Seeing Nyla Harper unsettled and losing her reserve is rare in the ABC series. Since she was introduced in Season 2, she seldom lets anything shake her, but this episode showed fans a different side to the detective. At the end of Season 7, Episode 8, Harper believes that James is cheating on her with a volunteer at the community center after Nolan discovers that the two share a kiss.
In Season 7, Episode 9, the series shows a distraught Nolan struggling with seeing Harper hurting because of this supposed betrayal. When she joined the series in Season 2, Harper was assigned to oversee Nolan as his training officer, and he slowly peeled away at her rough exterior, creating a warm bond between the two for the remainder of Season 2 going into Season 3.
Nolan’s determination to help find Connor, the gang member responsible for the shooting, was a nice reminder of his connection to Harper and the bond they forged in the earlier seasons of The Rookie. Following Connor’s arrest and James surviving life-saving, critical surgery, Nolan and Harper finally have a heart-to-heart, and he admits feeling guilty for having any part in her pain and gives a heartfelt speech as to what and how much she means to him. This touches Harper profoundly, and their talk results in an unexpected, out-of-character hug initiated by Harper. The emotional scene showcases their deep bond and how comfortable Harper is with Nolan, which says a lot.
