The Rookie season 7, episode 13 “Three Billboards,” aired on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 and featured everything fans love about the ABC procedural: moving character moments, a gripping case the LAPD officers are trying to solve, and some big surprises. The main storyline revolves around John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) wondering who is putting up billboards that insult him and also wondering if he and Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) can adopt a child. Like the rest of the season, this episode moves at a quick pace and lightens the mood with some jokes here and there.
Fans who have tuned into The Rookie since the pilot episode appreciate the banter between the main characters and the chance to learn more about them as they work on each case. The Rookie season 7, episode 13 is well-done and sets up the rest of the season.
Nyla (Meika Cox) and Nolan (Nathan Fillion) on The Rookie
In The Rookie season 7, episode 13, “Three Billboards,” Nolan and Bailey’s meeting with a social worker is complicated by a billboard calling Nolan “dirty” and a bus calling him “corrupt.” At the end of the episode, their hopes and dreams of adoption are ruined when the social worker says that while they clearly care about each other and are good people, their jobs are too dangerous. They accept that they’re going to focus on their careers and Bailey says:
“Some people go their entire lives without finding their passions.”
Nolan and Bailey prove why they’re such a popular The Rookie couple when he says, “I found my passion and then I found you.” Bailey admits she’s having a tough time when she asks, “We do have a great life, don’t we? Then why do I feel so sad?”
Then, Miles Penn (Deric Augustine) and AJ have a serious conversation where Miles tells AJ that Sean has been stealing from him. AJ knows about it and says, “I don’t leave any of the good stuff around where he can get to it.” AJ shares that he spent time on his own when he was a kid and that’s why he likes having people around now. AJ then offers Miles a high-paying job as his security detail, which puts Miles at a crossroads.
The main case of The Rookie season 7, episode 13 wraps up when Lucy and Nyla (Mekia Cox) visit the main suspect Viggo Nash’s wife in the hospital and learn Viggo was targeting AJ. Then, the action in the latest episode of this popular police TV drama picks up when a man shows up at AJ’s house and starts shooting. Sean was in on the plan the entire time as he’s in debt and he hoped it would look like a home invasion. Miles and Sean fight in the pool, and Miles saves the day. Nolan and his team show up and arrest the suspects.
Miles and Bradford have a heart-to-heart when Miles tells Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) he is considering taking AJ’s job offer because it would be a great life. The Rookie season 7, episode 13 proves that this show excels when the characters have honest and relatable conversations with one another. Like Talia Bishop (Afton Williamson) mentored Nolan in season 1, Bradford shows his kindness when he says Miles should continue on his career path. Bradford says “you’re a good cop… or at least you will be when I’m done with you.” Miles turns down the job and tells AJ:
“My calling is here.”
Attorney Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore) then shares with Nolan that he has made sure that the billboards that called Nolan a “dirty” cop were taken down. The Rookie season 7 episode 13 ends by Wesley revealing that the serial killer Liam Glasser put the billboards up.
The other main plotline wraps up when Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) tells Rodge (Zander Hawley) that he has to go back to his apartment so their relationship has enough space to be successful, which shows her vulnerability and honesty. Lucy learns her friend Rachel Hall (Jasmine Matthews) has been pulling away due to grief because her dad passed away, which shows Lucy tries to be a good pal no matter what is going on. Finally, Bailey and Nolan try to move past their sadness about not being able to adopt, but it’s clear that this will continue to affect them.
What Else Happens In The Rookie Season 7, Episode 13, “Three Billboards?”
Like the upcoming episode of another police procedural, Chicago P.D., The Rookie season 7, episode 13 has a lot going on. Besides figuring out the mystery of who put up the anti-LAPD billboards, Celina deals with relationship problems, and Lucy hopes to help her friend Rachel through a tough time.
“Three Billboards” features the sense of humor and action-packed moments that The Rookie is known for. There is one hilarious scene when the social worker asks Bailey and Nolan about “the workdays when you didn’t almost die” as they are few and far between. There are also several scary scenes when the suspects keep throwing grenades at the main characters. The Rookie season 7 proves the series is still as heartwarming as shows like Gilmore Girls and the action and character growth keep fans coming back.
