While death is part of the job in the LAPD-focused procedural The Rookie, Captain Zoe Andersen’s (Mercedes Mason) passing was particularly shocking. The Rookie is now going into its seventh season, and for over 100 episodes, it has chronicled the career trajectory of John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), who began the series as the LAPD’s oldest rookie, graduating from the Police Academy in his 40s. He eventually worked his way up to training new crops of officers, but back in season 1, very few people had faith in the older rookie.
However, one person who did see Nolan’s value was Captain Andersen. Having served with the United States Pentagon Police and in the Marines, Andersen brought a work ethic full of discipline and order to the LAPD. But while she was extremely by-the-book and tough, she was also compassionate and mindful, traits lacking in many TV cops. Andersen recognized that Nolan’s life experience as a 45-year-old rookie was an asset on the job, not a hindrance. During their time together, Andersen really took him under her wing, which is why her death in The Rookie season 1 hit Nolan particularly hard.
Captain Zoe Andersen Was Fatally Shot By Midas In The Rookie Season 1
The Rookie Showrunners Weren’t Planning To Kill Her Off But Chose To For Dramatic Effect
In one of The Rookie’s most upsetting deaths, Captain Zoe Andersen was killed in season 1, episode 16, “Greenlight” in a deadly altercation with Southern Front gang member Cole Midas (Grant Harvey). In the episode, Andersen and Nolan are ambushed and restrained by Midas’ gang. While tied to a chair, Andersen is kicked into a swimming pool and left to drown. But Andersen proved herself a heroic fighter to the very end. She’s able to not only free herself but dispense with several gang members in a gunfight. Unfortunately, Midas gets in a fatal shot to Andersen’s neck.
Andersen’s death not only showed what a strong and formidable police captain she was, but also that no one is safe on The Rookie. Police procedurals see their characters in extreme life-or-death scenarios for seasons on end, yet it’s rare that many main cast members are killed off. Andersen’s death is a gut punch to not just John Nolan, but also fans of The Rookie, which is exactly why she was taken off the show, despite that not being the original intention. Showrunner Alexi Hawley said on X, “…we went back and forth about it in the writers’ room. But it ultimately felt like the most dramatic and powerful way to impact our story.”
Where Captain Anderson Actress Mercedes Mason Is Now
Mason Made Appearances On NCIS: Los Angeles & American Horror Stories
Prior to being cast on The Rookie, Captain Andersen actress Mercedes Mason was no stranger to police procedural series. She appeared as a guest star in The Closer, NCIS, CSI: NY, and Castle (starring her The Rookie co-star Nathan Fillion), to name a few. However, Mason’s other most notable role, besides Mason, was as the doomed Ofelia Salazar in Fear the Walking Dead, showcasing the actress in a much more antagonistic role than Captain Andersen.
| Mercedes Mason’s Post-The Rookie Projects | |
|---|---|
| Title | Character |
| NCIS: Los Angeles (2014-2022) | DEA Agent Talia Del Campo |
| American Horror Stories (2021) | Michelle |
| Little Dixie (2023) | Julie Reed |
| Guns & Moses (2024) | Liat Rosner |
After her stint on The Rookie, Mason continued to pop up on TV shows, as recurring character DEA Agent Talia Del Campo on NCIS: Los Angeles and as Michelle on an episode of American Horror Stories. She has also appeared in the movie Little Dixie as Julie Reed and Guns & Moses as Liat Rosner. While her IMDb page doesn’t list any future projects, it should only be a matter of time before Mercedes Mason graces TV screens again. As she proved in The Rookie, she is the heart and soul of any project she appears in.
