth is more engaging and thought-provoking than Monica, who feels like a standard “big bad” character without a lot of nuance or complexity.
I would definitely rather see a new villain in The Rookie season 8 who is part of a main character’s backstory. While it wouldn’t make sense for them to know Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) since her ex-husband Jason Wyler (Steve Kazee) already had a lengthy arc, any of Nolan’s co-workers could be shocked by the return of a mysterious figure from their past. I enjoyed Celina Juarez’s (Lisseth Chavez) season 7 storylines as she’s smart and compassionate, and if she knew the villain character, this would be a great opportunity to give her more screentime.
Fans aren’t thrilled about seeing Monica again, and there are several Reddit threads about how Monica’s arc should end. Redditor @ReganLamborghini wrote:
“Her storyline didn’t really progress this season.”
Showrunner Alexi Hawley Shared His Thoughts About Monica’s The Rookie Season 8 Storyline
In an interview with TV Insider, Alexi Hawley, the creator and showrunner of the ABC drama, talked about how the main cast members will react to Monica Stevens in The Rookie season 8. He said:
“It was obviously a huge shock for them in that moment. I think when we come back in Season 8, they’ll probably have had time to process a bit. But yeah, no, I don’t see them as people who give up on wanting to put a bad person behind bars.”
Hawley continued that Monica’s immunity deal will make it tough for the LAPD officers to put her in jail. He said:
“I think it’s very difficult upfront for them to get any kind of approval to do anything officially.”
