Monica and Oscar are the two most notable The Rookie villains at present, but season 7 may have secretly laid the groundwork for a much newer team-up that could prove far more interesting. Their shakeup would also prove surprising to fans, as they’re both entirely overshadowed by Oscar and Monica’s storylines in The Rookie season 7 finale.
While The Rookie’s cast has long been rounded out by a diverse roster of villains and side characters, The Rookie season 7 ultimately ends with Oscar Hutchinson and Monica Stevens fully in the spotlight. But thanks to at least two devilish recurring presences introduced in season 7, The Rookie season 8 can take its story in a much-needed new direction.
Oscar And Monica Feel Like Underwhelming Villains In The Rookie Season 7 Finale
Their Plans Don’t Result In Much Immediate Fallout
Many fans are beginning to question if Monica’s villain arc in The Rookie should come to an end. Although she makes prominent appearances in The Rookie season 7’s bus heist as well as the season finale, Monica Stevens doesn’t accomplish anything of significant consequence during the season. As of now, it appears her endgame was simply to win her freedom.
Naturally, this could change. Oscar tells Nolan in The Rookie season 7 that Monica’s working on something big. The bus hijacking appeared to imply the same, but immunity does nothing for Monica if she gets arrested for further villainy. She may have tricks up her sleeve to address that, but her plans aren’t being revealed quickly enough to be certain.
Oscar Hutchinson presents an even greater problem. He doesn’t accomplish much in the season 7 finale before escaping via helicopter, but the grandiose nature of his escape shows that Oscar already has enough resources to enjoy his freedom. Returning to Los Angeles when he has helicopter access only makes sense if he’s actively trying to wind up in Nolan’s handcuffs.
The Rookie Season 7’s Zuzu And Liam Glasser Have Way Fresher Story Potential
Season 8 Could Further Their Stories In Countless Ways
Oscar Hutchinson is The Rookie’s longest-running villain, but whatever impression he makes on season 7 pales compared to serial killer Liam Glasser’s introduction. After escaping from Nyla without any actionable evidence against him, Glasser later braves an evacuation-level wildfire to attend to his next victim. Although now awaiting trial, he appears chillingly confident he’ll soon be free to kill again.
A more unique killer appears soon after in The Rookie season 7, episode 10. Zuzu’s a demonic AI that convinces two teenagers to murder their friend, and it appears to possess almost clairvoyant abilities. The chatbot is disturbingly familiar with Bailey’s personal gift preferences, and it even knows when Nolan presents her with a gift from Zuzu’s list of ideas.
Zuzu’s knowledge of things that don’t seem as if they could be gleaned from the internet becomes more pronounced later in the season, when Zuzu is able to inform the LAPD about a hidden door in an abandoned psychiatric hospital. The same storyline also happens to involve Liam Glasser, and a possible connection could make them both twice as dangerous.
How The Rookie Season 8 Can Make Liam Glasser And Zuzu More Threatening
Glasser Already Seems To Have Cards Up His Sleeve
The fact that Zuzu knows hidden details regarding the layout of the same hospital in which Liam Glasser claims he was inspired to begin his killing career suggests that Liam and Zuzu might share an as-of-yet unexplored connection to each other. It’s even possible that Zuzu may not be an AI at all, but rather a real-world ally of Glasser’s.
Of course, Glasser poses little threat as long as he’s behind bars. This is where Monica actually could play a significant role. Monica’s been involved in some of The Rookie’s most important episodes, and her past experience as a lawyer could prove valuable to Glasser’s defense team, even if she’s unable to try the case herself.
Were Liam to gain his freedom, as well as access to an AI that appears to possess deep knowledge of the LAPD’s personal lives, he could become one of the most dangerous adversaries in the history of The Rookie. It would be prudent for season 8 not to pass up such a thrilling opportunity.
