The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9 gave fans what they’d been asking for since Season 2 and Season 3, and that’s for John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) to have a heartfelt reunion and a storyline that involves them working together again. Episode 9 centered around Harper’s husband, James Murray (Arjay Smith), and the attack on the community center, where James and a volunteer, Kylie (Maria Zhang), were shot. The shoot-out was carried out by Connor’s gang and resulted in James fighting for his life throughout the entirety of this episode. As police investigate the motive behind the shoot-out, Harper becomes a suspect after Nolan discovers that James and Kylie shared a kiss in Episode 8.
Clearing Harper’s name became the objective for the characters in this episode, and James and Nyla’s uncertain fate creates tension and leads to a heartfelt moment at the end of the episode. By the end, James survives, wakes up, and clarifies who was responsible for the shooting, and Harper’s name is cleared. She and James discuss the kiss with Kylie, and he reassures Harper that he rejected Kylie. The couple share an emotional, heartfelt reunion, assuring viewers of their love for each other. While confirmation of their relationship staying strong was a relief, it was the touching conversation between Nolan and Harper that caught the attention of The Rookie fans and hopefully foreshadowed seeing this duo sharing more heartfelt moments and interactive storylines.
