It was fun while it lasted, but the joke has run its course. Of course, we’re referring to the character of Rodge Bronson (Zander Hawley) from ABC’s hit series, The Rookie. The character of Rodge made his series debut in the Season 5 episode, “Daddy Cop,” as the garage band musician who improvises a song that highly annoys series lead, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion). The gag continued with the band and the song’s return in Season 6. Later in the Season 7 episode, “Chaos Agent,” Rodge’s name is finally revealed, and he’s given an actual storyline in the episode, in contrast to his usual appearance as part of a gag for the cold opens. Rodge receiving an extended storyline in an episode worked well since it provided a culmination of his earlier appearances, and it fit in with the comedic style of The Rookie. However, Rodge has worn out his welcome with his extended run in the series. It’s time to explain why The Rookie needs to send the “Daddy Cop” singer on his way out of the show.
Rodge Receiving a Longer Storyline in Season 7 Initially Made Sense
Rodge’s earlier appearances in Season 5 and Season 6 were appropriate since the gags started with the episode prologues, and they did not progress further beyond that point. The gag scenes were funny and fit in with the somewhat fantastical vibe of the series. Rodge’s reappearance in Season 7 and his inclusion in a plot that ran through the entire episode also made sense. “Chaos Agent” works as a suitable payoff to Rodge’s initial appearances, and the storyline fits in with the comedic rule of threes.
Plus, the episode allows Rodge and Nolan to finally make amends. Rodge learns that his observational songs make people angry, and he finally gains some self-awareness. Likewise, Nolan realizes that he shouldn’t take everything so seriously, and he should try to find more joy in the world. The episode works perfectly as a conclusion to the Rodge Bronson trilogy. The problem is that Rodge’s run on the show continues past “Chaos Agent,” and the joke runs past its expiration date.
Why Rodge Bronson Has Overstayed His Welcome in Season 7
In “Chaos Agent,” Officer Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) introduces Rodge as her new boyfriend, and they remain a couple by the end of the episode. However, the series finds convoluted ways to continue getting Rodge involved with the show’s storylines, where his presence is awkward and illogical. In “Three Billboards,” Rodge becomes inexplicably involved in the robbery case at the house of AJ Knox. He appears again in “A Deadly Secret,” when it’s revealed he’s the composer of the new movie by Abigail Tierney (Madeleine Coghlan). Rodge strangely and inexplicably becomes involved with multiple police-related subplots in the episodes, which is weird because he’s merely a musician and Celina’s boyfriend.
In the case of Rodge, less is more with the character. In terms of humor, none of his recent scenes come close to the amusement of his first appearance in “Daddy Cop,” with the incredibly catchy and funny song. Sometimes, it’s good to know when the joke reaches its punchline, and the joke with Rodge is over. He does not come off like a character who needs a multi-episode arc beyond his earlier gag appearances. Now that Rodge’s recurring storyline is continuing, it comes off as a running joke that was funny at first, but is repeated ad nauseam, losing its impact. “Chaos Agent” was a fitting conclusion storyline for the character, except that, rather than ending, Rodge’s presence continues, and his presence is growing to an annoying level.
Rodge and Celina Don’t Come Off Like a Serious Endgame Couple
On the one hand, it’s great to see Celina finally getting into the dating scene after mainly focusing on her rookie training. That said, Rodge and Celina do not come off as a serious endgame couple for the series. Also, Rodge crossed some personal boundaries with how he went overboard by bringing his musical equipment into Lucy and Celina’s shared apartment in “Three Billboards.” It’s another example of how Rodge mainly acts as the comic relief during his appearances. Although Rodge and Celina are still currently dating and have not yet broken up in the latest episode, it’s doubtful that Rodge will graduate into a more serious, committed, and long-term relationship with Celina.
It’s Time for ‘The Rookie’ To Give Rodge His Sendoff
The Rookie has enjoyed its fun with Rodge, who is also the son of series creator and showrunner Alexei Hawley. It’s commendable that the creator wants to support his son with a role in the series and showcase his son’s music, but Rodge has overstayed his welcome. In failing to achieve the hilarity of “Daddy Cop,” Rodge’s presence in the series is becoming more awkward and less funny with each successive appearance.
Perhaps Rodge could receive a grand sendoff, or the character could be killed off in a future episode by someone connected to Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan) or Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave). It would provide a significant motivation for the central cast to bring down the villains. Additionally, it would sell the threat of the show’s longtime villains if they permanently end a recurring character. Alternatively, perhaps Rodge could hit it big and sign a contract with a major record label, prompting him to go on tour and split with Celina? Either way, the character delivered a good joke, and he does not have to appear in the show any longer. The third appearance fulfilled the comedic rule of threes, and now it’s time to move on to the next gag.
